DEADLY CROSS

4 stars out of 5

Psychotherapist and FBI/D.C. Metro Homicide consultant Alex Cross never left - this is the 28th book in the series; but somehow, it feels like he's back - to basics, that is. It's pretty much a straightforward police procedural interspersed with interactions among, and impact on, Alex's wife, kids and indefatigable Nana Mama. And from my perspective, that's a good thing; I like everyone in Alex's inner circle, but I prefer that the main be on detective work.

As this one begins, Alex's police commissioner wife, Bree Stone, calls to ask for his help on a brand-new murder case: the bodies of a man and woman found in a convertible near a charter school. Complicating matters is that both victims were high-profile community personalities - one very much still married to another woman and the other the ex-wife of a high-ranking government leader. In the midst of all this, there's a serial rapist and murderer on the loose; Bree's boss is not happy with the progress of the investigation, making her rethink her own priorities.

At one time, the car victim (Kay) was Alex's patient, and she has a storied history of mental issues. Alex's Metro partner, John Sampson, is dealing with serious personal issues, so Alex and FBI Special Agent Ned Mahoney set out to learn more about Kay's Alabama background. Back home, Sampson begins to follow a few leads on the serial murder investigation that just may signal light at the end of that tunnel. 

Everything comes together in the end, bringing a couple of surprises - one of which, no doubt, will take future plots in a new direction that could be the jolt that this series, while still enjoyable and by far my favorite of all the Patterson offerings, needs to get back to firing on all cylinders. Fingers "Cross"ed!

Deadly Cross by James Patterson (Little, Brown and Co., November 2020); 416 pp.

BAG MAN

5 stars out of 5

Whining about a witch hunt? Pleading innocence while claiming fake news? Circumventing (or outright ignoring) the U.S. Constitution and attempting to obstruct justice? Hmmmm - has a familiar ring. But in this case, we're not talking about current events; rather, it was in the early to mid-1970s, and the person saying and doing all those things was President Richard Nixon's vice president Spiro Agnew - who was being investigated for a slew of crimes including bribery and extortion.

It's a story that brings back memories; as a relatively young wife and mother, I watched as Agnew's predicament unfolded - for the most part overshadowed by the concurrent unfolding of the Watergate scandal that ultimately brought down Agnew's far higher-profile boss. It was meaningful to me in another sense; what Nixon and Agnew did, I believe, marked the beginning of the end of my many years of staunch Republicanism. I'd never really paid a lot of attention to party affiliation - my focus was more on platforms, and my votes went to those with which I most agreed. On the other hand, I happily voted for Richard Nixon - not once, but twice - an admission I was now embarrassed to admit.

In the interest of full disclosure, I'm now a left-leaning moderate, huge fan of Rachel Maddow and long-time career journalist whose blood boils when I hear those who unfairly (IMHO) call mainstream media "corrupt." So when this book came along, everything sort of came together as a story I wanted to learn more about - so I set aside my customary fare of free-for-review police procedurals, thrillers and blood-and-guts murder mysteries to give it a go. And by golly, it's a well-written, well-researched gem that's both informative and entertaining. Much of the overall story is familiar because, well, I lived through it. But the devil is in the details; especially surprising were a few involving former President George H.W. Bush and, to a lesser extent, crooner Frank Sinatra. Also of note are the "heroes" - those prosecutors and legislators who, unlike most of today's crop, were willing to put the Rule of Law above party politics.

The rest I'll leave for you to read. If you're a fan of the current (as I write this) administration, be forewarned that you'll run into a few spicy comments that mirror the kinds of things DR. Maddow says on her TV news show. Overall, it's a totally satisfying and easily digestible way to pack in some history that's relevant to the times in which we live. Kudos!

Bag Man by Rachel Maddow and Michael Yarvitz (Crown, December 2020); 304 pp.

PRODIGAL SON

5 stars out of 5

Better late to the party than not at all was my thought when I neared the end of this, the sixth installment of the author's Orphan X series. So enjoyable was the adventure that I almost resented having to put it down long enough to open Christmas gifts.

It took a few chapters for me to really get into the swing of it as chapters shifted back and forth in time, but that actually helped bring someone like me who didn't read previous books up to speed in short order. In the here and now, Evan Smoak has retired from his job as a government assassin in the Orphan program, which carefully chooses and trains orphaned children like him. He remains at the ready, though, billing himself the "Nowhere Man" who is willing to help those in desperate need.

At an impound lot, his mentor is murdered, and the lot attendant, Andre Duran, manages to escape the same fate. Then Evan gets a phone call he'd never have expected - from a woman who claims to be his mother. He's both upset and reluctant to meet her (after all, it was she who gave him up as a baby), but curiosity wins and he heads for Buenos Aires for a face-to-face. There, she remains tight-lipped other than to ask him to help a man named Andre Duran.

With more than a few misgivings, he agrees; but when he gets back to the States and finds the man's house, let's just say it becomes clear that the man will need any help Evan can give. I could spend an hour writing about what comes next, but doing that would spoil it for others, so I'll say only that he seeks help from old friends - at least one of whom has a grasp of technology seemingly far beyond any mortal human - characters who I assume will be familiar to loyal readers. The action is nonstop and the aforementioned technology, especially when it comes to weaponry, is mind-blowing.

I was also struck with an overall feeling of sadness; when I read about the characters' backgrounds and why they've turned out the way they are, at times I almost got tears in my eyes. It was educational as well; not counting some very unique technological advances that, if they aren't already available, soon will be, I picked up on tidbits like this: There's enough iron in the human body to make a three-inch nail. Who knew?

Be forewarned: This one ends with the mother of all cliffhangers. All the more reason to anticipate the next one, I'd say - I'll be watching! Meantime, thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for offering me an advance copy to read and review.

Prodigal Son by Gregg Hurwitz (Minotaur Books, January 2021; 432 pp.

DAYLIGHT

5 stars out of 5

When it comes to series characters from this author, military investigator John Puller earns top honors as far as I'm concerned - with FBI agent Atlee Pine a fairly close second. Bring them together, and, well, I'm in character heaven. Officially, this is the third in the Pine series, and she's still doing her darndest to find her twin sister, Mercy - who was kidnapped some 30 years earlier and hasn't been seen since. At the moment, Pine is taking a few days away from her remote Arizona base to follow a trail to Georgia, where she learns the name of her sister's kidnapper.

The follow-up puts Atlee and her capable assistant, Carol Blum, in Trenton, N.J.; there, she locates a relative of the kidnapper and hopes he's got some beans to spill. But in a fluke, he runs away - and Pine runs smack dab into Puller, who was there to arrest the same guy in connection with a drug ring. After she explains what she was after, she and Puller pay a visit to the runaway's father, who's in jail - only to have the interview inexplicably cut short. When other avenues of investigation - of both Pine's sister's disappearance and Puller's drug case - are slammed shut, they realize that some kind of cover-up is happening at the highest levels of government. 

Needless to say, that only makes them more determined to ferret out the truth, and Puller enlists help from his very capable Air Force brother, Robert. Only one thing is certain: the two cases share commonalities, which means Pine and Puller jointly commandeer a substantial portion of the book (Puller makes so many appearances, in fact, that it took the ending, which focuses more on Pine, to remind me whose book this really is). But that's a plus for fans of both series, who I expect will enjoy the interaction between two top-dog characters as much as I did.

Most everything gets resolved in the end, but not without plenty of action, losses of life and near misses thereof. What isn't, I presume, will become the premise of the next book - to which I am, of course, looking forward. Just as an aside, though, I will advise those who haven't read the other two Atlee Pine books to start at the beginning; I'm sure I was able to hit the ground running with this one simply because I was familiar with her story. Overall, though, I don't hesitate to call this one another winner.

Daylight by David Baldacci (Grand Central Publishing, November 2020); 416 pp.

SILENT VOICES

4 stars out of 5

Finally, Detective Lottie Parker seems to be getting her life back together - in a few days, she'll marry police colleague Mark Boyd. Her kids like him. He likes them. He's recovered well from a recent bout with leukemia. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, if you've been reading this series, you already know something will. And it does - starting with the grotesque murder of a young woman whose body is found by her twin sister. That's followed in short order by another murder with the same M.O., making Parker's boss unhappy at the investigative team's lack of progress (and because someone in the department snitched about the corners she's been known to cut, Parker is already on her boss's bad side). Meanwhile, Boyd befriends a teenage girl whose life is, shall we say, less than pleasant - so he goes out of his way to help.

Clues lead to a restaurant-opening bash the night before the first victim was found, but at first there seems to be no connection between the party and the second murder. Then a third body turns up - you guessed it, same M.O. - leading to more digging that not only unearths links that go back to years-earlier events, but threatens not only Parker and Boyd's nuptials, but their very lives as they finally begin to connect the dots.

Overall, this is a fast-paced thriller that kept me turning the pages right to the end. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

Silent Voices by Patricia Gibney (Bookouture, February 2021); 450 pp.

DARK SKY

 5 stars out of 5

This is the 21st book featuring Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett, and I don't think I've missed a single one. This one, happily, came as a pre-release copy through NetGalley, thank you very much - and even though I diligently go through my stack of to-be-reviewed books in order of publication date, it took me all of 30 seconds to move this one to the top of the list. And I think it's one of the best in the series.

In large part, that's because it's more of a plain old, relatively uncomplicated story that's fast-paced and easy to follow. There are two parallel plots, the first of which puts Joe in charge (albeit reluctantly) of an elk posse for the edification of a spoiled Steve Jobs wannabe who wants to get in touch with his back-to-nature feelings. Knowing he could lose his job if he passes on the assignment (and that the same is true if something goes awry), Joe grabs his winter gear, takes a deep breath and sets off.

No surprise: Something goes awry. This time, it's a guy who has an axe to grind against the tech CEO and who will do anything to take him out of commission permanently. That, in turn, ends up with Joe and the CEO with no weapons, no communication devices and fighting to stay alive in the mountain wilds with snow - and a potential killer - at just about every turn.

Meanwhile, Joe's former special forces friend, Nate Romanowski, has troubles of his own. Joe's daughter Sheridan, who's in training with Nate to learn the art of falconry, discovers empty nests that indicate there's a raptor thief at work. Incensed, Nate sets out to find the culprit and - just like the guy and the tech CEO - do anything to take him out of commission permanently.

Another no surprise: The two plots come together - but not before both keep readers on the edge of their seats. And the end, while satisfying, isn't complete; there's at least one wrong still to be righted, which presumably will happen in the next installment. As always, I look forward to reading it!

Dark Sky by C.J. Box (G.P. Putnam's Sons, March 2021); 368 pp.

DEEP INTO THE DARK

4 stars out of 5

I've read and very much enjoyed a couple of other books by this author, so I was delighted to be approved for a pre-release copy of this one through NetGalley. And I'm happy to say it did not disappoint.

Two storylines are featured here, the first of which is catching the person, or persons, who have been racking up murder victims along Los Angeles' Miracle Mile. LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan and her partner, Detective Al Crawford - plus another notable character or two - are on the case but not having much luck. In the other, Sam Easton, a former electrical engineer who's suffering from PTSD as a result of an Afghanistan attack that killed everyone in his squad except him, is working as a bar back in a popular local pub. His wife has left him, so he's alone with his nightmares and hallucinations and has only his job for solace. But when his co-worker, Melody, gets beaten up by her snobby boyfriend, he's eager to help.

But the next day, Melody's boyfriend dies of very unnatural causes, Maggie and Al are called in and Sam quickly becomes a prime suspect - at least in Al's eyes. Maggie isn't as quick to put the finger on Sam, though; she recently lost her brother who was serving overseas, making her more sympathetic to what Sam's going through. 

Melody's boyfriend may be out of the picture, but it soon becomes clear that someone else may be stalking her (and possibly Sam as well). Meantime, they meet up with a young and very rich filmmaker wannabe who leans toward being totally nuts - and he shows them a script he thinks would be perfect with Sam and Melody as the stars even though they have no acting experience whatsoever.

Everything comes together at the end (well, not everything; this is the first book in a new series, so bread crumbs leading to the next one are left on the ground). And therein lies one of the things I wasn't so crazy about; the main character in the series is supposed to be Margaret. But it's Sam who, to me at least, unquestionably steals this show (even if, PTSD notwithstanding, he came across as a little too "perfect"). Margaret's character, on the other hand, isn't nearly as well developed - so in the end it's Sam, not Margaret, about whom I'd love to read more (of course, who's to say he won't make future appearances - if I get a vote on that score, it's a resounding yes).

That said, the series is off to a strong start and I look forward to the next one. Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

Deep Into the Dark by P.J. Tracy (Minotaur Books, January 2021); 343 pp.

SAFECRACKER

5 stars out of 5

On occasion, I get an offer, usually from a publicist, to read and review an upcoming book. While I always appreciative and consider myself fortunate when that happens, unless the description is enticing, I'm likely to turn it down. This one, though, sounded appealing- and now that I'm finished, I don't hesitate to recommend it.

The book is narrated by uber-successful safecracker Michael Maven, who mostly handles jobs offered by his boss-lady, Liz. By day, he owns a Sundown Cinemas, a motion picture theater in New York City through which he passes his financial gains and, on many occasions, treats himself to a movie or two. When Liz tells him of her interest in a a very rare coin (the fifth most rare in the world, in fact), he's hot to trot and performs his usual pre-job due diligence. When he learns that the wealthy owner of the coin will be attending a splashy event, he puts his considerable expertise to use to let himself into the guy's apartment and open the safe.

This time, though, turns out to be a worst-case scenario; just as he's about to snatch the coin, he hears the apartment door open. Uh, oh, he thinks - the man has come home early. That's bad enough; but the situation quickly becomes more complicated because he's brought with him a beautiful woman. Getting out without being detected (hopefully with the coin in hand) might have been possible, but escaping the notice of two people - who have just entered the bedroom where Michael is hiding in the closet just isn't likely to be a happening thing. As Michael ponders his next move, though, the woman murders the man as he watches, horrified, through the closet door slats. When she grabs the coin from the safe, though, his terror turns to anger: How dare she take what was meant to be his?

In the process of trying to stop her, Michael - who is trained in martial arts - is injured and she gets away with the coin. Still ticked off, he puts Liz and other friends to work trying to track her down. When they meet again, it's not under the best circumstances, shall we say - and the time after that is even worse. Now, Michael is ordered by a nasty drug lord to break into the safe of his rival - the leader of a competing cartel - in Miami. It's an order he can't refuse lest members of his family and friends will die. And as if it were possible to make matters worse, he's forced to team up with - you guessed it - the woman he watched murder the owner of the aforementioned rare coin.

The rest of the book follows Michael's efforts to get the cartel guy's job done without getting himself or anyone else killed; from that point on it's anyone's guess who will emerge triumphant (although since this is the first in a series, readers certainly can expect that the hero will live to see another day, no matter what happens to him here). The devil is in the details, as they say, and how it all goes down kept me on the edge of my seat from that point on. 

Aside from being a good, action-packed story, I must say one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much is that it's highly reminiscent of another favorite series of mine: The Burglar Who by Lawrence Block. The character there, burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr owns a bookstore, not a theater, nor does he usually get embroiled in situations quite as dangerous as this book's Michael Maven. But everything else, including the writing style, brought back happy memories of the Block works - as well as happiness that I've found a new series to love. Now, I can't wait to read the next one in this series (scheduled for release next year, or so I've read). Bring it on!

Safecracker by Ryan Wick (Thomas Dunne Books, December 2020); 320 pp.

THE CYCLIST

4 stars out of 5

Marked a "top pick" at Amazon for this year, the description sounded interesting so I snapped it up. It's the second in the series featuring Detective Sergeant George Cross; I did not read the first, and while I enjoyed this one and will say it stands alone fairly well, I suspect I'd have liked it even more had I read them in order. That said, I liked the character so much that I got the first (The Dentist) as well.

And it really is the character who makes the story so interesting; he has Asperger's Syndrome, which is both a curse and a blessing. On the downside, the condition means he lacks awareness of social skills (such as not recognizing when someone is joking or responding inappropriately - or not at all - to the emotions of others). Conversely, he pays great attention to detail and has an almost uncanny ability to intuit clues that lead to closure of the most difficult cases.

This one is a doozy; a body turns up in a deserted section of garages in Bristol, U.K. After close inspection, Cross notices tan lines on the body, leading him to determine that the man was a cyclist (hence, no doubt, the reason for the book's title). From there, a few other clues he unearths bring relatively quick identification. Cross is assisted by his capable partner, D.S. Josie Ottey, and it's a treat to watch their interactions as she adjusts to his condition and at the same time tries to teach him how to interact more sociably with others, including department trainee Alice Mackenzie.

Eventually, Cross and Ottey learn that the victim, part-owner with his brother of their parents' successful restaurant, has his fingers in a few other pies that aren't quite so legitimate (nor as successful). That knowledge also expands the investigation to several more suspects and a few dead ends before Cross finally ferrets out the truth and a rather surprise ending.

I do admit it took several chapters before I really got into the story -  mostly, I guess, because the writing is a little stilted (in truth, it almost seemed as if it were written by someone who has Asperger's). But once I got the rhythm, my interest started to hum along and it was hard to put it down. In short, I'm hooked - and hopefully before long I'll have time to get to the first book before the next one comes out. Good job!

The Cyclist by Tim Sullivan (Pacific Press, September 2020); 259 pp.

BLOODLINE

4 stars out of 5

Back in the '60s, when this book takes place, I'll cop to inhaling once or twice, but I never tried "acid." By the time I got a halfway through this book, though, I was imagining that this must be how it would have felt. At the very least, it's a pretty creepy story that, as I'm sure other reviewers have noted, is might be subtitled Rosemary's Baby meets The Stepford Wives.

After pregnant Minneapolis newspaper reporter Joan Harken is mugged, her boyfriend and father of the baby, Deck, convinces her to relocate to his insular hometown of Lilydale. Here, he insists, she'd be safe - and he assures her the local newspaper, although small, will give her the opportunity to earn the byline she's always craved. Despite a few misgivings about leaving big-city life, she agrees.

It doesn't take long, though, for her to realize something's not quite right, starting with the "friendliness" of all her neighbors - attention that soon begins to cross the line of intrusiveness once she realizes nothing she does or says escapes the knowledge of everyone who lives on her street (most notably Deck's parents, who are town VIPs). The situation gets even murkier when she begins to investigate the decades-earlier disappearance of a young boy; and spotting a too-familiar man from her Minneapolis past makes her wonder all the more what's really going on in this extremely close-knit town. When the townspeople begin to take unusual interest in her baby, Joan really starts to freak out.

Honestly, I didn't warm up to any of the characters (to begin with, any parents who would name their kid after their back porch have to be three bricks shy of a chimney). And although Joan has a few issues in her own past that cloud her present, she comes across for the most part as a paranoid wimp who won't stand up for herself. Still, the story is creepy and scary and I couldn't wait to find out what was really going on (hint: it's even creepier and scarier than I thought it would be). In short, it's a great diversion during these times of not being able to go much of anywhere. Thanks to Amazon First Reads for this one!

Bloodline by Jess Lourey (Thomas & Mercer, January 2021); 347 pp.

THE DIRTY SOUTH

 5 stars out of 5

I love this series - this is the 18th entry - but it's not just because the stories are exciting or that series headliner, former NYPD Detective Charlie Parker, is such an intriguing character. It's also because the author's writing is both eloquent and elegant and an all-around joy to read. That does, I admit, make for one issue; the books are impossible to skim through and finish in my usual couple of days. Simply put, there's just too much to be missed by doing that.

This one takes a different approach; it begins with Charlie getting a phone call out of the blue from someone in his decades-ago past - one he wasn't expecting to hear from ever again. At that point - without identifying the caller - the story shifts to that long-ago time when an in-his-30s Charlie quit his job and set off to find the man who slaughtered his wife and young daughter. One of his stops is in a backwoods Arkansas town that eschews outsiders; when Charlie makes a couple of inquiries that rouse suspicions of local law enforcement, they throw him in jail until, hopefully, he'll explain who he really is and why he was nosing around.

But then, a young girl turns up murdered - not that long after another girl was found murdered in similar fashion. Town and county officials - including a powerful family - managed to keep the first incident quiet in the fear that an outside developer with big plans for community investment might get skittish enough to take their money elsewhere. Coming so soon after the other murder, though, the most recent case makes a cover-up more difficult, and a couple of locals who were not happy about the way the first murder was handled (or, more accurately, mishandled) are dead set on solving this one no matter where or on whom the chips may fall.

When Charlie's identity and background becomes known, the local police chief not only springs him from jail but decides - reluctantly - to enlist his help. While Charlie is eager to move on, he - also reluctantly - agrees to stick around for a bit. That puts him at direct odds with the aforementioned powerful family and, not surprisingly, on the hit list of at least one very dangerous man. And that, in turn, means Charlie must turn to a couple of loyal friends who are familiar to those who have been following his adventures for at least several preceding books.

The interaction among all the characters - and the reasons thereof - add interest and intrigue to the story, and the ending brings a few surprises. All told, it's a glimpse into the story of how the Charlie Parker we've come to know came to be. Well done - again!

The Dirty South by John Connolly (Atria/Emily Bestler Books, November 2020); 448 pp.

THE BUTTERFLY HOUSE

4 stars out of 5

When I finished the first book in this series - The Tenant - I noted that Danish police investigator Jeppe Korner and his partner, Anette Werner, never seemed to really "connect" with each other. That's even more true here, when Anette, age 44, is on leave after the birth of her first child (an unexpected and, for her, not totally welcome event). Much of the book, in fact, deals with her reluctance to take on a motherly role and desire to get back into the throes and thrills of police work.

And there's plenty of work to go around, starting with the discovery of a woman's body in a downtown Copenhagen public fountain. Jeppe, fresh off a divorce and temporarily living with his aging mother, gets the case - with prodding from his boss to get it solved yesterday. Meanwhile, in another part of town - and unknown to the police - a nurse uses a syringe for what appears to be a mercy killing. 

The cause of the woman's death is exsanguination - accomplished by small cuts with an unusual weapon. Jeppe's team, which includes a co-worker love interest, are stymied - and pressure from the top isn't helping. When Anette gets wind of the murder, she looks for ways to put her investigative talents to work - all the while hoping she won't sacrifice her marriage in the process.

When yet another body turns up in a similar place and with a similar M.O., it's clear the first murder wasn't random. Are the victims connected in some way, and will there be more? That's for Jeppe and his team to find out (with a little surreptitious work from Anette that could lead to disaster). A fast-paced conclusion brings a couple of surprises as well as some tied-up loose ends, all quite satisfying to me. A solid entry in this enjoyable series - I look forward to reading more and thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me a pre-release copy for review. Well done!

The Butterfly House by Katrine Engberg (Gallery/Scout Press, January 2021); 352 pp.

THE SENTINEL

3.5 stars out of 5

I'm a longtime fan of the Jack Reacher series - heck, I've even forgiven the 2012 movie that cast diminutive Tom Cruise as Goliath-sized Reacher. Based on his physical stature alone, it wasn't a good fit.

And this book isn't the best fit for the series, either. If I had to describe it in one word, it would be contrived; it seemed as if the intent was to identify a couple of in-the-news hot topics and then try to fabricate a story around them. The dialog seemed forced as well; granted, Reacher is a loner and a man of few words - and that's true here, in spots. But in others, he spouts lengthy and intricate explanations of computer functions which, coming from a guy who needs help operating a smartphone, just didn't quite, well, ring true. Time will tell, I guess, if that's the result of the author's collaboration with his younger brother Andrew to write this book (the person he's chosen to carry on the Reacher series in the not-too-distant future).

All that aside, it's an intriguing story that held my interest throughout - but then, I admit to having a computer geek side. Hiking out of Nashville to anywhere else, Reacher gets a lift from a guy who's headed in that direction - namely, to a much smaller town in Tennessee. Not long after he's dropped off, Reacher's killer senses kick in and he saves local guy Rusty Rutherford from an apparent kidnapping. Not that he'll be thanked anytime soon, mind you; Rusty is despised by just about everyone for the role they think he played in the recent disastrous crash of all the town's computer systems and phones. 

Rusty, though, insists he's totally innocent; in fact, he was trying to keep that from happening. Now a pariah and, more importantly, out of a job, he and a former FBI friend are hoping to salvage a program they wrote to protect the town computers that could make them very wealthy. For his part, Reacher takes pity on the two (plus he figures the would-be kidnappers aren't likely to stop at a single attempt) and agrees to stick around for a bit.

From there on, the plot gets pretty complicated - even to the computer geek side of my brain. There are Russians who may not be Russians, undercover FBI agents and physical attacks from all corners of the town - leading to the usual blowout fights in which Reacher is outnumbered and must reach to new levels of his considerable pugilistic abilities to survive. Confusion over who's who and what's where leads Reacher down a back alley (or two or five) until near the end, when it's time to put up or forever be shut up. 

Conclusion: Fast-paced and action-filled, this may not be the best entry in the Reacher series, but it's still Reacher and anything Reacher is still worth reading. Bring on the next one!

The Sentinel by Lee Child and Andrew Child (Delacorte Press, October 2020); 352 pp.

FRANKLIN ROCK

5 stars out of 5

Despite a few misgivings about starting this book - it's clearly outside of my usual blood-and-guts, head-games mystery/thrillers - I dug in just because it was offered to me by the publisher. Now that I'm done, I'm having a little trouble describing it. While I think more about how to proceed, I'll say this: It was entertaining, enlightening and overall, a true "feel-good" delight that, as the official description suggests, is reminiscent of Forrest Gump.

Basically, the story follows the title character, a gifted college undergrad student, as he tries to figure out his purpose in life - especially meaningful since he experiences flashes of being "transported" to other times. Early on, he gets help from mentor and professor Charles Niemeyer who, when he dies, leaves Franklin only with a mysteriously blank book titled Franklin Rock: The Man Who Fixed the World.

So it is that Franklin sets out to try to find his destiny, not knowing whether he'll find it in his "real" world or through sudden meetings with notable characters from other generations. He gets more help from an elderly cancer patient, college bookstore manager Lori Constantine and a rather strange character known as Govinda, who seems to understand what Franklin is all about and is willing to guide him in his journey.

For the record, I admit I had a few reservations along the way. Would the story, I asked myself, end up taking on a decidedly religious bent? After all, anytime you pair time travel and parallel universes with the possibility of "we'll all be together again" and guidance from some sort of supreme being, it's not unreasonable to think that's where it's headed. To be sure, that's hinted at here and there, but the author does a great job sidestepping any commitment thereto and leaves those kinds of decisions up to the reader (and Franklin). If nothing else, the whole thing was food for thought presented in a tasty manner - not a bad thing as we all head into the Christmas holidays amid a devastating and seemingly relentless pandemic.

In short, I'm glad I read it - and I don't hesitate to recommend it to others (yes, even to my blood-and-guts loving friends). Well done!

Franklin Rock by Mark E. Klein (Greenbriar Publishing, January 2021); 352 pp.

WE HEAR VOICES

 5 stars out of 5

Back in my younger days, I ripped through sci-fi books with a passion - I think it was largely because technology, and all the possibilities it brings, has always been a fascination (probably because my formative years were spent using a crank telephone on a party line and getting news and music from a floor-model radio, so Sony's Walkman was enough to blow my mind). But my tastes these days lean more toward mysteries and thrillers, so when I was offered a pre-release copy of this book, I was a bit hesitant.

I needn't have been. It was, literally, hard to put down. And while I won't describe it as anywhere near terrifying or horrifying, it was totally engaging - and eerily familiar because it takes place amid a pandemic, climate change devastation and people hopeful of a new beginning on a different far-away planet. Elsewhere, a mega-developer has created a highly regimented, communal living/working utopia with Big Brother overtones and a doctor is secretly trying to rehabilitate children who recovered from illness and suddenly began hearing "voices" in their heads.

The pandemic has taken the lives of thousands of earthlings, and many, many more have contracted and recovered from the J5X virus. One of those is Rachel's young son Billy, and although her life is far from perfect, she's grateful that his life was spared. She's even willing to overlook his newfound imaginary friend Delfy, who appeared in Billy's head shortly after his recovery. But her acceptance doesn't last long; soon, Delfy seems to have taken control - telling Billy to say and do ever more frightening things. Billy realizes what's going on, but he claims he's powerless to stop Delfy or ignore her commands.

Meanwhile, Rachel has two daughters - Nina, who is in school and hoping to be on one of the rockets that will take people to start a new world - and Beth, who, amid all the chaos, is almost the perfect baby. Rachel and her partner Al have been barely able to make ends meet since she stopped working to care for Beth, but both are resolute in their refusal to sign up for the communal work/housing program. But then Delfy starts commanding Billy to do decidedly unchild-like things.

As readers will suspect early on, these seemingly separate things - the space program, the work-life community and the doctor's hideaway - may be intertwined, and finding out how and why is what keeps the book a mind-grabber. The ending, while not a total surprise, wraps things up yet leaves future possibilities up to the reader's imagination. All told, very enjoyable and thought-provoking.

We Hear Voices by Evie Green (Berkley, December 2020); 384 pp.

BONE CANYON

5 stars out of 5

The first book in this series - Lost Hills - didn't disappoint, and neither did this one (in fact, I think it's better). Los Angeles Sheriff's Department homicide detective Eve Ronin isn't perfect - nor is she likely to become besties with most of her department colleagues - but she gets the job done even if she has to step on some really big toes to do it.

It begins as Eve and her almost-retired partner, Duncan Pavone, are called to investigate human remains discovered in the rubble of a wildfire in the Santa Monica Mountains. As it turns out - with help from hunky and single forensic anthropologist Daniel Brooks - the tidbits belong to a woman who went missing several years ago not long after she'd reported a crime to police that somehow, in intervening years, got lost in the system.

That, of course, makes Eve's ears perk up and her nose twitch. Despite warnings to cool her heels from a few of the aforementioned colleagues - most of whom are convinced she got her homicide job by grandstanding - she plods on with the help of Duncan, who says he has nothing to lose by ruffling a few feathers. Good thing, because some of those feathers not only get ruffled, but totally bent out of shape.

The investigation goes slower than Eve would like - patience isn't one of her virtues - with roadblocks coming from unexpected places that bring a whole new meaning of dead end. The conclusion brings a twist; I was expecting one that I hoped was wrong, and, happily, I was (sorry, my lips are sealed). All told, another winner, for which I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for a pre-release copy.

Bone Canyon by Lee Goldberg (Thomas & Mercer, January 2021); 287 pp.

GERMANIA: A NOVEL OF NAZI BERLIN

4 stars out of 5

Bleak. And, oddly, both enlightening and engrossing: Those are my reactions after reading this book. It was not, at least to me, an easy book to read. First of all, my coming of age happened on the lower cusp of the "Make Love, Not War" generation; I don't like the thought of war, much less reading about one. As for World War II, near the end of which this story is set, my earliest recollections, somewhere around age 4, is hiding with my mother while my father - an air raid warden in our small Indiana town - hit the streets to make sure all the residents had their lights turned off (in later years, though, I did wonder whatever possessed my mother to think we'd be safe hunkered down in an upstairs bedroom - but that's a story for another day).

At any rate, I've for the most part steered clear of reading books or watching movies about wars. But because this one is a murder mystery/thriller and offered to me from the publisher, I put aside my doubts and dug in. And in the end, it won me over, triggering emotions from hope to sadness to fear and giving me a unique glimpse into what it must have been like to live in war-torn Berlin in mid-1944. Honestly, I can't imagine hell being much worse.

The story centers around former Detective Richard Oppenheimer, who, as  Jew, has been relieved of duty under Nazi Germany rules. He's spared a worse fate, at least for the time being, because he's married to an Aryan woman named Lisa. They live in not much more than a hovel, which at any moment could be reduced to rubble by one of the frequent Allied air strikes. But then, his life takes a different turn: The Gestapo, it seems, need his expertise to help solve the gruesome murder of a woman whose mutilated body was laid out in front of a war memorial. He's reluctant to get involved - especially to help the people he sees as the enemy - but he also sees little choice. Soon, another body turns up in similar fashion - and now the search is for what is presumed to be a serial killer.

As he tries to skirt the uncertainties of interacting with a Gestapo supervisor (including such details as to when, or whether, he should keep the Star of David sewn onto his overcoat lapel as is normally required of him as a Jew), he becomes fascinated by the case. But many obstacles fall into his path, not the least of which is dodging the damage from incoming artillery. As all this unfolds and he's eager to nail the murderer, he tries to maintain his secret relationships with his anti-Nazi friends and keep up his hopes that he and his wife can escape to a safe country instead of being banished to a concentration camp - perhaps after the case is solved and he is no longer needed.

In between the action are extensive descriptions of what it was like to live in a war-torn city and the workings of the Nazi regime. It was to me a bit of a difficult read because scenes shift within the chapters with no warning; I lost count of the times I had to back up because I suddenly realized I was reading about an entirely different character in an entirely different setting. Still, it was overall a well-thought out, intriguing story I'm glad I took the time to read. Thanks very much to the publisher, via NetGalley, for offering a pre-release copy. Definitely worth reading!

Germania: A Novel of Nazi Berlin by Harald Gilbers (Thomas Dunne Books, December 2020); 348 pp.

THE LAW OF INNOCENCE

 5 stars out of 5

With the end of a mostly shut-in year looming, I've managed to read about 120 books - far exceeding the goal I set at the beginning of the year. All but a few earned high marks - with several coming from authors I'd not even heard of - and that's satisfying and a real treat. Still, I have to say that opening one from a long-established author - one of my favorites - brings a special level of excitement. And when it's really, really good, as this one is, I'm over the top (and, I hasten to add, more than a little sad when I've finished).

This one puts investigation and courtroom drama to the test, and both passed with flying colors. This time, though, it's Lincoln Lawyer Mickey Haller who's his own client; it seems he was pulled over for a license plate violation - after which the officer found a dead body in the trunk. Because of the contentious relationship Mickey had with the victim - and because evidence was found at Mickey's home suggesting the man was killed there - the hot-shot defense attorney suddenly finds himself behind bars and facing a trial that could keep him there for the rest of his life.

Needless to say, Mickey knows he didn't do it, but he's also acutely aware of the so-called law of innocence, to-wit: "For every man not guilty of a crime, there is a man out there who is." To this end, he and his team, which includes characters from previous books including his half-brother Harry Bosch, must figure out who the killer really is - and then prove it beyond a reasonable doubt to a jury.

How that plays out - and the goings-on in the trial itself - are the substance of the book. It's a great story, made even better by references to the onslaught of the Coronavirus and not-so-sneaky references to the lay of the national political land (which, depending on their perspectives, is likely to either delight readers like me or make them grind their teeth). Terrific book - highly recommended!

The Law of Innocence by Michael Connelly (Little, Brown and Co., November 2020); 433 pp.

THE WICKED HOUR

 4 stars out of 5

In the end, I enjoyed getting to know Detective Natalie Lockhart through this book, the second in the series. But I also know my enjoyment was dampened because I had not read the first one - and I strongly advise new-to-the-series readers to start there.
 

Natalie lives and works in Burning Lake, New York - a place that becomes a tourist mecca during its Mardi gras-style festivities at Halloween. Natalie herself is something of a heroine, following her much-publicized shooting of a serial killer sometime earlier. Apparently, she's never quite come to terms with that killing - nor with other events involving her sister and some school-age friends that are not fully explained here (I assume they were detailed in the first book). As part of her healing process, I suppose, it also seems as though she's had an affair with half of the town's eligible men (which at times tends to muddle her thoughts as well as how she does her job).

One of the events on Halloween night is a violin-playing contest, and this year is no exception. All goes well until it doesn't; the body of a young woman is found in a dumpster. She was one of the contestants - and, as it turns out, not the only violin virtuoso to have gone missing over the years. As the investigation progresses, a number of suspects emerge - some of whom force Natalie to question those she trusts. All this is complicated by her former relationship with her boss, Lt. Luke Pittman; she blames herself for breaking things off but doesn't know how or if they can get back to that status once again.

Woven into the story is a thread of witchcraft; it seems quite a few of the townsfolk are "into" it - some more seriously than others. There's no real evidence up front that the practice is in any way related to the young woman's death, but it's another avenue that must not be overlooked. Also woven into the story are glimpses of events from the first book, such as the sudden disappearance of one of Natalie's childhood friends who also happened to have been a budding violinist.

As I said at the beginning, I would have enjoyed this one much more had a more thorough background from the first book been provided. That said, it's good enough on its own that I won't hesitate to read the next one (the ending here, which was a bit unexpected, increased my anticipation). Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

The Wicked Hour by Alice Blanchard (Minotaur Books, December 2020); 304 pp.

PREMEDITATED MORTAR

5 stars out of 5

As cozy mysteries go, this series never fails to bring a breath of fresh air (albeit infused with the scent of sawdust). I've read three so far - I believe this is the eighth - and thoroughly enjoyed each one.

As this begins, building contractor Shannon Hammer has signed on to renovate and restore a wing of a long-abandoned mental hospital known as the Gables. The wing will become an upscale hotel owned by Shannon's friend, Jane Hennessey; when completed, the rest of the property will become a large retail complex that, hopefully, will attract visitors to Lighthouse Cove, North Carolina. Shannon's main squeeze, successful writer Mac Sullivan, has invested in the hotel project, so she's eager to get started.

But at the groundbreaking ceremony, her hopes are dashed a bit as a group of protesters show up to create a media circus. But wait, there's more: After the protesters disburse and she heads inside to get a better look at what needs to be done during the year-long renovation, someone pushes Shannon into a huge stack of bricks. Once she gets back on her feet - literally and figuratively - she goes back in to check out a hidden space and finds the body of one of the protesters.

From there, it's a merry chase to identify the killer that brings most of Shannon's close friends and her sister Chloe together (Chloe, for the record, has been in a serious relationship with the local chief of police). The investigation takes several turns, revealing previously unknown relationships and the possibility that the murderer might be someone close to Shannon. In between are details of the restoration project and the dark history of the mental institution - all interesting in and of themselves. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the chance to read and review another winner - and now I'm looking forward to the next installment!

Premeditated Mortar by Kate Carlisle (Berkley, December 2020); 304 pp.

THE STRANGER IN MY BED

3 stars out of 5

If I had a quarter for every sentence in this book that ends with a question mark, I swear I'd have enough money to replace the roof on our house. Good grief!

Both Freya and her husband of a couple of years, Phil, are facing uncertainties; for personal reasons, Freya has made the decision to leave Phil - or so she says in the beginning. But then Phil is seriously injured in an auto accident that's left him with no memory of anything prior to the return from what he recalls as a happy honeymoon. As she sits with Phil next to his hospital bed, Freya starts to question her motives for leaving and whether she should give the marriage another shot. For his part, Phil seems to have undergone a personality change for the better, but as he begins to learn what he was like pre-accident, he, too, begins to question what will happen from here on out.

And question. And question. Some paragraphs, in fact, are comprised of nothing but questions as chapters switch from the perspectives of the main characters. It's a never-ending string of woulda, coulda, shoulda,  what ifs and if onlys that have no real answers until the very end, when the true story is revealed.

But make no mistake: There is a story here - quite an intriguing and meaningful one, in fact, that highlights a couple of important social issues. Readers learn that there's much more going on that it appears at first blush, with Freya, Phil and, occasionally, Freya's older sister Daisy, all of whom are frustrated to some degree or other by Phil's inability to remember (especially things that don't jibe with the way he sees himself now). But for readers - and the characters themselves - it's hard to determine who is to be believed. Each new chapter adds details that build suspense, if predictably (with the exception of one detail at the very end). 

As far as I'm concerned, what woulda shoulda happened - not long after the honeymoon - is that Freya kept that suitcase packed and carried it, and herself, as far away from Phil as she could get with no forwarding address (it was clear early on that something was amiss in their marriage). Not that she's a very relatable character, mind you - none of them is, as far as I'm concerned - but of the lot, she seemed to have the most going for her. It just took her far too long for her to come to that conclusion as well.

Honestly, this book doesn't get a really high score from me, but that's almost entirely because of those incessant questions. I'd love to see the same story told in a more straightforward manor - those above-mentioned issues deserve to be told and retold until they're no longer issues. Meantime, thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review it. 

The Stranger in My Bed by Karen King (Bookouture, November 2020); 295 pp.

HER SISTER'S CHILD

4 stars out of 5

Clever but complicated. The second conclusion - which happened because of the sheer number of characters, multiple identities and ever-changing time frames - almost caused me to pack it in. But the first one started to kick in somewhere around the halfway point - and from then on, I was glued to my Kindle till the very last page.

Paula Donnelly regularly visits the grave of her older sister, an alcoholic who died when she was 24 (at the time of Paula's current visit, Lizzie would have been 40). Their parents gave up on Lizzie many years ago, but Paula remains loyal. Besides that, she's convinced that Lizzie had been pregnant, and gave birth shortly before she died. Paula, now divorced with two children of her own, is intent on finding out what happened to that baby (if, in fact, there really was one).

Next up is Charlie, who is pregnant and not at all sure she really wants a baby. Still, she resists her parents' demand that she have an abortion and moves out to a flat she shares with the birth father, who's a real cad. 

Then it's back to Paula, who meets a former schoolmate at a bar she happens to visit while trying to decide how to proceed with her baby search. As it turns out, he's very willing to help - although it's questionable whether it's altruistic, or wants to curry favor with Paula or something more sinister. The plot shifts perspective from these and other characters until it finally turns enlightening - and exciting. A good bit of the tale is predictable once things start coming together, although there's one big reveal that comes as a surprise (at least it did to me).

All in all, I really enjoyed the book, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. I do advise other readers, though, to do what I always do (mostly as a memory aid when it comes to writing my reviews): Keep notes on names and relationships along the way. It's a lot easier to refer to notes, especially if you're reading on a Kindle as I do, than trying to locate the place in the book to find the character who appears several chapters later but you can't remember who he or she is. 

Her Sister's Child by Alison James (Bookouture, November 2020); 351 pp.

ANSWERS IN THE FORM OF QUESTIONS

 5 stars out of 5

Category: Entertainment

Clue: A trip down memory lane 

Answer: What is a book about Jeopardy!, my all-time favorite TV game show? 

Fact is, my husband and I rarely miss it (for the record - and the benefit of various friends and family who might wonder what happened to us from 7:30 to 8 on a weeknight - if the phone rings when we're watching we refuse to answer).

You see, we go all the way back to the 1964 debut of the show with Art Fleming as the host and Don Pardo as the announcer. The current version is far more popular with viewers, with host Alex Trebek bounding on stage at the exuberant introduction of announcer Johnny Gilbert. Neither is exactly a spring chicken; Gilbert is well into his 90s (and still, IMHO, doing a bang-up job).

Despite being ecstatic over getting the chance, thanks to the publisher, to read and review a pre-release copy of this book, I figured I would already know most of what's in it. To some extent, I was right. But truth is, I learned a lot - most notably about such things as the importance of mastering buzzer ring-in timing, the process of becoming a contestant (don't for one second think it comes easy, or cheap) and what really happens behind the scenes. On top of that come insights from former champions - almost all of whom are familiar to those of us who watch religiously. From handlebar-mustached New York cop Frank Spangenberg to quirky bartender Austin Rogers to somewhat more conventional  Brad Rutter and Ken Jennings and the phenomenal James Holzhauer, they're all in here - offering tidbits about their strategies and experiences. There's even a chapter on the show's very active Alumni Chapter and how Weird Al Yankovic influenced the show's revival (say what)?

I wish I could reveal some of the details, but doing so would spoil it for others so I'll keep them to myself, recommend that you read the book for yourself and end with this: 

Category: Adjectives

Clue: Word that best describes this book

Answer: What is delightful? 

Answers in the Form of Questions: A Definitive History and Insider's Guide to Jeopardy! by Clair McNear (Twelve, November 2020); 272 pp.

WHAT MY HUSBAND DID

5 stars out of 5

It's rare for me (as I suspect it is for most other readers) to have the luxury of reading a book at a single sitting. It's even more rare for me to actually want to do that. Such was the case here; I was hooked from the git-go and, had it not been for a husband who depends on me to feed him at least once a day, I'd have plowed straight through.

Early on, we see 12-year-old Alice getting into a car driven by Richard - the husband of Maddy, in turn the mother of a college-age daughter. Nothing to get excited about, really, except that soon thereafter, the girl is found near death in a remote area of Leavensfield, England, the small but rather snobbish community in which Richard and Maddy live. To make matters worse, Richard - a university lecturer - didn't come the night Alice was found. Nor did he show up the next night, and Maddy's text messages and calls go unanswered.

Almost everyone in the community turns against Maddy, presumably figuring she was somehow aware of what Richard did (and may have even helped him do it). Meanwhile, she wrestles with a childhood event that left emotional scars (a few interspersed chapters let readers in on what happened back then). And then, Maddy gets a sign that fills her with both hope and dread; which one wins out is the stuff of which edge-of-seat experiences are made.

I can't say I was totally thrilled with the ending - nor was I very fond of the catty, shallow residents of Leavensfield - but whole thing certainly made for an exciting adventure with plenty of twists. Highly recommended, and many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

What My Husband Did by Kerry Wilkinson (Bookouture, November 2020); 360 pp.

KILL CHAIN

4 stars out of 5

Gotta be honest: Before I got an invitation to read and review this book, I'd never even heard of main character Pascual Rose. In part, that may be because he hasn't been heard from in quite a few years. Apparently, the former terrorist turned on former colleagues and, for the past two decades, has been living under the name of Pascual March (also apparently, Pascual must be a very common name in the Barcelona area, where he now makes his home. Otherwise, surely he would have changed his first name as well).

But the premise was enticing, and now that I'm finished I'm glad I said yes to this one. In many ways, Pascual isn't a very savory character, but over the years he's acquired a very talented woman (whom he did not marry) named Sara and a now-grown son, Rafael. Rather solidly ensconced in his new identity, lifestyle and work as a freelance translator, he's quite upset to get a text that will change the course of his life, and most likely not for the better. Two rather shady characters ask him to help them pull off a scheme to "move" an enormous amount of money into various bank accounts in exchange for one million euros. Oh yes - in case that's not enough of an incentive for him to say yes, there's a threat that if he doesn't, Sara and/or Rafael may suffer the consequences.

Left with no choice, Pascual agrees; but soon, things get even more complicated as other unsavory characters make appearances - from German intelligence agents who'd love nothing more than to nail him for old activities to Russian agents to whoever's really behind what essentially is an extremely high-stakes money-laundering caper. Confounding the matter is that Pascual isn't exactly at the top of his game anymore, so he needs to depend on other people who may or may not have his interests at heart.

The very complex plot takes him to several countries and puts him up against several adversaries (both known and unknown), with the action picking up considerable steam as time to close the deal - and Pascual to remain alive - start to run out. For sure, it held my attention all the way.

Kill Chain by Dominic Martell (Dunn Books, October 2020); 280 pp.

BIG KIBBLE

 4 stars out of 5

Two major takeaways came from reading this book. First, the industry that bags, tags and cans the "stuff" people give their dogs for dinner needs some serious regulation to make it way healthier than it is. And second, I wish the people who are telling the world about this travesty didn't have a dog in the fight.

But do not misunderstand: Even though the authors' company is in the business of selling freshly cooked "real" dog food and in direct competition with the corporate giants whose practices they're exposing, this is an important, well-researched and documented book. In fact, nearly 15% is devoted to notes and research citings, and I don't hesitate to say it's one that every pooch owner - or "pet parent," as the authors prefer to call them - should fetch, sit and read. I'll also assume that cat-lovers like me who consider puppies akin to grandkids - they're cute for an hour or two but I'm happy to see them go home - can infer that the same applies to the the feline feed industry (and for that matter, pets of any kind like ferrets, horses and pot-bellied pigs). But since the authors - and something like 63 million U.S. households with pets in residence - are dog-lovers, it seems like an a good place to start.

And trust me, it's an eye-opener; I learned a lot, most of it unpleasant to say the least. The rules and regulations of the industry - from start to finished products - haven't changed much since the early days. It's important to note that for regulatory purposes it's still considered "feed," not "food" - and still made from tons of ingredients you'd never for one second consider putting in your own mouth. And to that end, the authors make a good point: If we wouldn't eat it, why would we want to feed it to the doggies we love and treat as family members? 

Another important point they make is that quality does not increase with price (or at least not appreciably). Some of the blame, they say, has come by way of industry consolidation; to that end, there's a list of which companies own which brands - and that basically boils down to six conglomerates. As for oversight, infractions of what regulations exist rarely are enforced by meaningful punishment.

Industry history and practices are outlined in great detail and comprise most of the pages, but that's not all; there's a helpful section on nutritional needs for dogs, some of the FAQs from the company's website (the most common of which is, "Can my dog eat popcorn?") and even a section of recipes for the do-it-yourselfers out there. All in all, well done - and thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

Big Kibble by Shawn Buckley and Dr. Oscar Chavez (St. Martin's Press, December 2020); 320 pp.

SERPENTINE

 5 stars out of 5

Psychologist and police consultant Alex Delaware and LAPD homicide lieutenant Milo Sturgis have been friends for so long they can finish each other's sentences. I've been trailing them around for just as long, enjoying their interaction as they solve sometimes complicated murder cases, that I probably could finish them as well. And this - the 36th book in the Delaware series - doesn't disappoint.

This time, though, it's a cold case that falls - make that is shoved - into the lieutenant's lap. Why now? Apparently, a very wealthy woman is demanding that the case be reopened; she's convinced that a woman who was shot, pushed over a cliff in her car and burned beyond recognition 36 years earlier is the mother she never knew. A couple of subsequent investigations revealed nothing, and the hope is that Milo will work his usual brand of magic and find out what really happened.

Any investigation of this sort means delving into family matters, and it soon becomes clear that one of her dearly loved relatives may have some connection to other suspicious deaths. Also quite clear, though, is that someone living in the present really doesn't want an investigation to proceed. The trail leads over, under, around and through the streets of Los Angeles (with plenty of territorial description and stops to eat along the way) until it comes to a surprising end. 

All told, it's another very enjoyable foray into the world of Alex and Milo - made even more enjoyable by occasional appearances of Alex's main squeeze, expert guitar-builder/repairer Robin. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy!

Serpentine by Jonathan Kellerman (Ballantine Books, February 2021); 368 pp.

THE WELL OF ICE

4 stars out of 5

This is Book 3 of the author's Inishowen mystery series, and the first for me. And I must say that overall, I enjoyed it thoroughly. If I have to get nitpicky, I'll say the number of characters was a bit overwhelming, but once I got into the swing of things I managed to keep the important ones straight.

The star of the show is Benedicta "Ben" O'Keeffe, a solicitor in Glendara, Inishowen, who's desperately trying to clear her calendar for the upcoming Christmas holidays. But instead of seeing bows, boxes and warm hugs from her family and friends, she runs smack dab into the man who murdered her sister Faye. He's just been released from jail, and instead of heading for other parts as she expected, he's right on her doorstep. Long ago, she and he were an item - until he dumped her for her sister and then, well, you know. 

Ben has a relatively new main squeeze, a sergeant with the local police - although their relationship seemed to me to be tenuous at best (anyone who wants to keep a relationship "in the closet" says to me no relationship exists). But they're working at it, sort of, when things in the small community start to go horribly wrong. It starts when a popular pub burns to the ground - a possible arson - and the suspicious disappearance of the pub's barmaid. Then, when Ben and her lover, Tom Molloy, hike to Sliabh Sneacht to see the Well of Eyes, her foot slips in and she dubs it the "Well of Ice." Alas, that's not their only find; the other is the body of a dead female.

Needless to say, Ben has her suspicions that her sister's killer may be involved somehow. But is that simply what she wants to believe because she [understandably] hates him so much? What roles, if any, do the dead woman's husband or the pub owner play? As the plot progresses, it becomes clear that maybe Ben herself is in danger. If that's true, can her boyfriend protect her while he's trying to solve the murder? 

Well, you'll just have to read it to find out - and it's worth the effort. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for giving me a pre-release copy to read and review.

The Well of Ice by Andrea Carter (Oceanview Publishing, November 2020); 352 pp. 

A TIME FOR MERCY

 5 stars out of 5

The law works in mysterious ways - at least in small-town Mississippi courtrooms in 1990. And they're laid out here for all to read and enjoy as local attorney Jake Brigance takes on two very different high-stakes cases. One could earn a ton of money for his struggling practice; the other could get him killed.

The golden goose case pits Jake against a giant railroad company

he alleges was negligent in keeping crossing lights in good repair. The result was a horrible accident that happened - or so Jake needs to prove - because the lights weren't working. Needless to say, the railroad attorneys insist they were working just fine. As the book begins, it looks as if the railroad may be willing to offer a substantial cash settlement with Jake's client - thus allowing Jake to pay his bills as well as those he's racking up defending the client in his other case - one he got [ahem!] railroaded into taking on by the local judge.

It is that case that gets the lion's share of attention. A 16-year-old boy has been charged with the cold-blooded murder of his mother's boyfriend. The case is complicated by the fact that the dead guy was a local deputy sheriff - albeit one with a nasty temper and a penchant for getting drunk. Under state law, the boy can and will be tried as an adult; many, if not most, of the town's residents (and most certainly the victim's family and his fellow officers) are fervent in their belief that he deserves the death penalty. 

The more Jake learns, though, the more he believes the charges against his young client aren't warranted. Readers, of course, learn the details of what really happened as well as how Jake and his legal cronies are working out their courtroom strategy. Suffice it to say it's a real treat to follow along - or at least it was for me. I have to say I wasn't totally thrilled with the way things turned out even though it probably was for the best, but I'm encouraged that there is plenty of fodder for the next book in this terrific series (this is the third). Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review it.

A Time for Mercy by John Grisham (Doubleday, October 2020); 465 pp.