DREAM TOWN

5 stars out of 5

Reading a new book in a series you've been following for at least three or four installments is sort of like getting glimpses into the life of old friends. And that's exactly what it should be, IMHO; you want the continuity of familiarity tinged with a few surprises - none of them, in the case of the mystery/thriller genre, life threatening to the characters you've come to know and love (or even, in some cases, dislike intensely).

Such is the case with Los Angeles Sheriff's Department detective Eve Ronin and her near-retirement partner, Duncan Pavone (this is the fifth book in the series; for those who missed the earlier editions, it stands alone fairly well, but as always, I suggest starting to read any series from the beginning, or as close to that as possible). The setting here is mostly in the uber-rich area of Hidden Hills in Los Angeles County - no doubt gorgeous, although nothing much about the place has much appeal to a Midwestern-through-and-through gal like me. 

Eve's life has remained pretty much a mess, although she does have a fairly steady man in her life and is at least on speaking terms with her mother and father (both of which, though, could change at any given moment). Her much-publicized detective skills are being documented in a reality TV show, much to her chagrin (though in fairness, she agreed to let it happen). Her mostly estranged father is producing it, with her mother in a prominent role. But for her part, Eve tries to keep her distance.

Crime, though, still gets her attention; this time, the star of another popular reality show filmed in Hidden Hills becomes a murder victim in the family complex. Exterior cameras catch sight of masked mauraders leaving the scene - suspected to be members of a local Chilean gang. Meanwhile, Eve's main squeeze, forensic anthropologist Daniel Brooks, is engaged in finding and identifying bodies buried on a preserve not far from Hidden Hills. These, too, may be gang members - or not and may be related to the reality star's demise - or not.

Surprise - all these scenarios get visited and revisited as the connections among them become evident; it isn't till near the end that the truth - which, oddly also is interconnected - sort of smacks Eve right between the camera angles. All in all, another totally enjoyable read - and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to learn that by way of a pre-release copy. Good job as always!

Dream Town by Lee Goldberg (Thomas & Mercer, January 2024); 300 pp.

THE HEIRESS

5 stars out of 5

Well wow! I'm not sure what I was expecting when I started this book, but it wasn't that I'd be blown away. That was especially true at the beginning, when I learned that chapters shift all over the place - from time frames to characters to scenarios - which usually annoys the heck out of me. But for whatever reason - I'll chalk it up to the author's adept writing - it's the perfect format for telling this story. 

It begins with Camden McTavish and his wife of 10 years, Jules, both of whom come from less-than-ideal backgrounds and no longer claim families to go home to. Camden's, though, left a bit more when he left North Carolina: his adopted mother, Ruby, left her mind-blowing fortune, including the mansion in which she and assorted other family members lived, to him and him alone. But largely because of the way she and the others treated "outsider" Camden, he couldn't wait to get away - leaving that fortune behind.

But then, an uncle dies; and against his better judgment, Camden agrees to a plea to return home - which he expects is just a ploy to get him to divvy up the family fortune. His plan? Go, play nice (or not) and get himself and Jules back to their life in Colorado, where he teaches English. Jules has a different goal; she's hoping to convince him to at least take the money before he runs. But after she sees the mansion, she wants him to take the money and stay.

They both learn early on, however, that some things never change; Cam's family is even more disgusting than Jules thought and Cam remembered. Ruby herself had a rather colorful background, starting with her kidnapping at the tender age of three. Her grown-up life fell under suspicion as well; married four times to husbands who died under somewhat suspicious circumstances, she lived her life amid people (both townspeople and relatives) who were sure she had a hand in their demises. Even Cam, who enjoyed Ruby's protection from the rest of the family, isn't convinced of her innocence.

Even with all that, the plot gets thicker the longer Cam and Jules stay in the mansion. And those aforementioned shifting chapters shed even more light - especially the series of letters from Ruby - on what happened and what may happen next, all laced with surprises right up to the bitter[sweet] end that I almost didn't want to happen because I wasn't ready to put down the book. But put it down I must, and now I'll have to be content to thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. The word I started with says it all: Wow!

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins (St. Martin's Press, January 2024); 281 pp.

DEATH WRITES

4 stars out of 5

I've missed only a couple of books in this series - this is the sixth - and more's the pity. Those I did read, this one included, I've thoroughly enjoyed. Mind you, to my mind they're far closer to fitting into the "cozy" category than "thriller," but that's fine with me; sometimes, I'd rather not be overwhelmed with blood, guts and concern that the main character won't make it to the end of the book.

Benedicta O'Keeffe, affectionately called Ben, is a level-headed solicitor in Glendara, Ireland, who sometimes gets caught up in illicit activities. And it's a little refreshing to see that her boyfriend Tom Molloy, a police sergeant, doesn't poo-poo her input nor threaten to hog tie her if she finds herself in the middle of an investigation yet again.

And of course, such is the case here, when things begin with her concern that her parents may have fallen victim to a scammer; Molloy, concerned as well, offers to do what he can to help, bless his heart - and the immediate result is that they agreed to come stay with Ben while things get sorted out. Meanwhile, the townspeople are gearing up for Glenfest, a literary event, and everyone's excited that the notoriously recluse author Gavin Featherstone will be the star of the show. Things roll along swimmingly until his presentation - insights into his soon-to-be-published memoir - a presentation that ends up falling flat. Soon thereafter, Ben learns that her office is the keeper of Featherstone's Last Will and Testament, a document drawn up by her predecessor.

Mostly estranged from his wife and children, Featherstone lived with a young male assistant. All well and good, perhaps, but the inheritance issue takes on more significance when it's learned that the author's death was not an accident. Until the killer is identified, everything is on hold; after all, a murderer is prohibited from receiving money or valuables from the person he or she willingly caused to die. And for sure, several of the potential beneficiaries are on the suspect list.

For the most part, the murder investigation and happenings with Ben's parents' situation move along slowly (though not nearly as slowly as Ben and Tom's relationship); clues are revealed here and there right up to the end, when both situations are resolved after some surprising information comes to light. Also of interest is a twist in that aforementioned relationship - one that, I'm sure, will play out in the next installment. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to it - and thanking the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to catch a pre-release copy of this one to read and review.

Death Writes by Andrea Carter (Oceanview Publishing, December 2023); 336 pp.

BROADCAST BLUES

5 stars out of 5

Having read four other books in this series - this is the sixth - I almost feel like New York's Channel 10 News Director Clare Carlson is an old friend. It helps, I suppose, that many of my working years were in journalism also, albeit print and not broadcast. Despite her sometimes (make that frequent) abrasive manner, I've worked with a few who probably could eat her for lunch.

When private eye Wendy Kyle gets blown up along with her car, Clare smells a big story. Wendy, it seems, specialized in nailing cheating husbands and made a comfortable living plying her trade. Clare needs that big story because she's always at odds with her boss, the station is about to get new owners, her daughter Emily is in the midst of a personal crisis and - horror of horrors - she's about to turn 50 years old. Could the situation be any more dire?

The dead woman once was an NYPD officer, but run-ins with the powers-that-be forced her to quit. After a little digging, Clare finds a connection to a mega-wealthy billionaire who has a woman in every port, so to speak - and then to an up-and-coming politician who has ties to the NYPD but an up-to-now squeaky clean image. Clare's investigation brings her in contact with former husbands - she's had three so far - and sends her down some paths that twist and turn and lead nowhere but are intriguing to explore and others that are a clear and present danger.

The ending - which seemed a little out of character (and of which I'm not a huge fan, BTW) - could lead to an interesting next installment - and for sure, I'm looking forward to it. Meantime, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one. Well done once again!

Broadcast Blues by R.G. Belsky (Oceanview Publishing, January 2024); 340 pp.

THE MYSTERY GUEST

5 stars out of 5

When I first met hotel maid Molly Gray in the first book of the series (appropriately titled "The Maid"), her quirks drove me right up a wall. Still, I loved the book - and inexplicably, Molly; so much so that I was eager to get my hands on the next installment. Molly's quirkiness didn't seem quite as over the top as before (or maybe I've just become accustomed to her idiosyncracies), and I enjoyed this one thoroughly as well.

Molly, it seems, is perfectly suited for work as a maid; thanks in part to coaching by her late grandmother, who also worked as a maid, she never settles for anything less than perfection to please guests at the Regency Grand Hotel where she works. In fact, she's now Head Maid; and it was she who wrote the job handbook for all the other maids to follow (to the letter, if Molly has any say in the matter; she brings OCD to a whole new level).

After a harrowing involvement in a murder in the first book, Molly got a promotion and is, inasmuch as she's capable of, happy with the way her life is going. She's got a live-in significant other, and although she misses her Gran terribly, she's learning to cope on her own by, in part, relying on memories of happier days. As this one begins, the hotel - under Molly's watchful eye - is preparing for a visit by renowned mystery writer J.D. Grimthorpe. Just as he takes the podium to make a big announcement, though, he topples over - never to write another word. Needless to say, it's almost a given that a butler did it - or in this case, a maid. This time, the maid under scrutiny isn't Molly, but Lily, her shy maid-in-training. And once again, Molly must deal with NYPD's Detective Stark, with whom she had a serious run-in in the first book. 

Little by little, surprising clues turn up - some by way of chapters that revert to Molly's younger years - until, of course, the culprit is revealed. There's even a surprise at the end that brings to light new possibilities for Molly in the next installment. I'll be waiting - and while I do I'll say thanks to the publisher, via Netgalley, for letting me read and review a pre-release copy of this one. A fun series!

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose (Ballantine Books, November 2023); 277 pp.

MANNER OF DEATH

4 stars out of 5

Medical thrillers top the interest list for me, even ahead of the legal thrillers that are perhaps more common. So to be sure, this author's work is not unfamiliar to me. In fact, I've read one other in this series, but I was nonetheless surprised to learn that this is the 14th. It stands alone well, but of course I always advise starting any series at the beginning when possible. The featured characters are Laurie Montgomery and Jack Stapleton, married physicians at the New York Medical Examiner's Office (Laurie, in fact, is the chief ME), though her first love is doing the actual hands-on tasks rather than administrative chores.

Pathology residents routinely pass through the office, required to spend a month or so observing, and helping to perform, autopsies on the many bodies that pass through each day. One of the new residents, Ryan Sullivan, presents a bit of a dilemma; he absolutely loathes even being in the autopsy room - it upsets him so much that he'll try just about anything to get out of being there. In the process of trying to skirt the issue, he learns of a couple of instances in which the declarations of suicide - made both by the medical legal investigators, who make the initial prognoses, and the MEs was questionable, even though all were based on solid evidence. As it turns out, a previous resident also started to follow up on those cases but was murdered before she shared any conclusions from her investigations.

Ryan, though, is so hot to trot out of the autopsy room that he manages to get approval from his direct supervisor to take a few days for research - and no surprise, he finds another handful of cases in which the suicide/homicide decision could have gone either way with both the MLIs and MEs having niggling doubts but, for lack of conclusive evidence, went with suicide. Were any of those cases "staged" by a killer who was successful in covering up a murder? If so, how was it done? Why and by whom?

Those are questions that Ryan must deal with as his own investigation picks up steam; readers follow along while learning early on the answers to at least two of those questions. Sandwiched in between is quite a bit of "filler" into the private lives of the main characters (even if it was interesting, which it was, it was a little too much for my liking). Interesting to me was the frequent praise for the role of the medical legal investigators - a profession I must admit I'd never even heard of before. The ending brought a little surprise, but one I think will please most followers of the series. That includes me, and I'm already looking forward to the next installment. Meanwhile, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. 

Manner of Death by Robin Cook (G.P. Putnam's Sons, December 2023); 346 pp.

MURDER CHECKS OUT

4 stars

Many times, I've gone on record as not being a wholehearted fan of cozy mysteries - mostly because the heroines therein tend to be airheads, stubbornly pushing their way into murder investigations even after they've been told by authorities to butt out. Still, cozies do play a role in my life by offering much-needed relief after reading a string of knock-down, drag-out, shoot-'em-up (and worse) thrillers. And I don't recall the last time I read an actual book instead of on one of my e-readers, I'm a huge supporter of libraries and all the wonderful things that happen in them. So when I saw that this book has a bookish focus - and I'd read and enjoyed an earlier book in a different series by the author - well, reading it was kind of a no-brainer. It's the eighth in this series and my first, so I hoped that late start wouldn't put me at a disadvantage; for the record, it did not.

The star of this show is Amy Muir, co-director of the Taylorsford Pubic Library with her friend Sunny. Job-sharing allows Amy to better care for twins Nicky and Ella, whom she shares with her professional dancer/choreographer husband Richard. As the story begins, Richard and his professional partner are in charge of the upcoming community theater production of "The Nutcracker," in which the 5-year-old twins have roles. The couple also awaits a visit from Richard's mother, who isn't, shall we say, the most lovable person on earth (but she adores the twins and they her).

The chairwoman of the overall holiday festival in town also is not much beloved, since she heads up a company that's running roughshod over property owners with the intent of building upscale development projects. But when she's found dead by the hand of someone else, one of the suspects turns out to be Amy's brother, Ethan, who lives with his husband Scott and oversees the town's volunteer fire department. When Ethan suddenly goes missing, he suddenly becomes law enforcement's primary target.

Amy, understandably, is certain her brother is innocent - and in between shuffling the twins to rehearsals and from babysitters to babysitter, working and prepping for what is expected to be a stressful MIL visit, she sets out to prove it. Accomplishing that, she says, will require her to put to put all her "research skills" to the test - though honestly, based on what I read, said skills seemed to be limited to Google searches that most seventh-graders could do. Overall, though, Amy is a likeable, competent person; and while there's very little dangerous action going on - the bulk of the story is about the daily comings and goings of her and her family interspersed with a few hints as to who the culprit might be - I really enjoyed the reading experience. No blood, no guts here - the most "rugged" parts were the times Amy got annoyed enough to swear (well, just in her head a couple of times till she finally let one actually get past her lips). There's a titch of danger near the finish line, when everything comes together to usher in an "all's right with the world" ending.  

All told, it's a perfect book to read, especially over the holiday season (a gift, perhaps, for someone one your list? I'm sure they'd love it too). As for me, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to sample a series I'm now looking forward to reading more of. Well done!

Murder Checks Out by Victoria Gilbert (Crooked Lane Books, November 2023); 262 pp.

TOM CLANCY COMMAND AND CONTROL

5 stars out of 5

Every single time I start one of these books, I say the same thing to myself: Self, you'll never be able to keep all the characters and storylines straight. And you know what? A few chapters into it, and I'm really into it - you know what I mean? The same thing happened here, with an added thought that I'm in awe of any writer who is able to even conceive of such complex concepts, much less weave them together so well. I'm sorry to learn that this is the last in the series he'll be penning.

Central to the plot this time out is Panama, where President Rafael Botero has asked his old friend, U.S. President Jack Ryan, to make an unscheduled visit to boost his image during a time of growing unrest. On the other sides of the equation are Botero's enemies (who at best want him deposed and at worst dead) and the Russians, who would love to swoop in and save the day.

In the midst of that, though, is another angle; a mission by members of the Campus, a secretive elite group that includes President Ryan's son, Jack Jr., took out a formidable murderer who, it turns out, has a sister who is even more lethal. Not happy with losing her brother, she sets out to get rid of the person who ordered his killing - none other than Ryan's Director of National Intelligence, Mary Pat Foley (and just for good measure, her elderly husband). 

Both situations heat up fast with a coup d'etat in Panama that quickly threatens President Ryan and his small protective entourage. It extends to Mary Pat, who entered the country with her President but took off in another direction, and to Jack Jr.'s group, which seems to have garnered attention from some very nasty people all on their own. Of course, I can't offer more details except to say that they're all juicy. All told, another one well done, and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review it.

Tom Clancy Command and Control by Marc Cameron (G.P. Putnam's Sons, November 2023); 462 pp.

THE WATCHMAKER'S HAND

4.5 stars out of 5

One of the most daunting aspects of writing books in a series, it seems to me, is that the characters tend to become like old friends to readers - which is great, of course - but also readers who come to expect that each new installment will be at least as good - perhaps even better - than the last. To be sure, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this, the 16th featuring consulting forensic scientist Lincoln Rhymes and his now wife, NYPD detective Amelia Sachs. And make no mistake: it is very good - I stayed up 45 minutes past my bedtime to finish it, for gosh sake. But the abundance of technical "stuff" was a bit overwhelming, and for whatever reason, I didn't feel as much of a "connection" between Lincoln and Amelia this time out.

That technical part centers around construction cranes and the horrifying repercussions when they go beserk. Now I'm very familiar (or so I thought) with cranes, but it became clear early on that I had no idea what a "tower crane" is (I finally opted for a search engine to see what they look like, and yes, I've seen them). Neither Lincoln nor Amelia seemed to have their hearts into their relationship (even Thom Reston, caregiver of Lincoln, a paraplegic, lacked his usually spicy banter with Lincoln). On the other hand, the story did bring back a couple of unsavory nemeses from past books as well as actions/interactions of much-liked colleagues like Lincoln's former partner Lon Sellitto and colleague Ron Pulaski.

This one begins as a tower crane at a project in downtown Manhattan inexplicably becomes unstable, dropping 36,000 pounds of 6 foot by 4 foot flange beams and counterweights that, thanks to quick actions by the operator, kill just one human and injure only a handful. Shortly thereafter comes a demand from the perpetrator that promises a drop of even bigger proportions if that demand is not met within 24 hours. At that point, of course, the clock starts ticking (heads up, longtime fans) and Lincoln and Amelia switch to action mode.

From that point on, the action is pretty much nonstop; needless to say, the goings-on put just about everyone in danger and few events are what they seem to be. It puts all of Lincoln's vast knowledge to the test, tests the resilience of everyone on the team showed me that I'm able to sit on the edge of my seat a lot longer than I'd have predicted. All told, another good one - and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review it.

The Watchmaker's Hand by Jeffery Deaver (G.P. Putnam's Sons, November 2023); 427 pp.

INHERITANCE

4 stars out of 5

Reading any book by one of my favorite authors is always a treat - and both can be said of this one. Still, I have a few reservations - most notably to become aware of an inevitable event and then having to wait till the end - and wading through pages and pages and pages of "stuff" that was interesting and fun and well-written but not all that relevant to said event - for it to actually happen. On the plus side, though, it did boost my anticipation for the next book in this, the first in the author's "Lost Bride" trilogy.

After she's barely recovered from a gobsmacking personal setback, Sonya MacTavish, a graphic designer, is visited by an attorney who gobsmacks her once again with news that she's got an uncle she never knew she had. Actually, that's because her father never knew it, either - he was a twin, no less. Now deceased, that twin has left Sonya much of his personal estate, which includes a huge Victorian house in Poole's Bay overlooking a Maine coast. If she claims it as her own, though, she must agree to inhabit the premises for a minimum of three years. In large part curious as to why her father and his twin were separated at birth - a factoid Sonya's mother would like to know as well - she decides to have a looksee. After all, the house itself is a bit of a curiosity, known to the locals as Lost Bride Manor because of a history of just-wed grooms whose new wives never made it much beyond their "I dos" (starting with one named Astrid).

Oh, and did I mention the house is haunted? As things start to go bump in the night and day, Sonya becomes a believer - attested to by the hunky, marriage-eligible young attorney who's familiar with the house and shows her around. I was a little more skeptical; it was a little hard for me to believe the "spontaneous" eruptions of perfect-for-the-occasion musical numbers blasted from Sonya's computer and harder still to accept the mysterious whole-meal clean-ups that happened during the 15 minutes everyone was gone from the kitchen.

Meantime, Sonya and her best friend Cleo Fabares, who plans to move into the multi-room manor, spend a lot of time inspecting all the rooms, nooks and crannies - finding reminders of those who once lived there (and with them, clues to days gone by) and figuring out how all those weighty objects can be relocated to lived-in parts of the house. In the process, Sonya, at least, manages to land graphic design clients hand over fist - everything she touches, it seems, turns to gold - and she gradually begins to trust most of the "ghosts" and wants to find out why they haven't yet left the building. As might be expected, though, not all the ghosts are the friendly variety; at least one initiates all sorts of bad vibes and experiences that test Sonya's will to continue living there.

Meantime, interspersed chapters give readers a look at the fates of those foregone brides, adding important background. But by the end, both Sonya and Cleo have decided to stick it out - in no small measure because love tends to conquer fear (or at least cancel it out for a time). The actual end, which came as no surprise to me, is a big cliffhanger that no doubt will be the opening chapters in the next installment, which I'm hoping comes soon. Before that happens, I'll thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to get in at the beginning of this intriguing series by way of a pre-release copy.

Inheritance by Nora Roberts (St. Martin's Press, November 2023); 448 pp.

UNNATURAL DEATH

5 stars out of 5

If I've missed any books in this series over the years - this is the 27th - I'd be surprised. No surprise, then, that I consider Medical Examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta to be an old friend whose visits I look forward to. And to be sure, I enjoyed her company this time out. And while I won't reveal any secrets, I'm sure other loyal readers like me will be almost more surprised than the good doctor at the reemergence of a particularly nasty enemy.

Now based in Alexandria, Virginia, Scarpetta has, with the help of the governor, rid herself of a couple of cantankerous (make that downright dangerous) colleagues and starting to whip her lab into shape. Then, she gets called to a remote area to the north, where two campers have been savagely murdered - both impaled by ski poles, among other damages. Closer inspection reveals that they were killed by someone (or something) that has beyond-human capabilities.

Scarpetta and her chief investigator, Pete Marino, are joined by her Secret Service tech wizard niece Lucy, who flies in and out in a helicopter that does everything except make breakfast. While they're inspecting the crime scene and extricating the victims, Marino makes a discovery that chills his sole (and sends shivers down Scarpetta's back because of the possible repercussions).

When the victims are identified, it's learned that they were not the placid outdoor equipment store owners most folks thought they were; rather, they were criminals under investigation by law enforcement that includes Scarpetta's husband, FBI profiler Benton Wesley. The rest of the story focuses on finding out who, or what, killed the couple and why - all the while trying to stay out of the crosshairs of someone who would like nothing better than to bring down Scarpetta and everyone she loves. It certainly held my attention throughout, and needless to say I'm already looking forward to the next installment. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

Unnatural Death by Patricia Cornwell (Grand Central Publishing, November 2023); 428 pp.

BAD BLOOD

4.5 stars out of 5.

This is a series I've been following for quite some time now - this is the 19th book - and at this point, I know going in that I won't be wasting my time. And once again, I was right. This one has a couple of threads going for it, starting with a murder victim who isn't really dead (well, until he really is) and a stalker who's driving a wedge between Detective Inspector Kim Stone and Stacy, one of her police colleagues at Halesowen Station. The wedge has come mostly because Stacy, believing the stalker will give up and go away even though he scares the daylights out of her, has said not a word to her wife, Devon, or Kim - both of whom are noticing Stacy's out-of-the-norm behavior.

The dead guy, though, takes center stage; he's been "posed" in an odd position - a clue? - and certainly gave off the appearance of a corpse when the medical examiner got to the scene. But then he started to breathe, so the hope was he could identify his attacker; but he died for real before he could say a word. He turned out to be an abuser with a track record that included jail and one suspected of continuing that pattern after he got out. Aha - could this be a revenge killing?

Not long after Stacy finally comes clean to her wife, another body turns up under circumstances similar to the first. As the investigation intensifies, Kim and her colleagues learn that both victims lived for a time at an institution for incorrigible youth, where they were part of a group dubbed the "Psycho Six." Another aha - could the revenge angle be pointing at someone in particular?

Needless to say, the plot thickens, bringing into question the possibility of a killer that Kim is reluctant to acknowledge. Throughout, there's plenty of action that kept me thumbing the pages of my e-reader well beyond my usual bedtime. Well done, as always, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Now bring on the next one!

Bad Blood by Angela Marsons (Bookouture, November 2023); 415 pp.

ODYSSEY'S END

4 stars out of 5

Private investigator Rick Cahill isn't having a great time of it, what with fighting what probably is a terminal brain disorder and missing the heck out of his wife Leah, who chose to get out of the line of fire that's all too common in his line of work and take their young daughter Krista (whom he misses even more) with her. His disease seems to be worsening a bit, with the accompanying rages of violence cropping up when he least needs them as he fights his urges to save humanity.

From out of nowhere, he gets a visit from an adversary who once inexplicably saved his life. Now, it seems, an aging Peter Stone has kidney failure and wants Rick to find his daughter in hopes that she can be a donor and save - or at least prolong - his life. Problem is, Stone, who opted out of the Witness Protection program to contact Rick, has no idea where the daughter is - and the daughter has no idea he's her father. Rick finds the job downright repugnant, at least until he learns that he'll be paid $50,000 for the job - money he can set aside for Krista's future.

Compounding the issue is that another deadly adversary, Russian mobster Sergei Volkov, is about to get out of prison much earlier than expected. Volkov has axes to grind with both Rick and Stone, albeit different ones; Stone's testimony helped seal Volkov's prison sentence, while his beef with Rick is more of a family matter. Either is quite capable of ending Rick's life at any given moment - either personally or by ordering their minions to do the job.

Rick really doesn't know who to trust - including the daughter - except for his loyal partner Moira, who agrees to help and plays a big role in the investigation that tries to get somewhere fast but for the most part gets bogged down in motel rooms and endless speculation. Alas, I can't be more specific without giving away too much, except to say that getting to the end isn't without serious complications for all the characters in this, the 10th installment of the series. As for me, I'll be waiting for the next one as usual - with these books, there's rarely a dull moment. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review this one.

Odyssey's End by Matt Coyle (Oceanview Publishing, November 2023); 321 pp.

THE ALTAR GIRLS

5 stars out of 5

Although it's hard for me to imagine anyone who's life is so, well, discombobulated, I always look forward to reading more about Detective Lottie Parker from Ragmullin, Ireland. This is the 13th book in the series, and if nothing else, the edge-of-my-seat ending made this one a favorite so far. To be sure, the topic - the murder of children - isn't exactly fun, but coupled with Lottie's love and coworker Mark Boyd's exhaustive search for the son his ex-wife stole from him, the whole thing is a barn-burner.

It begins with the discovery of a young girl's body on the grounds of the local cathedral; Lottie is crossing her fingers that it isn't little Willow Devine, whose mother reported her missing earlier in the midst of a terrible snowstorm. Turns out it's Willow's friend, Naomi Kiernan; but while that brings some relief, it still means a child has been murdered - and the question of whether Willow has met the same fate.

After questioning numerous potential suspects, including a priest who isn't terribly forthcoming (and several parents with similar attitudes), the worst happens; Willow's body is found. In the midst of all this, Lottie must deal with her mother's ever-worsening dementia and Boyd's abandonment of the case as he runs off to follow a trail he hopes will lead to his son.

There's plenty of action throughout as the investigation and Boyd's search continue, as well as plenty of murder suspects, and it was a struggle putting it down as activities of daily life - like cooking dinner - intervened. By the time I reached the three-quarter mark, though, you couldn't have pried it out of my hands. Fortunately, it's easy to read, so my long-suffering hubby didn't have to go hungry for long. Now, I'm ready for the next one - and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one.

The Altar Girls by Patricia Gibney (Bookouture, November 2023); 504 pp.

THE EDGE

4 stars out of 5

On the surface, ex-Army Ranger Travis Devine isn't all that much different from several others from several other series who are looking to outrun/compensate for/redeem themselves because of their pasts. But the author's considerable writing talent moves Travis way up on my list of favorites, where I'm sure he'll remain. My only concern now is how I missed the first installment (this is the second).

This time, Travis is called in by his boss to investigate the death of CIA operative Jenny Silkwell, the daughter of the boss's longtime friend and a former well-known politician. Not only is Travis charged with identifying Jenny's killer, he's to learn what happened to her laptop and phone, which could have contained critical and sensitive government secrets. The task sends Travis to the smallish town of Potter, Maine, not far from the Canadian border and Bay of Fundy.

There, the plot quickly thickens; he's to work with local law enforcement, who fall somewhere in between appreciating his assistance and perseverence and wanting to ride him out of town on a rail. Jenny's family, too, is a strange bunch; mom and dad are divorced and mom has remarried, while her sister Alex and brother Dak live in two different ends of the huge family mansion and rarely meet in the middle (perhaps for good reasons).

From the git-go, some things don't add up - including how Jenny's body ended up where it ended up. But Travis is getting push-back from the local cops, who would prefer that old pots not be stirred. Needless to say, that doesn't cut it for him, especially after even more discrepancies turn up and he gets to better know some of the local players. The cuts get deeper still when he finds connections to the past and - even more telling - others who have ties to Jenny turn up dead. Uh-oh, could Travis be next on the killer's list?

I'll never tell. And if you want to find out, read the book - I'm sure you won't be disappointed. In the end, events lead to the next installment - and I, for one, am on the "edge" of my seat hoping that happens soon. Meantime, thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy of this one. 

The Edge by David Baldacci (Grand Central Publishing, November 2023); 461 pp.

BETRAYAL

4 stars out of 5

After reading one other in this series featuring former MMA fighter Robin Lockwood, I looked forward to another. And I'm happy to say this one (the 7th) doesn't disappoint - if anything, I enjoyed it more. This time around, Robin is a highly regarded defense attorney in Portland, Oregon. When a local family of four is murdered, the primary suspect is Mandy Kerrigan, a washed-up MMA fighter who once roundly defeated Robin, causing her to get out of the professional fight arena. Mandy, it seems, had beaten up the grown son of the murdered family and was even seen at their door not long before the bodies were discovered.

But Robin suspects the truth is more elusive, agreeing to defend her and, hopefully, identify the real killer or killers. Among the discoveries is the fact that the mother, Margaret Finch, was an attorney with a lucrative history of defending powerful mobsters, the father owed a ton of gambling debt and the aforementioned son was a drug dealer (plenty of reasons for payback, then).

The story, which employs flashbacks, follows Robin's investigation and courtroom proceedings as well as her budding romance with a colleague. There's plenty of action, all building up to a surprising end (well, sort of; fairly early on I made a deduction on my own that proved right on the money). All told, it's a very entertaining book, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

Betrayal by Phillip Margolin (Minotaur Books, November 2023); 303 pp.

THE MANOR HOUSE

5 stars out of 5

My advice when reading this intriguing book? Don't take anything for granted. It's got more twists than a 10-pound bag of licorice sticks.
 

Nicole and Tom love their new home - an eye-popping custom-built model with lots of glass, a secluded location and a plethora of accoutrements including Tom's Maserati. But it wasn't always this way; not long ago, in fact, they were barely making ends meet. That changed when they won a bundle - several bundles, actually - in the lottery. Now they're living like the king and queen that Nicole always dreamed they would.

Then tragedy strikes; Nicole comes home from an outing and finds Tom dead in their swimming pool. She runs screaming to their neighbors' Manor House for help - the folks who sold Nicole and Tom the land for their dream house. Sasha and Olly are sympathetic, as is Kitty, their housekeeper who lives in their coach house. And so is Tom's longtime friend Patrick, with whom he recently had a major falling out; now, Patrick has returned with a giant apology and a promise to help Nicole get on with her life.

Tough situation, and one that gets worse by the day after the police begin to question whether Tom's death really was an accident. But at least Nicole is surrounded by friends and neighbors who can help her navigate the rough spots, right? Well, maybe, maybe not. Through flashback chapters, readers get glimpses into all the characters and events that led up to Tom's death. Mind you, I'm not a fan of this kind of writing; normally, it causes more confusion than it's worth. Here, however, I actually looked forward to them - and found my jaw dropping at more than one revelation. Put another way, just when I thought I had things figured out, I didn't.

By the end, I was so engrossed that I was actually happy to have an extra hour to finish the book (that was the night we set back the clocks to wipe out Daylight Savings Time - usually the biggest bummer night of my entire year). All in all, a treat to read - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

The Manor House by Gilly Macmillan (William Morrow, November 2023); 331 pp.

THE TWELVE BOOKS OF CHRISTMAS

3.5 stars out of 5

Make no mistake: This is a favorite series of mine, and after reading this latest entry (the 17th), it still is. But I'll also say that if I listed them in rank order, this one wouldn't be anywhere near the top of the "best" list. 

And why might that be? Mostly, I think, because it's more pomp than circumstance. The plot lacks pizzazz (or much of anything of substance), and there's way too much exposition and lengthy description of what people are doing, where they're going and what they're eating. Even the ending, while it did wrap everything up nicely, was a bit underwhelming.

Venting aside, though, it's still an entertaining read; I seriously doubt this talented author could ever write a dud. The story here begins as Brooklyn Wainwright, a book restoration expert, has moved to Sonoma wine country with her handsome husband, security consultant Derek Stone. In the midst of pre-Christmas celebrations, she gets a call from good friend Claire, who is in Scotland preparing to marry Cameron, a castle laird - and she wants Brooklyn and Derek to serve as their witnesses. Amid all the excitement, it's also decided that Brooklyn's parents (her mother is active in a local druidic Wiccan group) will tag along as well. Claire also hopes that Brooklyn will help solve a mystery: a dozen Christmas-related books, some quite valuable, have gone missing from the castle library - which is open to the public.

As might be expected, not everything goes exactly as planned; the young woman hired to maintain the previously neglected library doesn't seem up to the task; strange things go bump in the night, and the women of the town, located on the banks of Loch Ness, haven't exactly warmed up to the notion that Claire will be the lady of the castle - now or ever. On the plus side, thanks to the loyal keeper of the castle and her competent staff, no one will ever go hungry; at every opportunity, delicacies (and of course, tea) appear almost from nowhere.

But alas; also from nowhere appears a dead body - followed not long after by a second one. Those discoveries, needless to say, force a wedding postponement and an investigation that, of course, is joined by Brooklyn and Derek (though the former is still focusing on the missing library books). Also of course, that's where I must stop; revealing anything more could spoil things for other readers. That said, this is a cozy mystery; I've yet to read one in which things don't work out well for the main characters, and this one's no exception. And Brooklyn remains a bit of an anomaly among cozy heroines; she doesn't go off on tangents, plays nice with the police and doesn't have a "sidekick" to whom she listens instead of the voice of reason (and for that, I'm eternally grateful and a loyal reader). I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this one. 

The Twelve Books of Christmas by Kate Carlisle (Berkley, October 2023); 319 pp.

THE GIRL IN THE VAULT

3.5 stars out of 5

My feelings about this book are very mixed, I'm afraid. Oh, not that it wasn't engrossing; in fact, I stayed up 45 minutes past my bedtime because I didn't want to wait till morning to see how it turned out. It's just that the plot seemed so contrived that at some points it was borderline silly - and having read other of this talented author's books, it was a bit of a disappointment overall.
 

Faye Walker, a dirt poor gal from the South, has "made it" to New York City as a summer intern at a Wall Street bank. She's just one of several interns - all unpaid - who are vying for a couple of full-time slots come fall. Her math-inclined brain and near eidetic memory is serving her well, and her chances of making the final cut are excellent. Needless to say, she has very little free time, but she's managed to find the love of her life - an immigrant who's anxiously awaiting his Green Card and driving a carriage around Central Park.

But as the internship nears the end, Faye makes a discovery that convinces her the deck is stacked against her; no matter how hard she's worked, she won't be picked. That, in turn, not only infuriates her, but makes her want to get even. She hatches a devious plan, finds a willing cohort who also has an axe to grind and sets out to get not only vengeance, but several million bucks.

To say her plan is complex would be an understatement; at a few points along the way, the details got lost on me and I just tried to ride it out till the goings on turned back to reasonably coherent (I mean, I've been to New York City and ridden the subway, but the concept of counting support posts and dodging third rails kind of left me scratching my head). Still other details of the plan made sense, but it was hard to believe that even a person as smart as Faye could ever have anticipated every possible glitch and pulled off a caper of this magnitude. The ending wrapped things up with a few twists, but of course I'm not about to offer any hints. All told, it was an enjoyable ride (really!!) even if it fell a little short of my expectations and defied credibility. I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

The Girl in the Vault by Michael Ledwidge (Hanover Square Press, November 2023); 315 pp.

THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING

4 stars out of 5

Despite being royalty (Lady Georgiana Rannoch is the King of England's cousin, don't you know - he who's at the moment off galavanting with some woman named Simpson) - she's like most first-time mothers in being apprehensive about giving birth. And that big event is imminent in this, the 17th installment of the "Her Royal Spyness" series. She and hunky hubby Darcy O'Mara are close to penniless (not sure why since he has a job as some kind of investigator, but hey), so she has yet to hire a nanny or even buy enough nappies for the nursery. Some of the feet dragging, though, comes because - based on her own past experiences with an off-putting mother - she wants to be more involved with her own child. For now, they're living quite well at the estate of Sir Hubert in Eynsleigh, which comes with more rooms than Buckingham Palace and a slew of people to cook and clean.

But alas, there's no chef; and Sir Hubert, an explorer readying to return home, will expect to be fed in his usual custom. So, Georgie hires a Frenchman named Pierre she met on one of their trips - a man who claims to be a chef but who's an almost total stranger. Happily, when she throws a welcome back dinner party for Sir Hubert, it's a hit - and so is Pierre. So much, in fact, that one of the guests, Gothic horror writer Sir Mortimer Mordred, wants to "borrow" him to cook up a feast for a party he's hosting at his manor - a rather spectacular residence that includes a "poison" garden.

That dinner, too, is a culinary success - that is, until several guests become quite ill and one dies. But how could that be? Everyone ate the same things (perhaps some ate more than others), and most of the guests felt no ill effects. Beyond that, no one seemed to have been alone with the pre-served food, at least not long enough to doctor up a dish or two. That is, with one exception: Chef Pierre.

Georgie, though, is certain her chef is innocent, even though he's an avowed Communist who isn't fond of an "upper class." But most of the guests (and more importantly, the police) are ready to truss him up like a Christmas goose, so she's got her work cut out for her if she wants to prove that he's not the culprit. Solving the mystery becomes more of a treat for readers once Georgie meets none other than mystery writer Agatha Christie (who's at Mordred's party with her husband, who was one of the guests who became ill). Georgie and Agatha hit it off at once, bouncing ideas off one another until the end (after which they pledge to remain friends, so methinks we may see the indominable Agatha again soon).

On the other hand, Darcy, a favorite character of mine, was barely there; even when he was present, he was, shall I say, rather lackluster. And Georgie? I know she's trying to stop saying "golly" so much, but I sure wish she'd hurry it up. Overall, though, this is another great romp back in time as always, and I'm already looking forward to the next adventure. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review this one.

The Proof of the Pudding by Rhys Bowen (Berkley, November 2023); 295 pp.

CALICO

5 stars out of 5

No matter what the topic or genre, I'm always up for reading any book by a guy who's one of my favorite authors.That said, it pays to pay attention: had I noticed the genres in which this one is included (e.g., Science Fiction and Time Travel), I wouldn't have been quite so perplexed when it turned out to be quite different from what I expected. But once I got into the groove, I was hooked - and I marveled that anyone could come up with such an intricate plot that doesn't have holes in it large enough to drive a spaceship through (and happily, one that leaves the door open for more to come).

It's hard to cough up a review without spoiling things for other readers, but the story centers on homicide detective Beth McDade, who managed to land a job with the somewhat remote San Bernadino County Sheriff's Barstow Station after being dumped from the LAPD for doing something that comes naturally once or twice too often. These days, she spends a bunch of time at a local pub called Pour Decisions (gotta love it) but solving crime not so much. That changes when she's called to the scene after a screaming man ran right into a van driven by an elderly couple on their way to Las Vegas (an accident; they were sent on their way). But the dead guy has no identification; a bigger mystery, though, is why he's wearing clothing from the 1800s and is in poor health. But wait, there's more: not long afterward, construction workers unearth human bones that are quite old - except for the titanium implants in the elbows. Whoops!

As Beth and local coroner Amanda Selby try to figure out what's going on, readers get the full monty by way of chapters that provide timely (or maybe I should say untimely) insights into the past. By the end, of course, everything comes together, complete with a twist I sure didn't see coming. The whole thing is entertaining and kind of mind-blowing, and for sure I'll be watching for the next installment. Meantime, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the privilege of reading a pre-release copy.

Calico by Lee Goldberg (Severn House, November 2024); 415 pp.

OPPOSABLE THUMBS

5 stars

From 1975 to early 1999 - the period in which Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert did their wildly successful thumbs up or down thing on TV, our family of four was up and running, with our younger (and final) kid entering her seventh year. We went to the movies with some frequency - back then, a box of popcorn didn't cost as much as a new car - but we also spent many hours with our noses glued to the TV set in the living room (one of those big old cathode-ray sets, of course). We loved watching the sometimes volatile dynamics between the two movie critics, which often helped us decide whether or not to spend our hard-earned money at at the theater. So I looked forward to the enlightenment this book promised to bring.

And the author delivered; the writing was interesting even during parts that easily could have turned boring, and I learned much more about the complicated relationship between the two rival newspaper columnists as well as the evolution of their popular TV show from a behind-the-scenes perspective. Other chapters serve as biographies of their early and pre-TV lives.

Not surprisingly, much is made of the never-ending tension between the two, both personally and professionally; but in the end, it was what propelled the somewhat unwilling team to the stardom they enjoyed for 23 years until Siskel's death in early 1999. Ebert continued for a time until he, too, passed away. So what would they be doing if both were still alive today? "Whatever projects they did separately, Gene and Roger would have remained Siskel and Ebert as long as they lived: two individuals who were better at arguing about movies together than anyone else in history," the author posits. 

At the end of the book is a list of 25 films - amid hundreds of films they reviewed over their years together - that earned a thumbs-up from both critics (that in and of itself may be worth the price of admission). All in all, this is an informative, enjoyable book and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.A thumbs-up from me!

Opposable Thumbs by Matt Singer (G.P. Putnam's Sons, October 2024); 352 pp.

THE SECRET

4 stars out of 5

This book, the 28th in the Jack Reacher series, is set in the late 1990s and takes readers back to his days in the military. As might be expected, he's a little less the maverick and loner we've come to know and love; even his physical prowess is toned down a bit. What we do see, though, is some of what shaped what he became in more recent books as told in an enjoyable, engrossing story.

Actually, there are two threads; as part of his regular assignment as Military Police Officer at the Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois, Reacher is dealing with stolen gun parts and trying to track down not only who's behind the theft but where they're ending up. Just as he's making progress, though, he gets pulled off to serve as the Army's representative on a task force looking into the presumed murder of a man who was involved in a top-secret government research project in India 20-plus years ago. Prior to that, eight other people related to that project have bitten the dust, although in ways that didn't attract suspicion till now. Since the task force was formed at the behest of the U.S. Secretary of Defense, time is of the essence and failure isn't an option.

The trick, if there is one, is to explore the connections among all the victims, determine whether there could be more victims to come (and if so, find ways to protect them), and, ultimately, find out who's doing the killing. Given all the secrecy surrounding the project and all the years that have intervened, that's no small job. It gets even more complicated as the task force's worst fears come to fruition. Readers meanwhile get treated to a behind-the-scenes look at everyone involved, so they know more than Reacher does almost every step of the way except near the end, when Reacher beats us all to it (well, almost - I correctly guessed it fairly early on). Needless to say, there's no shortage of Reacher tough-guy action, though as I mentioned earlier, it's not as full-on as in later books.

All told, it's another attention-holding adventure that's easy to read (good thing, since I really wanted to get through it in one sitting; didn't quite make it). Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. 

The Secret by Lee Child and Andrew Child (Delacorte Press, October 2023); 304 pp.

A LONESOME BLOOD-RED SUN

4 stars out of 5

I've read three other books by this talented author and looked forward to checking out the adventures of "Bone Detective" Dave Beckett in this series - of which this is the second installment. Honestly, neither he nor the story grabbed me much till at least halfway through, but after that, my interest picked up and I enjoyed the rest of the ride. It helped to learn - albeit after the fact - that most of the adventures are based on the author's real-life experiences in law enforcement.

Basically, Beckett, a homicide detective in San Bernadino County, California, has earned a reputation for noncompliance with the rules - even to the point of writing his own. For years, he's gotten away with his offbeat, borderline illegal words and actions, mostly because he also gets his man (or woman) - or at least more often than the other detectives in his department. Still, his antics are enough to try the patience of Job (and certainly didn't endear him much to me). The plot is a sort of compilation of his adventures and misadventures over four or so years, centering primarily on the father he barely got to know, his emotionally disturbed partner and his attraction to a pretty female officer named Judith "Jimmie" Poe. Throw in his own penchant for shooting himself in the foot (usually after loading the gun himself), and you've got a real mishmash of back-and-forths that at times can be a little hard to follow (or, in some instances, really care much about).

Eventually, though, it all comes together with a gruesome find unearthed - literally - by a local dog. The rest of the story isn't much less gruesome, but it does bring closure of at least one major case that pretty much assures a follow-up. Will I? Yes, I think - if for no other reason than to see what beat of whose drum this guy will follow next time out. Meantime, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the pre-release review copy of this one.

A Lonesome Blood-Red Sun by David Putnam (Level Best Books, October 2023); 333 pp.

HOLLY

5 stars

As a big fan of this author, I was surprised that I really don't recall much about Holly Gibney, the central character in this book. But I sure am now, and by golly, I'm looking forward to reading about her again. These days, she's a private investigator in her agency, Finders Keepers, and she's got her work cut out for her here when she runs up against murderers whose tastes, shall we say, are rather unusual.

There's a fair amount of background included, though, so readers with memories like mine won't be left in the dark. The story takes place amid the early emergence from Covid-19 restrictions - in fact, Holly's own mother recently died of it and her agency partner, Pete Huntley, is currently in quarantine after contracting it - so no surprise that Holly is super-careful and the subject is an underlying theme throughout (also no surprise given the author's well-known stance on the subject). But when Penny Dahl asks Holly to find her daughter Bonnie, who's been missing for three weeks, she overcomes her reluctance and takes on the case. 

Meantime, her young friend Jerome Robinson, who helps with investigations, is hoping for success with a book he's written, and his sister Barbara, Holly's good friend, is doing the same with her poetry. The latter effort brings her in contact with married couple Rodney and Emily Harris, mostly retired professors at a local college. Now in their eighties, they still get around better than most their age, in fact, but for a very sinister reason that - you guessed it - ties in with Holly's investigation. Readers, though, get the benefit of seeing things from all angles as chapters shift from the perspectives of various characters, prompting us to keep turning pages and chew our nails the closer we get to the end (a more appropriate reference than you'll know till you read the book; and while on the subject, please know that I'll never look at liver and onions the same way again).

My bottom line verdict on this book? As expected: scary, gross and thoroughly delightful.

Holly by Stephen King (Scribner, September 2023); 464 pp.

ROBERT B. PARKER'S BROKEN TRUST

5 stars out of 5

Of all the characters in the late Robert B. Parker's arsenal of books, Spenser is - by far - my favorite. And in the years following Parker's death in 2010, I've continued to read (and for the most part enjoyed) those that were carried on by other writers (all of whom, for the most part, did admirable jobs). But now, a favorite author has tackled Spenser - and I couldn't be happier.

Much of that comes because the others never quite got the hang of Hawk, Spenser's sometime sidekick; in some of the books he was conspicuous in his absence, and I always suspected that was because it was so hard to find Hawk's "voice." This time, though, it rang true (well, as true as it can get minus Parker himself). It also hits a timely topic as Laura Crain, the wife of the world's sixth richest man - and an acquaintenance of Spenser's longtime main squeeze, psychologist Susan Silverman - walks into Spenser's office. Her hubby Andrew, she claims, hasn't been himself lately and she wants to know why. His longtime business partner, Ethan Lowe, is honchoing a major merger with a Canadian company - one that could push the combo into the financial stratosphere (or possibly in the opposite direction).

But with the ink on Laura's retainer check barely dry, disaster strikes; now Spenser is even more intrigued and, like a dog with a bone, doesn't want to let go of the case. As his investigation progresses, he gets to interact with old friends from the Boston Police Department and frenemies who are not - plus, of course, the aforementioned Hawk - all of whom should be familiar to loyal readers of this series. For details, though, you'll just have to read the book. Already, I'm chomping at the bit for the next installment, and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the privilege of reading and reviewing a pre-release copy of this one.   

Robert B. Parker's Broken Trust by Mike Lupica (G. P. Putnam's Sons, November 2023); 400 pp.

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, SH!T WENT DOWN

5 stars out of 5

Back in the dark ages, I took History 101 as a required course in my college major. The elderly professor, bless his pea-pickin' heart, did nothing except read from the textbook during every. Single. Class. I hated it so much that when the class was over, I ran to the registrar's office and changed my major (yes, really!) to one that didn't require another history class. What struck me most as I got into this book, then, was if this author had been my history professor, well, chances are I would have spent quite a few years teaching typing and shorthand to high school students instead of working as a university administrator.

And oh, it's not just the history part - even though the events, organized by month, are interesting, well laid out and more than occasionally chuckle-eliciting. Rather, it was the fun of learning from someone who proclaims that "those who cannot remember the past need a history teacher who says f*uck a lot." Truth be told, I was hoping to learn some new words here, but that ended up being only one (no, I'll never tell). Besides that, his promise of "no shortage" of hate for a certain orange-haired former U.S. president was nothing short of endearing to me. A word of advice: if either of these revelations bothers you, don't even bother opening this book.

It is, alas, nearly impossible to write a review of this book without spoilers; so the best I can do is offer a few insights and examples of what's between the pages. As I mentioned earlier, specific events in history are highlighted by month - some of which are quirky things you (and definitely I) somehow missed in formal history classes. Others add finishing touches that, arguably, should have been included in what we did learn; others just illuminate the importance of those we did.

I learned, for instance, how the term "gerrymander" came to be (hint: it was named after a real person). That Gutenberg wasn't the first to invent the printing press. That Grace Hopper, close to age 80, was the oldest active-duty commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy of either gender. That Jack Ruby was, technically, innocent of killing Lee Harvey Oswald. Intrigued? You should be. If you want to know more, go read the book. Meantime, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to indulge in exchange for an honest review.

On This Day in History Sh!t Went Down by James Fell (Bantam, October 2023) 432 pp.

THE NIGHT OF THE SLEEPOVER

4.5 stars out of 5

I've lost count of the number of books I've read by this author, and while I've enjoyed some more than others, of course, I've never been disappointed. This one follows in that fine tradition - ending with an unexpected twist and the promise of a sequel (the latter by the author in his acknowledgements).

At a sleepover at one of their homes, three youngish girls - Leah, Jasmine, Victoria and Harriet - crawl into their sleeping bags after a night of chatter, consuming copious slices of pizza and even more copious glasses of vodka-laced drinks. The next morning, one wakes up - only to find three other empty sleeping bags. Now, some 20 years later, what happened to the girls remains a mystery and the only "survivor" - Leah - has moved on to get married (and divorced) and have a 14-year-old son. What happened that night, though, continues to haunt just about everyone in town - especially the missing girls' parents and relatives like Esther, now a lawyer and Victoria's sister.

Enter Owen, younger brother of the missing Jasmine. Now a filmmaker of sorts, he's returned with his team determined to make a documentary on the disappearances that he hopes will turn up evidence that will lead to the truth. Leah, of course, is on his list of people to interview; her first one doesn't go well, but quickly, it gets worse: she gets an email warning her to do whatever it takes to stop Owen's project.

Chapters switch from the present to days before, during and after the sleepover so readers get gradually more insights into the girls' lives and what might have happened on that fateful night. One of the biggest questions, for instance, is how Leah was able to stay asleep while three other people somehow got up and left the same room? And was Leah's father - a not-so-upstanding citizen who's about to be released from prison - involved in any way?

In the end, of course, everything is resolved - though probably not quite in the way most readers will expect. Overall, it's an engaging read - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to get in on the action by way of a pre-release copy.

The Night of the Sleepover by Kerry Wilkinson (Bookouture, October 2023); 287 pp.

OBSESSION

4 stars out of 5

Although I've never considered myself to be a big fan of ex-CIA operative Teddy Fay (at least not in comparison to the related Stone Barrington series), this one is in my mind the best of the lot so far (it's the sixth). Teddy, who by most accounts is considered to be dead, is trying hard not to be resurrected and takes on the persona of three different characters (yes, his ability to switch identities so quickly without anyone suspecting defies rational thought), so it's sometimes a little hard to keep them all straight. But somehow, it works.

The story takes place primarily in and around Santa Barbara, California, where Centurion Pictures and a Croatian billionaire are close to a deal on a joint venture. Centurion is owned by Ben Bachetti, and a film starring Mark Weldon - one of Teddy's alter egos - is being directed by Peter Barrington (both names will be familiar to readers of the Barrington series so I won't bother with details). Early on, the billionaire's wife is kidnapped, and Teddy agrees, under one of his other identities, that his "friend" (secretly the real Teddy) will try to rescue her. Meantime, another bad guy has the hots for Ben's dazzling model wife Tessa, and his quest to win her over turns from stalking to something way more threatening.

The rest of the story follows those two themes all the way to their conclusions, with plenty of action - and a lot of help from familiar friends including Stone - along the way. One hallmark of both series is that it's rare for any of the main characters to meet an untimely end - at worst, one might get roughed up a little - so I and other readers can stay on the edge of our seats without biting our nails to the quick. While situations certainly get serious and there are several casualties of war, so to speak, things tend to work out in the end, as they do here. All in all, it's another enjoyable romp and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. 

Obsession by Stuart Woods and Brett Battles (G.P. Putnam's Sons, October 2023); 315 pp.