THE WOMAN IN THE LIBRARY

3 stars out of 5

How is it possible that I enjoyed a book but never understood what was really going on? I don't have an answer, but this story-within-a-story concept truly left me shaking my head despite the surprising reluctance to put it down. Even now, I'm not sure what was real and what wasn't (ditto the who) - but I'll try to explain it as best I can. To paraphrase Billy Joel, I may may be wrong for all I know but I may be right.

Hannah Tigone lives in Australia; in part because of pandemic-related travel bans, she sends chapters of the Boston-set mystery she's writing to Leo, a Boston writer who has agreed to contribute background information and correct content errors. Enter another setting: Four strangers in a Boston library include Winifred (Freddie) Kincaid, an Australia native in Boston on a prestigious writing scholarship. Their quiet is interrupted by a terrifying scream from an unknown person - female, all four conclude after they begin to talk with one another and form a collective friendship based on that common bond. Then, an actual body is found - that of a murdered woman. 

Okay, correct me if I'm wrong here, but that second scenario appears to be the book Hannah is writing. Freddie, the star of that show, is writing a book herself - and one of her neighbors is named Leo. From then on, chapters shift from exchanges between Hannah and Leo and the four new friends - make that the story Hannah is writing. That story held my interest most just because, I guess, of the whodunit factor (even though, I think, it's coming from a writer's imagination).

I can't say I much liked any of those characters - at least two of which are likely murder suspects - but the action did hold my attention. The only thing intriguing about Hannah's exchanges with Leo, on the other hand, was his progression from the role of editor to control freak. In the end, the whodunit was resolved, although I'm not totally sure whether that happened in real life or fiction (the latter, I think). I spent maybe half an hour after finishing the book trying to make sense of the whole thing, but total enlightenment never came. To be sure, it's cleverly written, but overall it just wasn't my cup of tea (or the awful American coffee Freddie - or was it Hannah - complained about). Still, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review it.

The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill (Poisoned Pen Press, June 2022); 292 pp.

THE GATEKEEPER

4 stars out of 5

Somehow it seems out of character to call a story with this much mayhem, murder and malicious monkey business  a "fun" read, but after finishing it, I can't come up with a better description. The near-superhero, Desmond Aloysius Limerick, or Dez, brought physical abilities and mental insights to the table, not the least of which is a sense of humor that elicited a giggle now and again. A retired mercenary with a side gig as a musician, he makes the whole thing work (and me eager to encounter him in the next go-round, assuming there is one).

As he's readying to leave his California hotel, he encounters a beautiful (of course!) damsel in extreme distress and quickly decides to take a short but bloody detour to save her. Turns out she's in distress for another reason: She's learned that someone at her father's uber-profitable company, Triton Expeditors (where she's gainfully employed), has been siphoning off billions of dollars but so far has escaped identification. Dez being between assignments at the moment (and Dez just being Dez), he agrees to help her find the culprit. He is, after all, a gatekeeper; he's the best at opening doors - actually, just about anything - and keeping them open as long as necessary.

What he finds, though, it far more complicated and dangerous (and, if I'm honest, more far-fetched, even though parts are ripped from the headlines). Dez encounters biased media, a clandestine militia operation that's intent on taking over and the threat of nuclear disaster - bulldozing his way through them all and leaving bloody messes in his wake as he looks for, and tries to bring down, the bad guys and gals. The ending is fairly predictable, but satisfying - including Dez's ride off into the sunset.

In short, only one thing nearly ruined the whole experience: I absolutely detest reading books written in the present tense. And no matter how good this one is, that got in the way and stomped on my enthusiasm. But that's just me; others, in fact, may find it a refreshing approach. In any event, many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to get to know this character and author by way of a pre-release copy.

The Gatekeeper by James Byrne (Minotaur Books, June 2022); 330 pp.

SNOWSTORM IN AUGUST

5 stars out of 5

Of the myriad of co-authors of books with the prolific James Patterson, Marshall Karp is a favorite of mine (the two co-created and co-write the NYPD Red series, on which, as I understand it, Karp will go solo with the upcoming Book 7). So when I had the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy of this book - which seems to be the first in a series - I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I was not disappointed; in fact, it's one of the best books of this kind I've read in a while.

More specifically, it's got a unique, intriguing story that launches with a white-out in Central Park. Snow? Not in August. Try cocaine. It lands on unsuspecting people and animals, killing them almost instantly. Say what? Beyond that, it's got a unique, intriguing main character in former NYPD captain Danny Corcoran, who heads up a special clandestine team of specialists formed by the police commissioner.

Danny lost his wife to an accident years earlier, but he's still close to her sister and their father, a soon-to-retire judge. His last day on the bench turns into a nightmare, triggering a war between powerful drug lord Joaquin Alboroto and the city of New York. When an unexpected disaster results in the police commissioner and his special team getting decommissioned, so to speak, Danny is asked to join a team of retired officers - if possible, an even more clandestine bunch funded by a handful of billionaires. Their primary mission? Thwarting Alboroto's plans to bring the city and a list of targets to their knees with no regard for human collateral damage.

But finding Alboroto and learning what deadly tricks he's got up his sleeves isn't going to be a walk in Central Park even after it's been deemed safe once again. It's not likely he's working in a vacuum, either - but there are plenty of bad guys and gals out there, some known and some not, so ferreting out who's allied with whom is a challenge in and of itself (not to mention exceedingly dangerous). The rest of the book is packed with action - some crossing over into "you've got to be kidding me" territory but edge-of-seat exciting nonetheless.

The bottom line? If you've got room in your summer vacation bag for just one more killer/thriller, consider this one. It's a winner in my book!

Snowstorm in August by Marshall Karp (Blackstone Publishing, June 2022); 348 pp.

THE GUILTY GIRL

5 stars out of 5

Calling detective Lottie Parker's life in Ragmullin, Ireland, chaotic somehow seems like an understatement, and I admit to wondering how anybody could live, much less thrive, in that kind of environment. But by this time, though, I think I've become accustomed to all the goings on, because this very hectic one is a favorite of the bunch I've read previously (this is the eleventh).

On the work front, Lottie is called to investigate the murder of a teenage girl at her fancy home following - or perhaps in the middle of - a clandestine party she hosted while her parents were away. One of the guests, the victim's friend, had been the subject of online bullying and becomes the primary suspect. Problem is, she's apparently been drugged and has no recollection of anything that happened during the event - making Lottie less than certain about her involvement in her friend's death.

The investigation continues with little progress, but Lottie also knows her teenage son Sean was at the party as well (after all, she found out, waited outside and drove him home). There's no doubt that he isn't the killer, but on the other hand, Lottie is pretty sure he's not telling the whole truth about what he knows. And then another, even younger partygoer turns up murdered - and the possible motive is that he knew too much. So what does that mean for Sean? Could he be next?

Amid all this are secondary plots involving a gang of drug-dealing kids on bikes and a local boxing gym where some of the kids hang out, both with possible connections to both murders. Lottie's husband, detective sergeant Mark Boyd, usually can be counted on for support - but not this time. He's in Malaga, meeting up with the young son who, until recently, he never knew he had. Alas, at least for readers like me who love Boyd, he's around only for the occasional phone consultation until the very end. And as if all this isn't enough to drive Lottie bonkers, her mother Rose, with whom she has a sort of like-dislike relationship, isn't doing well and moves in with the rest of the Parker clan.

Given the multitude of suspects and need to resolve the story lines takes Lottie - and readers - for a thrill-a-minute ride complete with a few twists (although I won't call them totally surprising). It all makes for another installment well done plus the hope that another one will be out soon. Until then, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this one. Well done!

The Guilty Girl by Patricia Gibney (Bookouture, June 2022); 507 pp.

A FATAL BOOKING

4 stars out of 5

This is the third book in what is a new-to-me series, and I don't expect it to be my last. It's always refreshing to find a cozy heroine who keeps her wits about her, doesn't go off on tangents that put her life and those of others in jeopardy and (gasp!) actually works with and respects law enforcement.

Such is the happy case with Charlotte Reed, a former English teacher who now runs Chapters Bed and Breakfast in a North Carolina harbor town. Aided by her trusty housekeeper Alicia Simpson and chef Damian Carr, she's hosting a book club retreat that promises to be fun because it will focus on classic children's literature. But as the guests arrive, it becomes clear all is not well in fairy tale land; in fact, their primary form of interpersonal communication seems to be bickering. Even worse, a local boat captain warns Charlotte that one of the guests has, shall we say, a rather shady background.

Still, Charlotte is determined to make the best of it - and things manage to go well until they don't: that shady guest turns up dead during the Mad Hatter tea party in the garden - a victim, it appears, of cyanide poisoning. That's an aha moment, at least until it becomes clear that most of the book club guests have relatively easy access to the poison. Whoops!

Charlotte begins to investigate, with the help of her next-door friend Ellen, who has a secret background as a secret agent (as does the relative who left the house to Charlotte in her will). Mostly missing in action is Charlotte's main squeeze, Gavin Howard, also an agent who is away on assignment until close to the end of the book to lend his expertise to the case (and to Charlotte, but in a different way). 

All in all, it's a delight to watch the story unfold as Charlotte follows clues where they lead (always, as I mentioned previously, sharing her findings with the police). There's a little too much repetition as various characters mull over who could have done what and when to my liking, but it all works out in the end (which also brings the revelation of possible new directions for a couple of the main characters, making me even more eager to read the next installment. Till then, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one.

A Fatal Booking by Victoria Gilbert (Crooked Lane Books, June 2022); 304 pp.

THE OMEGA FACTOR

4 stars out of 5

The author of the popular Cotton Malone series has come up with a new hero who, he says, is likely to get more books all to himself. Given that Nicholas Lee, a United Nations employee tasked with protecting cultural artifacts throughout the world including those in the religious realm (the focus of this book), this first effort made me a fan, so I'm hoping that happens.

More than a decade ago, Nick was in a serious relationship with a woman named Kelsey that didn't end as planned. She's since been a nun who specializes in art restoration, and she just began work on a panel from the historic Ghent Altarpiece, a major work that's been stolen and otherwise violated many times and is thought to hold secrets that could bring the Catholic Church to its knees. She's called Nick to meet with her in Belgium and see the panel; he arrives just in time to save her from a fire that totally destroys the panel but prevents the theft of Kelsey's laptop, on which she's stored photographs of her restoration work. Everything points to a secret group called the Maidens of Saint-Michael, aka the Vultures, who have been the target of a centuries-old and so far unsuccessful search by the Vatican, which has a vested interest in learning - and debunking (if not burying) the "truth" the nuns have pledged their lives to protect.

Running concurrently is a second story line, that of an archbishop who will do just about anything to become a cardinal and a cardinal who will do just about anything to become Pope - and one of them has a side gig that involves resolution of abuse that happened before he was born. When Nick's actions to save Kelsey's laptop results in exposure of the Maidens whereabouts, the two men are charged with following up on behalf of the Vatican as they struggle to realize their own ambitions and get retribution for old wounds.

It all makes for an exciting and educational reading adventure, although if I have a complaint it's that the amount of history, while quite interesting, tends to be so extensive that it almost overwhelms the story at times. And while I find religious history - whether real or theoretical - absolutely fascinating, I suspect the hot-button issue of sexual abuse by church leaders and questions surrounding a couple of the church's most venerated saints might be unsettling to some readers.

Overall, I must say the amount of research that must have gone into the writing is nothing short of impressive. Nick's job promises to lead to other intriguing adventures, so I'm definitely looking forward to his next adventure (and I wouldn't mind seeing more of Kelsey, even if she and Nick can't be more than good friends). Meantime, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy of this one. Good job!

The Omega Factor by Steve Berry (Grand Central Publishing, June 2022); 464 pp.

COLD FEAR

4.5 stars out of 5

After being enthralled by Steel Fear, the first book in this series, I jumped at the chance to request a review copy of this one that features a flawed military hero known only as Finn. I must say it didn't excite me quite as much as the first, but this remains a series I'm delighted to recommend. The setting this time is not a submarine but Iceland - and the authors certainly did their homework on this (to me) almost mysterious country in the northern Atlantic (if nothing else, I got an engrossing, in-depth history lesson).

As the story begins, Finn - a former Navy SEAL - is trying to track down three SEALS who were with him in Yemen when a monstrous tragedy happened that resulted in the death of numerous civilians. Ultimately, Finn was blamed for the disaster, and one - maybe two - of his buddies at the time has since been murdered. Finn has no memory of what happened and would like to clear his name, of course - and he believes the three he's looking for can clear the record and at the very least clear his conscience.

But early on, life gets in the way as he passes an obviously terrified young woman running toward the bay; while it appears she deliberately drowned herself, clues are murky and suggest the possibility of murder. Because Finn was in the area, he becomes a very unwilling person of interest to the local police. Complicating matters is that he's also a person of interest to his former employer and a contract killer (bringing a whole new meaning to the concept of "somebody's out to get me").

The rest of the book is a wild chase to see who will get to whom first; can Finn, who's taken an interest in the drowning case, solve the mystery surrounding the dead girl and extract the information he needs about what really happened on his military assignment before he's caught by the authorities (or worse)? You'll just have to read it to find out - but I will say it's a heck of a chase. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

Cold Fear by Brandon Webb and John David Mann (Bantam, June 2022); 432 pp.

TWO NIGHTS IN LISBON

4 stars out of 5

You and your new husband are spending a couple of nights in Lisbon, Portugal, where he has business meetings scheduled during the day. You wake up the first morning to find him gone - with no clues as to his whereabouts. The police don't give much credence to your insistence that he's been kidnapped - even when his disappearance is caught on video and you're asked to pay a hefty ransom you can't possibly afford.

That's the situation Ariel Pryce faces, and as the police - and folks from the U.S. Embassy, the CIA and a pesky reporter - keep plodding along but getting nowhere, she knows the only person she can rely on is herself. Her ex-husband isn't wealthy enough to help find her missing husband, John Wright, but she knows someone who is: a very powerful man who is just about the last person on earth to whom she wants to be beholden. Asking for help is laden with visions of past experiences best forgotten, but Ariel has no other workable option.

As the story progresses, insights into the past lives and dark secrets of Ariel and (to a more limited extent) John are revealed by flashbacks - weaving in several twists that suggest that John's disappearance may be tied to one or both of their past lives. It is here, though, that I became a bit frustrated; the aforesaid flashbacks happened with regularity, but within chapters and with no warning - making it a little hard to follow when I suddenly realized I was reading about people and events that happened in a different time and place. Once I was well into the book it got easier to recognize the switcheroo, but I never totally adjusted to it.

Except for a fair amount of "filler" that sometimes reads like a preachy commercial for a specific hot-button issue, the action is pretty much nonstop and most of the twists are surprising. If you're one who believes the end always justifies the mean, you'll be satisfied with the ending; I'm sort of on middle ground in that respect, but overall I must say I enjoyed the entire experience and, especially as the end neared, really didn't want to put it down. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review it.

Two Nights in Lisbon by Chris Pavone (MCD, May 2022); 450 pp.