THE BURNING

5 stars out of 5

With a longstanding fascination for the Amish and their ways and some familiarity with the part of Ohio in which this series is set, it's a given that I'd be attracted to the books. But those interests alone probably wouldn't be sufficient to entice me to read more than one. Rather, it's the stories, and the characters, that keep me on the edge of my seat waiting for the next installment (of which this is the 16th).

For those not familiar, Kate Burkholder is chief of police in Painters Mill, located in the Buckeye State's largest Amish community (the second largest concentration in the world). She's a recent bride, the wife of John Tomasetti, an agent with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. She's also Amish or, more accurately, she used to be; she left the old ways some time ago but still maintains a relationship with the local Amish, though it's tenuous at best. Her brother, Jacob, owns a local farm where he lives with his wife and son. 

This story begins with the particularly gruesome murder of an Amish man named Milan Swanz, who was burned alive on a stake (hardly a fun way to go). Tracking down clues to his identity and a motive proves difficult for Kate and her team, but it soon becomes clear he was far from an upstanding citizen and had, in fact, recently been excommunicated from the Order. Some evidence suggests that the murderer might be Amish, but that goes against their staunchly anti-violence nature. They're also notoriously closed-mouthed when it comes to speaking anything negative about their brethren - especially to the "English" folks at the police department, so eliciting information is akin to pulling hen's teeth.

Kate has a bit more luck, but not much - and much what she gets doesn't bode well for her brother Jacob, who had a serious run-in with the victim just a few days before the murder. Kate's relationship with her brother also calls into question her continued participation in the investigation; can she, or even should she, be involved when he's a major suspect? The same is claimed about her husband, who's been helping the department. Problem is, without Kate's understanding of the Amish and help from him, any meaningful investigation is likely to go nowhere fast.

It is at this point I must clam up; anything else I can say would reveal too much except that there's a very intriging look into a part of Anabaptist history thought to be long ago dead and buried. Besides that, there's plenty of action and close calls that kept me turning pages right up to the end. Now I'm once again looking forward to the next installment - and once again thanking the publisher, via NetGalley, for putting a pre-release copy of this one in my hands (or rather, on my Kindle). Well done!

The Burning by Linda Castillo (Minotaur Books, July 2024); 320 pp.

PITCH DARK

4 stars out of 5

I came late to the party for this wonderful series, discovering it just five books ago (this is the 15th). Each one has served up an action-packed adventure with engaging characters like the star of the show, Mike Bowditch, Maine game warden investigator. No less interesting are his wife Stacey, now an EMT, and her father, retired game warden Charlie Stevens - the latter a long-time mentor and father-figure to Mike.

This time around, though, it's almost all about Mike; Charlie does play a crucial role, but Stacey not so much. The story begins as Mike gets a call from a game warden in a remote district, asking for Mike's help with finding a missing person; that, in turn, leads him and Charlie, who insisted on tagging along, to the really, really remote home of mutual friend Josie, who's a helicopter pilot. Strangely connected to the case is an equally strange man named Mark Redmond, who has been tasked with building a gorgeous home for Josie and, also strangely, is accompanied by his 12-year-old daughter Cady. Both, however, seem to have disappeared from Josie's premises.

Needless to say, they're all now in an area that has little or no access to cell phones; but Josie believes a couple who run a sugar mill in an even more remote area may know something. So, off Mike and Charlie go in Josie's helicopter to find out. They got it right, actually, but also very wrong; let's just say Mike, Charlie and Josie quickly find themselves in no position to do more chasing - a situation that goes from bad to worse.

But Mike is nothing if not resourceful; the situation gets a reprieve of sorts, freeing him to continue tracking the man and his daughter, who clearly want to get away fast. From here on, it's a battle of wits and who can withstand the most physical punishment interspersed with a few twists (and I'm not referring to the tree-covered terrain). The ending brings a bit of a cliffhanger as well as other news that make me hope that the next installment won't be long in coming. Meantime, I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to once again enjoy the exploits of one of my favorite characters.

Pitch Dark by Paul Doiron (Minotaur Books, June 2024); 304 pp.

IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME

4 stars out of 5

After reading three of the author's books, he's become one of those "don't miss" writers who, I hope, keeps churning them out as fast as I can read them. This one really doesn't disappoint, although short chapters that flip from scenario to scenario faster than a ping-pong match don't make it all that easy to follow. It wasn't until close to the halfway point, in fact, when everything started to make sense and "come together" for me; after that, it was far more exciting and engrossing.

The story begins as a young man named Ryan Richardson is out in a remote area with his girlfriend, Alison; he's knocked unconscious and Ali goes missing. Although Ryan provided a loose description of the man who hit him, many locals, including the police, suspect Ryan of abducting, and probably murdering, Ali - but the lack of proof meant he was never charged. That doesn't stop the gossip mill from making his life miserable, though, so he takes off for parts unknown for a new start and with a new name.

On an overseas trip with law school classmates, Ryan sees the man he believes knocked him out and took Ali, who he suspects might still be alive. Meantime, back home in Leavenworth, Kansas, Ali's car (actually her father's) is found at the bottom of a local lake with her purse and two unidentified but clearly murdered men inside. Who are they, who did this to them and what is their connection to Ali's disappearance? That's a question newbie deputy sheriff Poppy McGee is charged with answering, and at the outset, it's clear as mud. Just as confusing is Ali's note that somehow escaped water ruin - one with a mystery message that echoes the book's title.

In the midst of all this action, throw in a dangerous mobster who has some kind of vendetta that's somehow related to people in the small town (that one really took a while to figure out). Once all the dots were connected -and there are quite a few of them - there was enough action to keep me on the edge of my seat right to the end. More than that I can't say without giving away too much, though, so I'll just say thanks to the author for yet another enjoyable book and the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. 

If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay (Minotaur Books, May 2024); 322 pp.

CAMINO GHOSTS

5 stars out of 5

This is the third in the author's Camino Island series, and in many ways, I'll call it my favorite even though I gave each of them 5 stars as well. It's a happy, sad, bittersweet, intriguing, well-written story that held my attention throughout. I will not, though, calll it a "thriller;" nothing in here was the least bit frightening or scary to me.

Back to the forefront is Bruce Cable, owner of a bookshop on Camino Island. His friend, author and college teacher Mercer Mann, is looking to write a follow-up to her successful novel but having trouble finding a topic. Ever helpful, Bruce turns to a small self-published history of nearby Dark Island written by local resident Lovely Jackson. Now 80 years old, Lovely claims not only to have lived on the long-deserted island, but is the owner; she was the last inhabitant to leave, and many of her relatives are buried there. She also claims that the island is cursed - and any people not of color (a.k.a. white) will not be welcomed there.

But progress, apparently, has no use for claims like hers; a large development company has set its sights on turning Dark Island into a tourist attraction now that a huge storm carved a path for a bridge to be built between the two islands. Despite offers of huge sums of money, Lovely says no deal; so the company, in the belief that Lovely can't prove ownership of Dark Island, decides to take the matter to court.

From there, it's a matter of history - readers learn what Lovely knows first-hand and by way of her ancestors, almost all related to the slave trade, kidnapping and worse. In the present, we see how the trial develops, proceeds and ends as an aging Camino Island lawyer who opposes the Dark Island development project takes on Lovely's case in true David v. Goliath fashion.

I should note that this book stands alone well, although those who read the first two will have an advantage of being familiar with several of the characters (and besides, they're really good books as well). As for this one, I once again thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Loved it!

Camino Ghosts by John Grisham (Doubleday, May 2024); 295 pp.

WESTPORT

4 stars out of 5

This, the second in the former FBI director's series featuring U.S. Attorney Nora Carleton, takes her from her high-stakes, high-pressure New York job to posher-than-posh Long Island Sound, where she's been named lead counsel at Saugatuck Associates, the world's largest hedge fund. Joining her is her young daughter, Sophie. The hedge fund leaders are a quirky bunch, but they seem to like and appreciate Nora - especially one friend, Helen Carpenter, who recruited her - so all's right with the world.

Until it isn't. One not-so-fine day, a fisherman finds a dead body in a canoe, and it's Helen. Of course, Nora is devastated; but when evidence puts Nora in the role of prime suspect, she - together with her New York friend and investigator, Benny Dugan - realize that someone is out to get Nora as well by framing her for Helen's murder.

Nora's work with Helen included sleuthing in hopes of determining who, if anyone, inside the company has been using top-secret company information to make lucrative trades on his or her own, thus undercutting the company's profits. Beyond that, though, there apparently was more - much more - to Helen than met Nora's eye. In fact, she'd been collecting "dirt" on all the firm's top brass - giving more than one person at the firm good reason to want her dead and gone.

The investigation offers plenty of action that ensured my reluctance to put the book down; that said, it was fairly easy to make an educated (and ultimately accurate) guess early on as to the culprit's identity. I was also a little annoyed at Nora's actions near the end - a bit uncharacteristic in my mind - but overall it was a well-crafted adventure I thoroughly enjoyed. I certainly look forward to seeing more of Nora, Benny and (hopefully) a couple of other intriguing characters. Meantime, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review this one. Well done!

Westport by James Comey (Mysterious Press, May 2024); 351 pp.

TOM CLANCY ACT OF DEFIANCE

5 stars out of 5

Wading through all the submarine-related technical jargon was a bit of a chore, but it was well worth the effort in the end. If nothing else, it brought back memories of a much earlier book (and a favorite movie) that also dealt with a rogue Russian sub.

This is the 19th book featuring Jack Ryan, now President of the United States. That said, it's far more about his daughter Katie, a Navy officer with the Office of Naval Intelligence. Submarines, though, take center stage throughout - most notably, the Russian Belgorod, a super-secret, super-loaded brand spanking new model that's capable of launching nuclear weapons - if it really exists. U.S. Intelligence suggests it not only does, but it's up to something nefarious. But one of the sub's features is that it's very good at camouflage, so the first order of business - arguably the most difficult - is simply finding it. Assuming that's accomplished, the next challenge is learning what its mission really is.

When they do, it isn't pretty - if, of course, it's accurate. With not much hard evidence, it becomes not only a life-or-death educated guess that, whether right or wrong, could trigger World War III. Needless to say, President Ryan's previous experience with Russian submarine captains comes into play here, as does his daughter's astute observations and conclusions that are eerily similar to those of her father.

Getting to the truth is by no means simple, and it involves a whole bunch of people and the aforementioned technical jargon. But it's also pretty much nonstop action and some really cool-under-pressure dudes and dudesses, making for an exciting adventure every step of the way. Loved it - and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

Tom Clancy Act of Defiance by Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson (G.P. Putnam's Sons, May 2024); 560 pp.