Shadow Prey by John Sanford

Synopsis

In the early sixties, a brutal crime is committed against "a drunk Indian chick" by two small-town cops, while on duty. Retribution is a long time coming - some 20 years pass before a plan is set in place to avenge the young girl's attack, long enough for one of the guilty cops to become the Director of the FBI. Atoning for his sins will surely make the headlines.

A new age Indian uprising is about to take place, well-planned and organized by two aging men and a small band of Indian brothers who have not forgotten what two white men did to an innocent young girl so many years ago. Assassination is the order of the day - death in an acutely Indian way - throats cut by a ceremonial stone knife. A slumlord and a racist probation officer in Minnesota were the first two victims, a welfare officer from Jersey the third.

Lucas Davenport returns as the street-wise police detective assigned to investigate the murders, along with New York City Detective Lily Rosenthal. They have little time to waste, as the body count continues to escalate. A promising young politician and a federal judge fall victim to the cold-blooded murderers.

Shadow Love, a rogue tribal member of the conspirators, is not in the plans for the new-age uprising. He is a violent psychopath who is far too unpredictable to follow the directions of the tribal elders who are dictating the action. Despite their futile efforts, Love steps in and takes it upon himself to contribute to the body count, and nearly kills Lily in the process.

The case suddenly becomes more personal for Lucas, and he acts with extreme prejudice in his revenge, making for an exciting and suspenseful conclusion. * * *

My Two Cents Worth

In Shadow Prey, John Sanford proves himself a very capable storyteller. The plot is clear, concise and proceeds at blinding speed. The Indian characters are presented as a brutal and determined adversary, with an almost noble cause.

The subplot involving the intimate relationship between Lucas and Lily is graphic and aggressive. Lily, with a husband and children back in New York, briefly struggles with her attraction to Lucas, but her guilt is short-lived. Their torrid affair doesn't inhibit the action of the story, and it does provide a brief diversion from the intense drama of the murders. This also presented itself as a major character flaw for Lucas, who has a child by his girlfriend, a fact he is quick to overlook when the opportunity presents itself to be with Lily.

I could hardly put this book down. Even with the early introduction of the identity of the killers, I found it captivating. I normally prefer a little mystery in the crime/thriller genre, but it just worked for me. I look forward to reading other books from the Prey series, but I thought this one stood on its own merits as a novel.

Paperback
342 pages
3 1/4 hours

Proof Positive by Phillip Margolin

Synopsis

Life is good for Bernie Cashman, a respected forensic scientist at the Oregon State Crime Lab. He inadvertently became a hero with his expert testimony that led to the conviction and execution of an apparent murderer of his 72-year-old mother with a hammer. Bernie has a secret, though. He falsified the evidence to cover his butt. He considered himself clever and had not a moment's remorse. Instead, it brought him acclaim and friends and women. It also accounted for some very frustrated defense attorneys.

It was so easy that he did it again to convict a drug dealing gangster accused of murdering one of his rivals. Bernie was a psychopath who believed himself to be judge, jury and executioner, until one of his colleagues starts to notice some of the evidence is tainted. She confronts him and demands an explanation, whereby she ends up dead - with the evidence covering his involvement, of course.

By using the omniscient point of view to tell the story, the reader is privy to the thoughts and actions of every character, so it is clear who the bad guys are and what they are up to. While this style can become redundant, it works very well in this story.

My Two Cents Worth

Given the popularity of television show CSI, this will be a book that will get a lot of notice, and for the most part, readers will find it very well written and technically accurate. The concept of an examiner gone bad will intrigue and entertain, while the solid research and clever dialogue will engage the reader throughout the story.

The plot begins to pick up momentum at about page 65, and gains speed all the way through to the end. There is very little suspense involved, but the action and characters will keep the reader turning pages.

Over all, I liked Proof Positive. It is well-written and straightforward, without excessive twists and false leads, and it tells a compelling tale of how dramatically a single individual can plausibly corrupt our entire judicial system.

Side Bar

The headlines have been full of prisoners who have been executed during the past 20 years and ended up exonerated by the implementation of DNA testing. Over 100 men have been released from prison after serving 20 years or more in the State of Texas alone.

Paperback
433 pages
just over 4 hours

Invisible Prey by John Sanford

Synopsis

Super detective Lucas Davenport is back in action. While he is investigating a politician for sexual impropriety with a teenage girl, Lucas gets sidetracked on a double murder of an elderly lady and her housekeeper who are bludgeoned to death in their St. Paul, Minnesota, mansion.

The mansion is ransacked and contains countless pieces of art and antique furniture. At first it appears to be a robbery for drug money due to the odd items that are missing and the even more odd collection of valuables that are left behind. Either the killers had no clue as to the value of the antiques - just looking for items that would sell quickly - OR they knew exactly what they were looking for and avoided some of the obvious loot in favor of some of the more obscure items.

The killers are identified to the reader very early in the book, allowing the reader to take part in their conniving plot to avoid getting caught. They are a rather pathetic pair who might have committed the perfect crime had they not botched their cover-up. * * *

My Two Cents Worth

Although the characters are shallow, the plot is well-paced and fairly interesting. Overall I found it to be entertaining, but not particularly endearing. Sanford's strong suit is writing a straightforward story without filling it full of distractions that kill the momentum. He does include a few false leads and he changes tack at times, but it doesn't confuse the reader. The plot is far more visceral and may not be suitable for those looking for an intellectual challenge.

I liked the book for what it is, a well-told story. I have not read previous books from the Prey series that I can use to relate to this one, which seems to have all the fans in such a tailspin. My advice - lighten up and try some different authors for a while to broaden your perspective.

Paperback
420 pages
just under 4 hours

Grass Roots by Stuart Woods

Synopsis

Beloved Georgia Senator Ben Carr is an icon on Capitol Hill who wants to serve one more term before using his considerable political clout to get his chief of staff Will Lee elected to take his place. But the plans go awry when the aging Senator suffers a debilitating stroke, making it impossible to speak, let alone campaign.

Lee is eventually thrust into the limelight to face off with Democratic Governor Mack Dean for the party's nomination. The winner will face-off against the evil Reverend Calhoun, the Republican television evangelist for the Presidency. A problem arises, however, when Judge Boggs commits Lee to defend a high-profile murder case that involves a young white male, Larry Moody, standing trial for the rape and murder of a black female. The racially-charged trial threatens to have a disastrous effect on the campaign of the newcomer.

Meanwhile, Stone Barrington pursues a group of white supremacists on a murder spree that targets local adult entertainment purveyors, while in the background, the mysterious Archon is pulling the strings that bring the scenarios together to an exciting finale. * * *

My Two Cents Worth

I have been a Woods fan for some time, but only recently picked up one of his earlier works of fiction, Grass Roots. I enjoyed the first half of the book, as it promised an entertaining and complex story-line, but by the time the trial was to start I grew weary of the persistent political diatribe that was blatantly slanted to the far left. If I want political commentary, it is available 24/7 on the boob tube. I do feel that in his more current works Woods has learned to tell the story and leave politics to the pundits.

I did appreciate the way the three story lines merged, and the trial was well-done and surprising. Woods is a great storyteller, who has obviously honed his craft through the years to the point that most readers can probably forgive his ego. The pace was upbeat and suffered very few lapses in the action. I must admit, too, that I was amused by the statement on the back cover offered by The State (SC), claiming " Stuart Woods is a wonderful storyteller who could teach Robert Ludlum and Tom Clancy a thing or two."

Doubt it.

Paperback
604 pages
7 1/2 hours

The Assassin by Andrew Britton

Synopsis

A bomb is detonated in a Baghdad Hotel in an attempt to assassinate the Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq. More than 20 casualties, most of them security personnel and American reporters, are killed but the target survives.

In Washington DC, with the elections about two months away, the White House and the CIA are scrambling to adopt the appropriate political spin on the events and up to their necks in damage control. President Dave Brenneman has promised to withdraw American troops from the war in Iraq and his chances for reelection hinge on this central issue. Meanwhile, he must face not only the popular Governor from California, but members from within his own staff to keep his campaign on track.

The president turns to Ryan Kealy, a highly decorated CIA agent relegated to obscurity behind a desk, to uncover the truth and the ulterior motives behind the assassination attempt.

Kealy uncovers an elaborate plan to attack and assassinate members of the UN, but has a difficult time convincing the powers that be of an improbable scheme that would rival the 9/11 attack on Washington and New York. * * *

My Two Cents Worth

This is a novel that could be taken directly from today's headlines. It is fresh and engaging, and uncovers a multitude of plausible actions and motives that our culture could be faced with. This is my first Britton book and it will not be the last. He never plays loose with the facts and spins a tight and convincing tale that is high-octane entertainment.

He starts with a satisfying core of characters, brought to life with crisp dialogue and a clear stake in the action. He paces the action with a sense of urgency that builds as the elaborate plot is uncovered from destinations around the globe and culminates on the streets of New York City. There is never a lull in the action, prompting the reader to keep this book within arm's reach at all times. It captivates you from the opening chapter and refuses to let you rest.

This is one of those rare books that you will think of the next time you visit your local bookstore, and you will find yourself wanting to buy the hardcover to take its place among the Ludlum, Grisham and Baldacci volumes. I highly recommend Britton's The Assassin.

Paperback
586 pages
6 1/4 hours

The Poet by Michael Connelly

Synopsis

Jack McEnvoy is a journalist who specializes in reporting high profile murder cases and he is good at what he does. When his twin brother, a Denver homicide detective, is found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, Jack investigates the circumstances and refutes the official cause of death as a suicide.

Jack discovers some vague clues that lead him to several other cases involving homicide detectives that are apparently murdered and written off as suicide, thus uncovering a serial killer with a penchant for leaving cryptic clues from the poetry of Edgar Allen Poe.

Jack manages to overcome the volatile relations between himself as a journalist and the police and FBI agency, who harbor a natural contempt for anyone representing the media looking over their shoulders and disputing their work. He gets embedded with the FBI investigation and discovers that the skills that make for a good journalist also make for a pretty good detective, and that he was more like his brother Sean than he had ever thought.

As the body count rises, the plot takes some intriguing twists and turns, with the climax of the story delivering a surprising knock-out punch. * * *

My Two Cents Worth

My first experience with Connelly just happened to a book he wrote twelve years ago, The Poet. It represents a slight change of genre for me, but I find myself to be an instant fan with a long list of novels to be discovered by this clever and imaginative author. He writes this story with a level of skill and experience that leads you to believe that he has considerable real-life experience as a journalist working the homicide beat, much like the main character.

I found the first 107 pages of the book to be compelling and effective at developing the characters and setting the scene. It is from this point that the action shifts into gear and gains momentum that carries through to the various suspects, and hits full speed at the final twist in the story line that reveals the identity of the murderer. A masterful piece of storytelling on its own merits - you don't have to have read previous books to completely understand the characters - it is clear, concise and compelling.

If this is an accurate representation of Michael Connelly's work, he could quite possibly move into the Grisham, Ludlum, Baldacci stratosphere in my mind. Good read.

Paperback
501 pages
4 hours, 45 minutes

Hot Mahogany by Stuart Woods

Synopsis

When a group of US Marines discover a cache of gold coins as they are leaving the battlefields of Korea they become, upon their discharge, very wealthy civilians. Colonel Barton Cabot parlays his wealth into a number of successful ventures, including his passion of collecting extremely valuable pieces of antique furniture. VERY valuable, as in a $25 million secretary desk.

As the story begins, Barton has been robbed of this valuable piece of Americana and suffers from amnesia as to exactly who assaulted him and stole his prized possession. He is also uncertain whether it was the original desk or a replica he had produced that was actually stolen.

Attorney/Detective Stone Barrington is assigned to protect the wealthy gentleman, solve the mystery, and find the missing piece. Easier said than done.

My Two Cents Worth

For me, Mr. Woods passes the ultimate litmus test for an author - the ability to tell an entertaining story. I have been a fan since Reckless Abandon.

Hot Mahogany, however, has a number of fatal flaws that I found disappointing. The story is well-written and fast-paced, but the character of Stone and his actions are too cliche to overlook.
The amnesia of Mr. Cabot originally promised some interesting twists in the plot, but fell flat and went nowhere. The character of Stone, a favorite of mine, seems to have been diluted to the point he has become just another elitist and egotistical playboy, out to see how many beauty queens he can undress and how many rich men he can make a buck from by being a smart alec. He seems to be little more than an advertisement for Knob Creek bourbon and Elaine's diner. At one point, I was reminded of the bar in Cheers, where the characters spent their every waking moment and "everybody knows your name."

I was most annoyed by the lingering questions I was left with at the end of the book. It was unclear if there was a theft of the desk, or if this was just a hoax created by Barton to swindle money from his ole pals. We never learn the truth about the amnesia and the issue was left unresolved. Did Stone and Dino steal the right desk and get conned by Barton?

I did enjoy reading the book, but it was not as polished and professionally constructed as prior works by Mr. Woods. It might be time to retire the character of Stone and turn instead to making Holly a central character.

Paperback
368 pages
3 1/4 hours

Seize the Night by Dean Koontz

Synopsis

Seize the Night is the second book of a series featuring Christopher Snow, who suffers from xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), and his frantic search for the missing child of an ex-girlfriend. XP is a condition that renders Snow extremely sensitive to any form of light, limiting him to a lifetime spent in the dark of night, to which he has adapted and thrives.

The search for the child takes him to Wyvern, an abandoned government R&D facility on the outskirts of town, that rumors link to any number of wild genetic studies and, as we find late in the story, time travel experiments. Snow survives a number of threats, from swarming suicidal birds to rabid and super-intelligent rhesus monkeys and genetic mutants, and in the process loses his best friend Orson, his canine companion, himself a product of the bio-engineering that takes place at the Wyvern facility.

With the help of some friends, Snow later returns to Wyvern to rescue what he deduces to be a group of missing children, only to find a host of new challenges. * * *

My Two Cents Worth

I am an avid reader and most of my friends know that I am always looking for "new" authors, genres, and writing styles. Many of them recommended I give Koontz a try, so I did. Seize the Night was my first Koontz book and I was hindered by the fact that I had no knowledge of the prequel in the series.

That being said, I was initially quite pleased by the author's way with words in the first 42 pages, but it was exactly here that my focus was lost. The clever dialogue, interesting setting, and vivid descriptions of the games that a person's mind plays as they maneuver in a totally darkened environment ended abruptly.

Just as the action promised to race, it became mired in wordy and disjointed paragraphs that completely derailed the story line. By the time Snow leaves Wyvern to gather his friends for the return trip (page 208) I had lost interest.

The following 130 pages - as we meet the friends who are to accompany him back to the lab - was much too long an interlude in the plot for me. The characters were weak, not to mention unnecessarily odd, and the "surfer dude" dialogue made me crazy. I didn't like it at all.

From page 370 to the climax of the story, the wandering and excessive descriptions of the laboratory became a hindrance to the action. Finally, as the mystery is being revealed and the action mercifully hits its peak, Snow stops to read newspaper clippings he finds taped to the walls of the dark hallway through his night vision goggles. I found this to be a very weak way to discover some of the missing clues about the evil kidnappers. I was disappointed and it felt like the author had forgotten to disclose some important details earlier in the plot and threw them in as an afterthought.

Koontz is such an accomplished author but I feel like this was the wrong book for me to start with. I will choose another of his books in the future, but this one didn't do it for me. Sorry guys.

Paperback
443 pages
6 hours!!

Beach Road by James Patterson

Synopsis

East Hampton is an American icon as a playground for the uber-rich and it is here that Beach Road takes place. Three men are brutally murdered on a private beachfront basketball court and all the evidence suggests that Dante Halleyville...a high school basketball superstar thought to be the next Michael Jordan...pulled the trigger.

Tom Dunleavy, a struggling attorney and former NBA journeyman, agrees to represent Dante, even though he is woefully inadequate for such a high profile case that garners national headlines. Tom is quick to seek the assistance of Kate Costello, a former girlfriend and respected New York corporate attorney. With Dante's life hanging in the balance, the mismatched attorneys must overcome volumes of evidence to prove their client's innocence and find the real killer.

My Two Cents Worth

After considerable hype, reviews were mixed from even the most austere Patterson fans for Beach Road. It failed to go from zero to sixty in three pages and accelerate from there through to the end of the book like many of his previous works. Instead, I found that it sputtered in the beginning by introducing seven different characters, three of which are murdered, in the first 20 pages. It was a distraction keeping them straight in my mind.

Adding to the confusion, every chapter (each about 3 pages long in classic Patterson fashion) was written from the perspective of a different character, severely testing your cognitive skills. It took about 61 pages for the story to shift into second gear for me.

The story gains a little momentum through the next 200 pages as new evidence is uncovered and the attorneys prepare their case for trial, which starts on page 281. It is here that the story falls woefully short. This huge "trial of the century" that garnered national attention and defied all the odds against Dante lasted a mere 64 pages, half of which focused on the sexual escapades of Tom and Kate. It was very anticlimactic for me.

The remaining 45 pages were by far the highlight of the book. Readers were promised a shocking ending and Patterson delivered. Big Time.

Although I enjoyed the book a great deal, it was not among my favorite works of Patterson. It was rough and at times confusing. It did, however, entertain; it was a quick read with a memorable ending, and, as I am learning, perfect for traveling or the beach.

Hardcover
390 pages
3 hours

The Whole Truth by David Baldacci

Synopsis

Nicholas Creel is a very powerful man. As CEO of one of the largest government defense contractors in the world, the Ares Corporation, he stands to gain or lose tens of billions of dollars by producing the latest and greatest weapons of war. Although he is wealthy beyond imagination, the end of the Cold War has had a negative effect on the bottom line. After all, a man who owns one of the largest and most spectacular yachts in the world, complete with a private submarine hidden in the belly, has set a higher standard of living than most.

Creel needs a war - one big enough to cause worldwide panic and loosen the old defense spending purse strings of not only the U.S., but the Russians, the Chinese, and other G-8 countries, as well. Since a war doesn't seem to be imminent, Creel takes matters into his own hands and hires a "perception management" firm to manufacture one, creating and launching an elaborate video that takes the Internet by storm. As China and Russia take the bait, political assassinations and terrorist strikes begin to dominate the world headlines.

It is up to the intrepid protagonist, known only as Shaw, to uncover the truth and prevent World War III. As a secret government operative, Shaw proceeds to connect the dots to unravel the complicated global plot before it's too late. Katie James is a disgraced journalist trying to drink her troubles away when she stumbles head-first into the story that could not only rescue her career, but make her a household name - if only she can live through the melee. * * *

My Two Cents Worth

Baldacci is a master in the political terror genre, and he is at his best in this modern day, high tech "Wag the Dog" thriller. He seamlessly introduces each character into the plot while the story unfolds at a head-spinning pace.

As a reader, you can appreciate Baldacci's ability to spin a complex and compelling story in the most efficient and visceral manner. He is clear and concise, allowing the reader to see the action with their mind's eye while at cruising speed, rarely hitting the brakes with confusing prose. In this respect, I equate his skill with that of Ludlum or Grisham.

This is a great book for those who, like myself, simply want to experience a great storyteller at work.

Paperback

516 pages, 6 hours

A Salty Piece of Land by Jimmy Buffett

Synopsis

Tully Mars is back as the alter-ego of our favorite son-of-a-son-of-a-sailor, Jimmy Buffett. Tully is a Wyoming cowboy turned fugitive who runs (along with his horse) to a remote Caribbean island where he settles in as a fishing guide for a small resort. His crime is of no consequence whatsoever, but it doesn't keep him from being the target of a couple of bounty hunters willing to chase him to the ends of the earth.

Tully has a keen sense of adventure and is a hopeless romantic. While learning the local culture, he befriends just about everyone he meets with his laid-back nature and "I'll try anything once" attitude. It seems to be his destiny to meet a salty lady who, at 101 years old, is the owner and Captain of an incredible 142-foot schooner, and whose mission in life is to scour the Caribbean in search of a rare antique lens she needs to restore her personal lighthouse to its original, fully functional glory. Tully takes up her cause, "searching for that lost shaker of salt" to complement the margarita that is his life.

A collection of tales of pirates, pilots, treasure hunters and rock stars, and a wild fling at a spring-break foam party, as told from a rum-soaked vision of a ganja enhanced mind. * * *

My Two Cents Worth

This selection was recommended by my wife - one of those she refers to as "a good summer read." I think this means she read it while A. in the pool or B. on the boat.

You don't have to be a stoned, chilled-out beach bum with a margarita buzz to enjoy this light-hearted story, but it would probably help. If you are even slightly a fan of the parrot-head culture, you will probably enjoy this Buffett original. I did. My expectations were low and were accordingly exceeded.

The story wanders from island to island, character to character, and from romance to adventure, just as you would expect from a singer/songwriter. I found this book to be a refreshing change of pace in the dog-days of our sweltering Texas summer. It makes you feel good, like watching "Ferris Beuhler's Day Off" for the tenth time and still finding it funny.

Just as Buffett's music will never be appreciated by opera aficionados, A Salty Piece of Land will be frowned upon by the literary elite, but who cares? Come Monday it'll be all right.

Hardcover
460 pages
4 1/2 hours

Darker than Night by John Lutz

Synopsis

Frank Quinn returns as the skilled but fatally flawed ex-homicide detective whose career was ended by an elaborate conspiracy involving department politics and cops on the take. His life is a mess; he lives alone within the confines of a bottle, unable to clear his name and unwilling to recover. Eventually, he is coerced into teaming up with two detectives that are just a step ahead of him on the career ladder (meaning still employed, albeit barely) to stop a serial murderer who has New York City in a state of panic.

The third body is being discovered by the time Quinn and associates get involved. The murderer has a distinct modus operandi - stalking his prey, learning their daily patterns, getting intimately involved in their lives and even leaving them gifts that he knows they desire. He then enters their home unnoticed, leaving the gifts and causing conflict between the couple.

In the early morning hours, after entering the homes of the victims and observing them in their sleep, the killer lures his victims into the kitchen and brutally murders them, following a very distinct pattern. As the body count continues to rise, Quinn and company find themselves in the center of the storm, unable to uncover the clues that can stop the murders. * * *

My Two Cents Worth

This was my first read by John Lutz and from the beginning I couldn't help but think of the similarities of Quinn and Tom Selleck's character Jesse Stone in some of the serial movies of late. Talented big-city detective, recently divorced, out of work and suffering from drinking problems, making one last stand to restore his credibility, etc. Not a bad thing - I like them both.
That being said, I thought the relationship between Quinn and Pearl worked well - their similarities brought them together and you feel sure that the very same thing will drive them apart at some point. I thought Lutz developed their characters and their relationship satisfactorily.

I also liked the the story line in general, but found it to be a bit repetitive, with every crime being virtually identical. I thought there was room for some slight variations on the part of the killer to provide measured clues that would move the story along a bit. I had some problems with the fact that the killer could enter the victims residence on several occasions, leave gifts, and loiter for an extended period before violently murdering them without leaving a single clue. The CSI teams that have invaded our television sets have made skeptics of us all.

I expected the killer would eventually face an alarm system as he entered the home in the middle of the night, or that at least one of the victims would have made a call to 911 when they heard someone in their kitchen. This lapse of logic jumped out at me as the fourth and fifth victims were eradicated. I was also surprised that there didn't seem to be more action on the part of the NYPD to get involved in finding the killer. It doesn't make much sense that the entire case was left to these three maligned individuals and the wise-cracking medical examiner.

These lapses of reality aside, I did enjoy the book, primarily because of the lead character, Quinn. Give Lutz a try; a nice easy read from a talented storyteller.

Paperback
541 pages
7 hours

Deep Storm by Lincoln Child

Synopsis

Your Top Secret credentials are checked and verified many times before you are allowed to accompany Dr. Peter Crane to a research facility located two miles below the ocean's surface near Greenland. The underwater city was built in the aftermath of an incredible archaeological discovery from an offshore oil platform rumored to involve the lost city of Atlantis.

The facility is huge - think "Mall of the Americas" underwater or picture a submerged aircraft carrier - really big. It is staffed and operated under the dual leadership of the military and the scientific community, which foreshadows a natural conflict of motives.

Dr. Crane, a specialist in deep-sea pressure-related anomalies, has been summoned to the scene to investigate a number of mysterious illnesses affecting the physical and psychological status of the entire crew. Due to a web of security features that border on paranoia, Dr. Crane is rendered helpless to investigate the facility and determine the possible source of the illness.

As more and more employees become violent or dead, Dr. Crane gradually discovers some inconsistencies in both the mission and the motives of the operation. When the entire structure is threatened with imminent implosion, the secrets start revealing themselves, leading to a frantic and compelling finale. * * *

My Two Cents Worth

Deep Storm was my first Lincoln Child novel. I picked it out of the stack, scanned the cover, and started reading, covering the first 135 pages without interruption. With very few exceptions, I found myself fully engrossed in the story and unexpectedly entertained. I found the military commander, Admiral Spartan, to be a little too "Third Reich" and the scientific director, Dr. Usher, to be weak and almost incompetant, but it served to enhance the stature and necessity of Dr. Crane.

Child did an admirable job of creating a convincing environment for me, and the pace of the action was crisp and not nearly as predictable as I had feared. I think this would make a much better movie than The Abyss. I will be looking forward to reading more from Mr. Child.

Paperback
419 pages
4 hours

Last Man Standing by David Baldacci

Synopsis

Web London is one bad hombre. As the tactical leader of the FBI Hostage Rescue Team (HRT), he commands a unit made up of Navy Seals, Delta Force, and other special ops units that represent the ultimate warriors. He is not a diplomat, couldn't care less about being politically correct, and doesn't lead from the rear. He is battle tested and has the scars to prove it.

How could it be, then, that on an inner-city mission to shut down a major drug gang, London freezes in an alley while his entire team gets slaughtered? He is the only survivor.

Consumed with guilt and ostracized by his fellow HRT teams, London consults the FBI psychoanalysis doctors and submits to hypnosis to discover why he froze at the critical moment of the raid and became the last man standing.

Last Man Standing is another Baldacci masterpiece of storytelling. The characters are raw and believable and the action is intense and disturbing. The plot is complicated and clever, involving conspiracies, cover ups, and deception at the highest levels. Well done. * * *

My Two Cents Worth

London is the epitome of a modern day elite warrior - Rambo with a vocabulary and a PhD. He lives in a black and white world - good guy, bad guy - kill or be killed - enemy or ally. He has never finished in second place. Obviously, Baldacci does a masterful job developing his characters then thrusting them into the most demanding situations.

The stigma of a super hero turning to the shrink to take a look inside his mind and soul is a tough scenario for an author to attempt. It can destroy the credibility of the entire book on a single sentence, but Baldacci pulls it off without a hitch. It is a testament to his research and discipline. It makes you take note of the names in the acknowledgements: FBI agents Edney, Walker, and Schiff and Dr. Steve Sobelman should be proud of their contributions to this story.

This was my first Baldacci novel and although it is different from most of his other works, he made a fan out of me. I was compelled to make a late-night dash to the bookstore to get four more samples of his work. I love those B&N and HPB gift cards.

Paperback
638 pages
8 hours

In for the Kill by John Lutz

Synopsis

Detective Frank Quinn returns in this chilling account of a deranged killer who comes from the swamps of Louisiana, and his equally deranged mother, from whom he learns some very special survival skills. Taking in boarders who eventually disappear without a trace, a la Amos Moses.

The lost son makes his way to New York and commences a murder spree whereby he drowns his female victims in their own bathtub and dismembers them without leaving a single trace. He taunts the famous detective Quinn with clues to the identity of his next victim. Quinn reenlists the help of his former team of retired cops, including Fedderman and Pearl, his former live-in girlfriend, to help him stop the murders.

The detectives get off to a slow start, having to find clues while the bodies continue to be discovered at a frantic pace, as it seems the killer is always a step ahead. The plot takes some interesting turns when Quinn's 20-year-old daughter unexpectedly arrives in the Big Apple to live with her estranged father. * * *

My Two Cents Worth

I picked up In for the Kill in the same minute I finished Darker than Night - another of Lutz's "Frank Quinn" novels. He is one of the more interesting recurring characters of this genre. I found it to be a good, solid read, with a high body count and a medium pace. Although I never really bought into the near perfection of the killer, or the subplot that took place in the swamp, I kept turning the pages.

Maybe I have been conditioned by the CSI TV series to the point I simply cannot accept that a body can be killed and be completely dismembered in a bathroom without leaving a single trace of evidence. Especially when it happens nearly a dozen times.

I also found it interesting that Lutz completely avoids giving the reader even a hint of the passage of time between the murders. I got the impression that the murders happened on almost consecutive nights, but could never find an answer.

I found the whole relationship between Pearl and the killer was a stretch, at best. In prior books she was much too savvy to have been duped so badly.

Finally, within two pages of the introduction of Quinn's daughter, you knew without a doubt that she would become one of the potential victims. There was not a doubt in my mind

I liked the premise of the book and found Lutz to be a capable story teller if a bit predictable. It reminded me of Dexter.

Paperback
477 pages
6 hours

Total Control by David Baldacci

Synopsis

Sidney Archer's near-perfect world implodes when her loving husband Jason reportedly dies in an airplane crash. Questions arise when attorneys working on an international high-tech merger worth hundreds of millions of dollars reveals that Jason was stealing corporate secrets that would put the merger in jeopardy.

A savvy FBI agent investigates the crash and becomes suspicious when the evidence suggests that Jason not only sabotaged the plane, but engineered a multi-million dollar embezzlement plot. The loving wife is crushed at the allegations, but is even more shocked when she discovers that her husband had switched planes at the last minute and was likely alive, but missing and thought to be held captive by a group whose ultimate goal was to move in on the action and acquire the corporate merger for a rival company.

With the aid of her lawyer, Sidney sets out to rescue her husband and reveal the truth. She proves to be a capable heroine, outwitting the murderous goons at every turn and uncovering an immense conspiracy that holds Jason's future in the balance. * * *

My Two Cents Worth

My fifth Baldacci in the past month, you could call me a fan. Okay, I am a avid fan, but for good reason - he knows how to tell a story. His research is remarkable, allowing him to write with discipline and precision.

The industrial espionage theme of the book moves with an electric pace and I found myself completely captured by the plot. I read 140 pages in the first sitting, which was enough for me to find it difficult to get out of my mind. I actually got out of bed, unable to sleep, and read another 92 pages. This is a rare event for me. I was also aware that I did not read nearly the 100 page per hour that I usually average for the standard size paperback.

The only problem I had with the book was with the character of Sidney Archer late in the book. I was with her until the action found its way to the east coast and she left home to save her man.
She morphed from a young and intelligent mother of a two-year-old girl into a mercenary that would have make Rambo blush. I applauded her mission, but found it a stretch to believe that she had more lives than an alley cat.

If you are a fan of espionage, intrigue and high-action, give Total Control a read.

Paperback
694 pages
8 hours

Sail by James Patterson

Synopsis

Since the death of her husband, Dr. Anne Dunne and her three children have struggled in every way. In a last ditch effort to save the family, Anne plans an elaborate sailing vacation to bring everyone together again. After bidding farewell to her new husband, the powerful Manhattan attorney Peter Carlyle, the family sets sail with former brother-in-law Jake Dunne at the helm.

Only an hour out of port, everything goes wrong as the hidden demons of the children come to the surface. From her daughter's suicidal desires to the son's drug abuse and the suppressed intimate desires of Anne's former brother-in-law and captain, the story takes a Stephen King meets Gilligan's Island turn for the worse.

Meanwhile, the rich and powerful attorney is holding court of a very different kind back in New York. Seems he has big plans for his future.

My Two Cents Worth

I enjoyed Sail as a quick and light-hearted summer read. It is certainly not among my favorite Patterson novels, but it does compel the reader to keep the pages turning at an alarming rate. The character development is marginal at best, and the high-adventure plot is comical at times, but it is difficult to not smile and keep reading.

Hard core mystery readers will have a difficult time accepting the fish story in the beginning of the book, but if you can accept the loss of credibility in the opening pages, you will be mildly amused with the book.

Paperback
448 pages
3 1/2 hours.

Obsession by Jonathan Kellerman

Synopsis

Tanya Bigelow was a solemn little girl when she first met Dr. Alex Delaware for treatment of her obsessive-compulsive disorder. Now, at 19, she again turns to the doctor with a plea for help to discover the truth behind her mother's mysterious deathbed confession of a murder that happened sometime in her past. With the help of a detective from the LAPD, the trio sets out to discover the real events that may or may not have transpired, with no clues, witnesses or motive to go on.

Stepping into the sleaziest neighborhoods of Los Angeles, the trail leads them to discover unscrupulous real estate brokers, heroin addicts, and an affluent family that thrives solely on the trust funds from prior generations and the slumlord investments willed to them. * * *

My Two Cents Worth

I finally gave in to the badgering of my bookworm friends to "read a Kellerman." They have raved about his talents for as long as I can remember, so I plucked Obsession from the stack and settled in to see what all the fuss was about.

The result? I agree with them that Kellerman is an exceptional wordsmith - I found myself marking phrases and tagging words that I thought particularly appealing at a rapid pace.
However, the story went nowhere in a hurry.

I read the first 101 pages on the first sitting, set it aside, and felt like giving up on it. There was far too much psycho-babble that had nothing to do with advancing the story line. Nothing had happened so far. An obscure deathbed confession followed by psycho analysis and speculation.

"Let's assume she meant ..." and "What if she meant ..." was all we were subjected to, without any action by the characters to uncover the plot. I was bored.

The efforts to merge the events of the past with the questions of the present to solve the mystery took a back seat to the symptoms and treatment of OCD.

I stopped at page 208 - the beginning of chapter 24. I gave up. I felt the story was just about to get started, but I couldn't force myself to care enough. After 2 1/2 hours I picked up a Dean Koontz, desperate for a story. This is a very rare occurrence for me - happens only about 2-3 times a year.

Paperback
464 pages
2 1/2 hours - did not finish - indifference

The Watchman: A Joe Pike Novel by Robert Crais

Synopsis

Joe Pike is the consumate "good cop," a former special forces SWAT team standout of almost super-hero proportions. To pay back an old debt, Pike is coerced into playing bodyguard to a wealthy young heiress whose life is in danger after getting involved in an auto accident with some unscrupulous types that are set on her destruction. Pike must figure out the who, how, and the why while on the run as the bullets and the body count soar. The plot is revealed at breakneck speed with a twist in the end that will leave your head spinning. * * *

My Two Cents Worth

In my quest to find new authors and fresh material, I picked up The Watchman by Robert Crais. This was my first book with the Cole/Pike characters. The Watchman was simply plucked from the double stack of books waiting to be read and I jumped in with both feet.

I read about 80 pages with the first sitting, enough to feel comfortable with both the characters and the plot; in fact, I felt almost too comfortable - like I had seen this story before, starring Jesse Stone (Tom Selleck) and Paris Hilton.

The Watchman gets off to a blistering pace as Pike attempts to make good on a promise to an old friend by agreeing to act as bodyguard/mercenary to a young debutante who is involved in a bizarre auto accident. The body count quickly escalates as they race from one hideout to another, with a host of unknown gunmen hot on their trail.

Crais sets a scorching pace and has me hooked. I also appreciated the dialogue between Pike, the ultimate special team warrior, and Larkin, the spoiled, rich, valley girl. Their chemistry worked for me, at least as far as the communications, although the hint of intimacy made me a little uncomfortable and seemed out of place.

I thought the plot unfolded nicely for the next 150 pages, with Pike making all the right moves, until he leaves her alone for a few hours. This all but ruined it for me. It contradicted all the admirable work he had done up to this point - it just didn't make sense. As the mystery of exactly why Larkin was being pursued and who was behind the sinister plot is discovered, you couldn't help but wonder why such an elaborate scheme was devised to get to her, when it would have been infinitely easier to resolve at the scene of the crash on about page 20.

As for the author, I will read other Crais books and recommend The Watchman to friends mostly because of his writing style and story-telling skills.

Paperback
384 pages
3.5 hours

So I have a Blog . . .Now what?

Getting into the blogosphere seems like a natural next step for me, but I must admit that getting started is intimidating. I hope to start by reporting on the 10 or 15 books I read most recently, then making daily entries as I go along.

My goal is not only to share an overview of books I'm reading with anyone who might be interested, but I hope that you good folks will respond with your recommendations and tell me about your favorite books as well. When you come across an author that you consider a great storyteller, let me know. My intention is for this to be an interactive guide for you as you broaden your reading experience, and a way to find fellow "bookworms," as well as the casual reader.

I tend to look for good writers and not just a particular book they have written. If I read a novel by Grisham and like his style and the plot, I will seek out his other works and dissect as many as possible. Usually, I will mix it up with about four authors at a time to keep the stories from running together. Jimmy Buffet and Bill Bryson serve as good change-of-pace stories when I get too involved in the political intrigue/international terrorism genre, as often happens.

I will probably not dwell much on writing reports on the classics of Faulkner, Twain, Steinbeck, Poe, etc. as these have been examined for decades by literary experts from around the globe. Besides, most of these were required reading at some time in every student's literature classes.

It is possible that I will also attempt to share some of the articles I have written back in my newspaper days, especially the "Perspectives" columns that my stepdaughter and I wrote that became pretty popular in our area. It basically chronicles the trials and tribulations of a young girl's high school experiences and contrasts them with her stepfather's lessons from a prior generation. If I can figure out how to include them without being too obtrusive, we will give it a try.

Give me a few days and I will start posting some of my thoughts on some of the books that are now in my "finished" pile.

I look forward to hearing from you.
Mike