Should You Read The 17 Lee Child Books In Order Of Publication?

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Who Is Lee Child?

Lee Child is the author of the "Jack Reacher" series of thrillers. To date there are 17 books in this series, and each one of them has been a smash hit around the world. The UK and the US market are probably the biggest buyers of Lee Child's books, which have sold in the multi-millions over the last decade (making Mr. Child a very rich author indeed).

How Popular Are The "Jack Reacher" Books?

Men and women of all ages are now reading this exciting thriller series, which have sold over 10 million copies, and have been published in over 30 countries around the world. The number of books sold has increased considerably each year over the past 10 years.

The popularity of the main character, "Jack Reacher", has grown to the extent that a major Hollywood movie based on the book "One Shot" is in the pipeline for 2013. Acting superstar Tom Cruise has bought the rights to the movie, and will be playing the lead character (despite being a full 10 inches shorter in height than the written description of "Jack Reacher"!).

Do You Need To Read The Lee Child Books In Order Of Publication?

Although this series of books have been around for over a decade now, people often ask do you need to read all of the Lee Child books in the order they were published. Although it can occasionally be helpful to read the book series in the order they were released, it is not actually necessary. Each individual book is carefully plotted so that a new reader can enjoy it without reference to any of the other books in the series. Therefore it is possible to start with book 17 ("The Affair") and then book 1 ("Killing Floor") if you so choose!

Of course there are similar themes and characters throughout the series, but each book has its own individual story, its own unique plot twists, and a conclusion that makes sense. Lee Child has been very clever in pitching a character that appeals to both men and women, is tough yet occasionally vulnerable, and is a man to be relied upon in a crisis.

Although these books are enormously popular, they will never be considered at the same standard as Oscar Wilde or Charles Dickens! However, for excellent holiday reading then you will find any novel in this series of books a very entertaining resource.

Lee Marks is from York, England, and is currently reading all 17 of the Lee Child books in order If you would like to enjoy a fantastic thriller series, then remember you don't have to read the Lee Child books in order of published date in order to enjoy them!

The Returned Written By Dr Laurence B. Brown

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When I started this book I was not sure if I would like it but on I continued and got into one of the most fascinating books I have read. To be in the Amazon area of South America on an expedition with nothing but jungle, heat, insects, animals, possibly cannibals, natives of unknown friendliness, and really not much positive in the area at all but danger lurking in every step. I think you can see why my mind changed quite fast when I really got into this expedition. The first expedition occurred when Nathan and Mark, both African Americans, were young and went on an expedition with a few college friends and professors all of whom were white or of mixed race. At first the brothers were outcasts because of their color but to most on the expedition, they proved themselves and mostly fit in and were a great help on the trek through such a dangerous area. The story started current day with Nathan telling his family about his adventurous trip in the Amazon so many years ago. The family was all ears and loaded with questions.

The two brothers themselves had their differences, Nathan being a leader and not afraid to express his thoughts and opinions with Mark the opposite. They got into their own battles. I think Tonto, the name Nathan gave to one of their guides, was my favorite character in the bunch. He was faithful and always there for them when needed to try to interpret the many languages they would run across as they met many tribes. Their original party was a mixed bag of various origins with varied thoughts and ideas of life and now, the jungle. The group lost some members through battles and some from illness. There are no doctors in a huge jungle. They did eventually meet a tribe that cautiously let them stay with them but neither trusted the other. Before they had left, Nathan was tricked into being their shaman when their current shaman, the tribes' spiritual leader and also one of the main advisors, was killed. The thing that Nathan didn't understand was that the shaman had to marry the chieftains' favorite daughter. How to get out of this mess? Through much planning and good fortune, what was left for the expedition arranged secretly to get away without being noticed. They still had a huge trek to get clear of the area. Eventually they tricked their way out of the area and made it back home.

Forty-years later Nathan wanted to return to see if any of his family was alive. The group was much older now and a lot less spry. Much had occurred during this second trip, some good, and some bad. The tribe had diminished in numbers and very few lived long enough to have survived the time when the expedition had previously been there. Now after a strange second trip, they had to plan their getaway once again. Eventually their plans were set. In a huge area such as the Amazon, nothing goes as planned and this case was no exception. Join the group as they continue their attempts to get home. A very good book.

Reader review by Cy Hilterman of a book supplied by the author

Harbor Nocturne Written By Joseph Wambaugh

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AppId is over the quota

Wambaugh's readers know of the quality writings he puts out for all of us to enjoy. Harbor Nocturne is no exception. He basically takes you into a big city police force and before you know it, you are there in the briefing room, on a beat, in a squad car, chasing someone down a street, raiding a building, being a part of an undercover operation, or any one of many police actions. You find yourself using some of the language, not always decent, that they use or hear at their many locations of work. You will visit with them at their favorite pastime locations and watch them drink too much and usually say too much.

One of the cops worked on the force with a prosthetic foot that he received when in a work-related accident some years ago and he was still very proficient at police work so he was allowed to continue on the job. A prostitution ring had a customer that wanted to be with someone with prosthetic equipment such as this cop had. This same ring also had a lot of involvement from a very bad foreign element with illegal girls that were tightly controlled by the leaders of this ring. The police figured this "prosthetic fetish" would be a great way to get into the gang and eventually bust them. They would murder you faster than you could do them a favor, especially if they suspected you were either trying to cheat them or double-cross them. Not the kind you would take home to mother. But, believe it or not, one of the lower men with a slight connection to the ring actually made a good friend of one of the gorgeous girls and did take her home to mother, being very much in love with her. What a circle of events this created in the mob, the police force, and out in the streets.

The story had many connections with dockworkers. Dinko Babich was a young longshoreman who was on suspension from one infraction or another, whichever the union decided. It was Dinko that met the beautiful prostitute through some of his dealings with the lower positioned ringleaders and he persuaded Lita to come and stay with himself and his family. This is only one small part of the book. The actions and reactions of the mob, the police, the dockworkers, both business and personal connections keep the reader going and, in my case, made me shake my head wondering how people can live like this. It is non-stop action that you will enjoy. The small bits I have described are far exceeded by many more similar and possibly stranger in character.

Reader review by Cy Hilterman of a book supplied by The Amazon Vine Program

Love Under Cover Written By Larry Johnson

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Nicholas Watson is a United States counter terrorism Agent, a position that places him in danger every day he is alive. This excellent book tells of Nicholas' adventures as he tries to stay alive, do his job well, and still find time for love, all of which are very difficult in his business. The author has spun a great tale full of danger, love, and some humor. Until you read the book it is hard to tell if Nicholas' real motive for his life is the adventure and the danger or the love affairs he thinks and hopes he will have. His main job on the first assignment in the story is to destroy munitions and some of the enemies connected with those munitions. He is in and out of immediate danger but not every time. Sometimes he gets too deeply involved and can't make a clean get away and the author makes the reader grin and bear it until the last pages of the book.

While on assignment Nicholas sees a beautiful woman while going through an airport in South America, and he just has to meet that gorgeous woman who he immediately is infatuated with but can't quite catch her. She is just as illusive as he is normally. You might know that when he wants to meet and be with someone, circumstances are dead set against him. From that moment on every time he travels to another nation he is searching for that same woman. He feels she has to be the one for him but how will he ever find her. Meanwhile danger goes on and Nicholas travels, gets in trouble, hides, searches, blows up munitions, kills some bad guys, all the time hoping he will meet that woman again.

The woman holds the same position as Nicholas for another nation so when he finally does meet her, they both know that their love is forbidden since they are actually at war with each other. How in the world can they pull this off? Kalyna Muzak is the woman's name as Nicholas soon finds out. Their adventures as they each work for opposing nations become sometimes hilarious but I am sure it is not funny for them. Eventually Nicholas is given orders to blow up a building containing many people along with munitions and Kalyna. As he watches the building blow knowing his one chance at love since his first marriage failed is gone. His chance for love will have to end in that collapsed building.

Larry Johnson has written a story that will be liked by almost any type of reader whether they like love, murder, torture, humor, suspense, and twists written in a way that is easy to understand.

Reader review by Cy Hilterman of a book supplied by the author

Death At Willow Creek Mine, The Ultimate Cover-Up Written By J. D. Savid

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A short book containing a fairly good story that takes place at an old gold mine in northwestern Nevada that had ceased any major production in 1942. There were a few seams of ore scattered throughout the mine but no major mining had taken place since it was closed during WWII. Three brothers, Aaron, the oldest, Nathan, the middle aged brother, and Hector, the youngest, had survived the years since other family members owned the mine, most of which had passed away. None of the brothers were well educated but they knew the area they lived in and also the mine even though they rarely went into it. Hector was the exception going into the now very dangerous mine six days a week to bring out any ore, gold, or anything he might think was worth mining that would bring them some money.

The book starts by telling about their families and what happened to them. Some deaths might have been a bit suspicious but the boys weren't that smart to push that issue. One day Hector found a vein of interest so he planted some dynamite in the holes he had drilled. He then set the blasting caps to set off the dynamite, lit the fuses, and left the area. He heard the blast go off and thought they had all worked successfully. He figured he would find out the next day. Unlike the other two brothers, Hector worked hard. He also had a far-thinking brain that he used in dreams and sometimes while awake. He would see things and was not sure if they were real or imaginative. Aaron was deeply religious being a regular bible reader and the meal prayer recited. Hector was the cook. He would plan his meals while working in the mines then go home and cook them.

Everything the boys did and where they did it were old backwoods style. They knew little if any about the outside world. Their home was crude, clothes old, their truck was old, even to the small cabin that Hector lived in. Nathan loved to visit the dump where he found many different things he would bring home including some naughty pictures. The boys were not ignorant when it came to wishing they had a girl to be around and enjoy even if it was just talking and they looked at them all they could. The mine inspectors made a visit and the mine was not ready for inspection so they finagled a way to make them come back later for the inspection. And so life went on with what some would think as a monotonous life but to the boys, every day was an adventure.

As I said, the book is small but gives a decent story about mountain boys and others in the area, some in very small communities, and some living by themselves hidden in the mountains.

Reader review by Cy Hilterman of a book supplied by the author

Oath Of Office Written By Michael Palmer

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AppId is over the quota

I have read most of Michael Palmer's books wondering how he could add more excitement and deeper involvement than in his preceding books. "Oath Of Office" is no exception as I thoroughly enjoyed the entire book wondering while advancing through the book how the author can be so knowledgeable as he delves into so many subjects in various fields and subjects? The story begins as Dr. John Meacham has a huge verbal fight with a patient, certainly not the type of thing he would normally do. As that patient stormed out of his office he started thinking beyond the normal box that all those in the office would give him trouble reporting the incident to the hospital and other boards. He decided he would just stop any of them from hurting his future and started shooting and killing any patients in the office and waiting room, his own staff, and any doctors in the immediate vicinity, followed by shooting himself. Dr. Lou Welcome was a good friend of Dr. John Meacham and couldn't believe that this man could take the actions he had taken with such finality to everyone involved. Dr. Meacham had barely survived the bullet he put in his head and despite all the medical attention he was given, including some from Lou, he didn't make it.

The wife of the President of the United States, Darlene Mallory, was a good friend of the Secretary of Agriculture, Russell Evans, and was hurt that he had been caught with a hooker and had to resign his cabinet job. She needed to find out if the story was true or not. Their meeting was done secretly, planned well with the help of one of the Secret Service agents assigned to cover Mrs. Mallory, Victor. Victor was a very good agent but also was top notch at helping the presidents' wife do almost anything she wished to do, outright or secretly. Lou was beginning to suspect something was going on affecting the minds of some causing them to do some outlandish and not near normal activities that had started with his friend killing so many and Dr. Meacham's wife not acting normal also.

Lou had been taking boxing lessons from a good friend, Cap, and had for some years. This helped Lou stay in good physical shape and he loved the action and boy, did he need some relaxation now after all he had been through the past few days. He and Cap worked out and had a good chance to talk. The town of Kings Ridge was the closest populated area and Lou went there to meet Chief Stone, Chief of the Kings Ridge Police force. Lou told Stone that he was suspicious of some strange things going on in the area with people doing and saying some strange things, some things from their local hospital, the local doctors, and the actions of Dr. Meacham. The chief took note but did not feel there was anything wrong.

Action really picks up even more so involving all of the above, the President of the United States who was involved in a reelection campaign so did not have much time for close friends or his wife, Lou's friends and associates, Secret Service agents, and many more. As I said, Michael Palmer has spun a great tale in this book and to try to tell you any more than I have would ruin your enjoyment while reading the book. The writing is excellent, the plots are great, and the characters are very real. When the book gets into genetically modified goods, we enter a current problem facing our world right now. How dangerous are these GE products?

Reader review by Cy Hilterman of a book supplied by the author

Kate Wilhelm's Death Qualified - Review of a Legal Thriller

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Kate Wilhelm has been writing books since 1962 and is best known for her award-winning science fiction novellas and short stories. In 1987 she launched a mystery series with a married detective duo named Constance and Charlie. Constance is a psychologist and Charlie is an ex-arson investigator. The series ends in 1999 after eight books.

Another series begins in 1991, when attorney Barbara Holloway decides to come back to Eugene, Oregon. Her father Frank convinces her to help him with a case and defend Nell Kendricks, a woman accused of killing her husband. Barbara has to contend with her old boyfriend Tony, the prosecutor and her frustration with the flaws in the justice system. Barbara thinks the whole defense rests on the experimental work that Nell's husband was involved with during his six-year absence. That work has to do with the chaos theory and the fantasy part of the story.

I'm not a fan of fantasy, and I wasn't sure where the book was going at times. The fantasy part seemed incongruous with the legal storytelling. What held things together for me was the romance between Barbara, the main character, and a mathematician, Mike Denesen, whom she consults to help understand the work of Nell's husband. There is a rush at the end to solve the murder, but it left me feeling somewhat unsatisfied.

I may try another book in the series, since the chaos theory elements of the first book may be what made me uneasy. It was a page-turner, and I did like the psychological complexities of the characters and the detailed sense of place. The investigator that Barbara and Frank use promises to be an interesting character. I just wasn't excited enough to make the second book a priority. Those, who like a little fantasy and appreciate that escaping reality is what reading is all about, may be more attracted to the series.

Copyright 2011 by Linda K. Murdock. Linda wrote Mystery Lover's Puzzle Book, Crosswords with Clues from Your Favorite Mystery Series. In it she reviews 29 mystery writers, has a check-off list of book titles and a puzzle for each series. Download a FREE sample crossword on Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series or sign up for more mystery book reviews under Author Bio at http://bellwetherbooks.com/

The Last Justice Is a First-Class Thriller

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It's Black Wednesday, and an assassin has just murdered five of the nine Supreme Court justices while they are hearing a case. A sixth, Chief Justice Thomas W. Kincaid, brandishing a pistol, is mistakenly shot by the police, who think he might be the killer, though it's later discovered "he had surprised the assassin by returning fire," and that "The Supreme Court police officers who mistakenly shot Kincaid had killed the only witness to see the shooter's face." The main suspect of the police and FBI? Security cameras identify the initials "C.B." branded onto someone's neck, but don't catch the person's face clearly. The person whom the cops start to believe has the best motive is, you'd initially think, the one who would be the least likely to commit such a heinous crime - the Solicitor General (SG), Jefferson McKenna. The belief is strengthened when McKenna flees, leaving dead bodies in his wake. But, did he murder the Supreme Court justices, or is someone trying to set him up?

This is the scenario that talented author Anthony J. Franze (a successful lawyer himself) presents in his suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat debut thriller, The Last Justice. McKenna has to prove his innocence and uncover who is really behind the murders while on the run from the police, the FBI, and the people who are trying to frame him and possibly kill him. Also, conservative President Winter, wanting to fill the vacancies on the Supreme Court as expediently as possible, tries to cut a deal with the Congress, "the three-three deal." It's meant, supposedly, to be fair to everyone involved, a way around bipartisan bickering. As Judge Ivan Petrov, a potential nominee for one of the openings caused by the murders, puts how the deal would work:

"It's pretty simple. The administration and the Democratic leadership each would come up with a list of three nominees, and each side agreed not to challenge the nominees on the other's list: hence, the name, 'the three-three deal.'"

The person to come up with the idea? Jefferson McKenna. McKenna, before he becomes a suspect himself, assists with the investigation, going through the cases that the Supreme Court was scheduled to rule on previous to the shooting deaths of the justices. He comes up with two cases that seem to have the most potential to give someone a motive to want the decisions delayed.
What's more, Parker Sinclair, a law clerk that winds up dead with his blood on McKenna's running suit and in his motel room, had accused McKenna of taking a bribe from Nash. When Nash is later stabbed to death, that seems to confirm to the police that McKennna is the one who has the most to gain by it.

The Last Justice is an adrenaline-inducing roller coaster ride, full of enough action and chase scenes to please the most discriminating junkies of thrillers and suspense novels. How McKenna manages to evade capture and gather evidence, with the aid of his love interest, Kate, her brother, Aiden, and Aiden's computer-hacking friend makes for a very entertaining read. I hope to read more excellent, action-packed novels of suspense from Anthony J. Franze in the future. If you enjoy page-turning, exciting, pulse-racing mystery thrillers, I recommend checking out The Last Justice today!

Reviewed by Douglas R. Cobb for http://www.bestsellersworld.com/

Review - Diary: Alone on Earth

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Diary: Alone on Earth, JD Weldy, 2011, B005W3NACK (Kindle e-book)

It's normal to wonder what it would be like to be the last person on earth. That is, until it actually happens.

David is a senior citizen who has reasons for wanting to cut himself off from the rest of the world. He finds an isolated house outside of a small town in Alabama, where he plans to spend the rest of his days with his faithful dog, Ralph. One day, the whole world is menaced a strange humming sound. The media is full of speculation as to the cause. Several hundred people are driven to suicide, including one of David's neighbors. Countries are ready for war, convinced that their "enemy" is about to attack. David goes to bed.

The next morning David wakes up to no electricity, and no battery power, either. Even new, freshly charged batteries are dead. David travels to the houses of his neighbors, to find them deserted. He visits the small town, a place called Axis, to find it also deserted. He finds a motorcycle that he can push start, and visits Mobile, Alabama. He finds hundreds and hundreds of abandoned, burning cars, like people were in a panic. But there are no people, not even dead bodies. He finds the same thing in Atlanta, along with signs that people tried very hard keep something out, or in.

The book turns into something of a psychological battle between David and a being that he calls The Blackness. David feels that it wants him dead, but it can't kill him, so it torments him constantly. David hears Ralph barking, but no matter how much he calls out to Ralph, he doesn't come. David also hears voices that he should recognize. David and The Blackness meet late in the book (think "demon from hell"). David decides to travel west to keep looking for any other people. For some reason, he feels that answers will be found at the end of Interstate 90, in the town of Van Horn, Texas. As he travels, with The Blackness making it as hard as possible, David has to maneuver around thousands and thousands of smashed and burning cars, but still no people. Does David reach the end of his journey? Does he discover what happened to mankind?

Told all in diary form, this is a really interesting suspense story. It does a very good job of showing the despair that will set in after the "novelty" wears off, including the wondering if God would really let such a thing happen to His people. It is very much worth reading.

Paul Lappen is a freelance book reviewer whose blog, http://www.deadtreesreview.blogspot.com/, emphasizes small press and self-published books.

One of My Favorite Mysteries Is Hour Glass by David Baldacci

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When I'm not reading historical fiction, I enjoy a good mystery. "Hour Glass" was an excellent choice. I usually look to James Patterson or Michael Connelly for a great novel. Well, David Baldacci was equally as superb at writing when it came to producing this book. I had a hard time putting it down. It had me from the very beginning. I'll be looking for this author for future reading enjoyment.

One thing I really enjoyed about his writing was the colorful descriptive style of content that I encountered. In this book mystery, the investigators named King and Maxwell are a highly entertaining team of detectives. It was non stop vibrant action while the smart serial killer always seemed to be one step ahead, in his twisted exploits. He seemed to always be clever and able to create complexities in his actions just enough to throw off the trailing duo as they sought him out and tried to solve the mystery.

The story setting is in a small community called Wrightsburg which was home to several well to do families. The Battle family was one of the richest residents there and was also at the center of the mystery. Despite their wealth, they were quite a dysfunctional clan.

Michelle Maxwell and Sean King were the heroes of the story. Eventually, they outsmarted him. They were very entertaining and likeable detectives. The local doctor, Sylvia Diaz, seemed very likeable too, until you discover that she has an evil role in the story. The real villain appears somewhat likeable at first but later you discover the truth. He is clever, intelligent and an accomplished painting artist. He is also involved with civil war reenactments as a hobby.

His sister, Savannah Battle is a genuine nice person whiles his mother, Remmy, is a stern woman whose bark is worse than her bite. The father, Bobby Battle, the kingpin, had made the family fortune and also created the dysfunction. Once he died, the family unraveled even further. Bobbie's past misdeeds would come back to haunt the family as well as the community.

Eddie Battle when he was discovered and caught, then, becomes an escape artist. There is never a dull moment in this story. I highly recommend the book as well as the author and his talent. You too may find it a novel hard to put down if you enjoy the book as much as I did.

John Sprague is an American currently working in the mideast. He enjoys writing and working on his websites in his free time. He has a new site at http://johnsprague.ws/ His website has photos of the mideast and marketing articles that you may be interested in viewing. There are also website analysis tools and articles on genealogy and dna.

Cinnamon Roll Murder by Joanne Fluke - Mystery-Thriller Book Review - Music, and Murder in Minnesota

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Cinnamon Roll Murder continues author Joann Fluke's trademark talents of combining fictional murder mystery with morsels of food. Fluke's narrative centers around amateur sleuth, Hannah Swensen. As owner of The Cookie Jar, Lake Eden, Minnesota's coffee and bakery shop, Swensen's never far from comestibles and crime.

The Cinnamon Roll Six jazz band is en route to perform at the first-ever weekend jazz festival at the Lake Eden Inn. It's early April, on an ice-filled evening, when the musicians' bus crashes and overturns near town.

Hannah and her sister, Andrea, are traveling in the company van to deliver a large cinnamon roll order to the Lake Eden Inn. Witnessing the accident, they stop to offer help. Driver, Clayton Wallace is dead at the scene. Fortunately the band's entourage suffers only minor injuries yet need to be examined at Lake Eden Memorial Hospital.

While there, Delores Swensen, Hannah's mother and leader of the hospital's Rainbow Ladies Auxiliary group, discovers keyboardist, Buddy Neiman dead in an examining room; stabbed with surgical scissors buried in his chest.

Who'd have motive to kill Buddy Neiman?

Promising, young musician, Devon Murphy (replacement keyboardist for Neiman), is one suspect. Another is the mysterious woman seen arguing with the victim outside Club Nineteen, the band's previous gig.

Dentist, Norman, is Hannah's true love interest, yet engaged to Dr. Bev, a fellow professional. Her reputation in Lake Eden is tainted, known as a conniving, self-centered woman, intent on marrying Norman with ulterior motives. Dr. Bev claims Norman is the father of her five-year-old daughter, Diana, but the Swensen clan is skeptical.

Hannah and her sister Andrea go undercover as realtor/client to gain access to DNA samples from Diana, who lives with Dr. Bev's mother, Judy Thorndike, in the Twin Cities.

Claire's dress shop, Granny's Attic (the area's gossip hub), and Helping Hands (the town's sole thrift store), contribute to Lake Eden's quaint commercialism.

Mentions of modern day, major issues, including facial implants and domestic abuse, offset the isolated, small-town charm of Lake Eden.

Piggy Chicken, Stuffin' Muffins and Pucker Up Lemon Cake, are recipes included in the narrative, along with the expectant, mouthwatering, Special Cinnamon Rolls. All twenty-two recipes are handily indexed at book's end along with a Baking Conversion Chart.

The challenge with some of Fluke's recipes is the amount of labor they require to produce. In today's time-constrained world, chicken tenders need to be pounded and dough needs to rise for several hours, as an example.

Cinnamon Roll Murder is a well-crafted mystery; designed to simultaneously tease your brain and taste buds. Indulge.

The 2012 Bouchercon World Mystery Convention is being held in Cleveland, Ohio, October 4-7. To learn more about this gathering of some of the world's best crime fiction writers, visit: http://bouchercon2012.com.

Timothy Zaun is a blogger, speaker and freelance writer. Visit him online at http://timzaun.com/.

The Detachment by Barry Eisler

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"The Detachment" by Barry Eisler brings back assassin John Rain and the former Marine sniper, Dox, from Eisler's first six popular novels and pairs them with the covert operator and hero of Eisler's last two books, Ben Treven, and the deadly Larison from Eisler's most recent "Inside Out." These four, all expert and experienced operators and killers, are thrust together to form a detachment to stop a coup that's being launched on American soil. Black Ops veteran Colonel Scott "Hort" Horton from previous novels brings the four together for the mission, but it's up to the four to figure out just what the mission is, if they can, before being killed, or killing each other. The premise makes for an exciting fast paced yarn that is fun to read and keeps you wondering what is what and who is who throughout.

I'm a friend of Eisler's, and was looking forward to him writing about Rain and Dox again. As a former Army sniper, I have a kindred spirit for the former Marine. I really liked his part in this story, and it was great to see him back in action, as well as providing some of the comical relief when things get tough. Who says a tough guy can't have a sense of humor? The way the four men interacted with each other moved the talk along well, and the trust, or lack of it, element of the story kept it interesting. Sometimes these interactions were as full of "action" as the actual action scenes, just a different type. The way the characters have developed over the series, and the camaraderie between them, and a look into their psyche, enables the reader to better understand these men, their lives, their pains, their insecurities, as well as their strengths.

As a writer, Eisler did another thing I found interesting. When focused on Rain, the narration is in first person, but when writing about Dox, Treven, and Larison, it is in third person. I found this interesting, and it really makes the story a John Rain thriller as the title suggests, rather than a Ben Treven book. And Rain is the primary character, even though the others all play important roles. Eisler, as always, is in top form when writing about covert ops and keeps his locations accurate and realistic. His experience and research pays off.

"The Detachment" is a terrific thriller with John Rain and Dox back in action. The addition of Treven and Larison added to the excitement and I'm looking forward to seeing where this detachment of special op professionals goes next.

Alain Burrese, J.D. is a writer, speaker, and mediator. He has authored several books (including Lost Conscience and the Tough Guy Wisdom series) and a number of instructional DVDs (including Hapkido Cane and the Lock On Joint Locking Essentials series). He has also reviewed hundreds of books, DVDs, and products. His Warrior's Edge programs focus on safety, martial arts, self-defense, and living with The Warrior's Edge. His Black Belt Communicator programs focus on effective communication for conflict resolution, negotiation, leadership, and mediation. You can find out about Alain, read articles and reviews, see video clips of his DVDs, and more at http://www.burrese.com/blog.

Resuscitation Written By D M Annechino

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A superbly written and thought out mystery that is certain to thoroughly entertain you - and SCARE you! The author has so many twists and turns that will excite you and make you constantly think of what will happen to which character next. No, the story will not confuse you as so many do by adding so many changes as the reader goes along that it gets them confused as to who was what and where did they belong in the story. The author, Daniel Annechino, learned his great methods of writing well and I hope he continues writing such invigorating fictional mysteries.

The prologue starts us with a sample of what to expect when a young woman comes to feeling like she just had major surgery, tied to a bed or some such place, IV lines going into her body, and completely naked under a sheet that covered her. This is the result of a highly thought of cardiologist performing a specialized surgery on her to attempt to find a way to treat the many patients that have atrial fibrillation heart problems. Only this morbid physician takes perfectly healthy people off the streets, drugs them, and takes them to his haunts to continue his experiments. Julian would need eight patients to complete his experiments on this subject before he felt he would have the opportunity to win the award for overcoming this heart problem. Killing those he experimented with was no problem for Julian. After the first few he decided his sexual prowess would take over before he would rid himself of this body. Oh yes he was careful hiding all ways he could be identified through his "work!"

Sami Rizzo and Alberto Diaz were a pair in love. Sami had been a cop but after her brush with death with Simon a short time span before, left the police force knowing she was too upset to go through this again. Al was a cop that lived with Sami and had helped her through the major damage she had endured and still did. Sami was so thankful to have Al to be with her and give her the guidance she needed to live every day. One night Sami answered the phone when Al's superiors called to tell him to get to a certain place, as there was a homicide, no details, just get there. The finding of the first body really took all those in the local law enforcement back. The victim was dressed head to foot in very expensive clothes, appearing to be ready for a very expensive outing.

Sami's mother had a heart attack and Dr. Templeton, a very highly thought of cardiologist, was her doctor. He kept in touch with Sami constantly whether at the hospital or home. While her mother was still in the hospital Al received a phone call from Rio that his sister had been involved in a bad auto accident and it was unknown if she would make it. Al had to get there to be with his sister in Rio. So while Sami's mother was recuperating, Al had to fly off to a far away place to be with his sister. All the while Julian took more women as he continued his experiments. Sami was not happy since she had left the police force. She continually wondered if she should apply for reinstatement or if she had any chance for that after her life-threatening problem with Simon. Eventually Sami approached her superiors and, after some consideration, she was reinstated and of course was thrown on the case that was driving all the law authorities crazy.

I will stop here now that you have better than a basis of the story. Don't pass this book up. Sometimes if we don't know an author we move on to one we know we do like, but in this case, if you don't read Resuscitation, you will be the loser.

Reader review by Cy Hilterman of a book supplied by The Amazon Vine Program

The Complaints By Ian Rankin

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AppId is over the quota

In the United States this department is called I.A. or Internal Affairs. The Complaints Department deals with the force and any suspicions against them. No one in the Police Force particularly likes Complaints. They are seen as snitching and snooping on those who keep the peace. This is Ian Rankin's first story after his enormously successful Detective Rebus' retirement. He wrote those in chronological order and retired him when he would have been of age. So now we meet Malcolm Fox. His job is to investigate fellow officers.

I didn't know how I would feel about a different hero being such a huge Rebus fan, but Fox is quite brill. Obviously intelligent but also up to date on investigating. This story starts with the culmination of a case for Fox. He has finally brought enough evidence against a dirty cop and he is ready for his next assignment. Unfortunately he is sent to vice for a briefing about a cop suspected of using child pornography. As the story evolves we are introduced to Fox's sister who is in an abusive relationship with a man she swears she loves. What a position for a policeman to be in; stand by and watch your sister get beaten up or do something about it. Of course, she won't press charges. To add to Fox's stress level is his father who is living in an old people's home. He is doing well but is not completely aware of his daughter and her lifestyle.

The Complaints Department that Fox works for only has four employees. They keep things pretty tight to their chests and have very few friends throughout the rest of the police force. As is usual for colleagues, they know a lot about each other's lives. Malcolm's work mates are concerned about his sister as well and encourage him to think of how to remedy her situation. The story escalates dramatically when the boyfriend of the sister turns up dead. She is, of course, suspected due to the violence and her sporting a broken arm thanks to the victim. Malcolm is supposed to back off completely and not have anything to do with her case but realistically who can honestly say they will do nothing. To add insult to injury, one of the officers on her case is someone the complaints may be investigating. The plot does get stickier and stickier.

There are many different levels to this story but Rankin never leaves us out in the cold trying to remember which character is which. We meet quite a few nasty bastards and Fox gets into some very scary situations. To be honest I hope they televise these as they have done with Rebus - I think they would be great. You can imagine the Scottish underworld skulking around the back streets of Edinburgh in the wee hours. Anyway enough said - great book!

You can find more of my book and movie reviews at: http://ukchica.com/

Review - Murder at the Ocean Forest

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AppId is over the quota

Murder at The Ocean Forest, Robert "Digger" Cartwright, 2006, ISBN 1425707696

This is a murder mystery set in World War II-era South Carolina. It is about a husband and wife who would have been better off never getting married to each other.

Terence and Faye Underwood are traveling by train to the Ocean Forest, a very high-class resort right on the shore. Faye thinks that Terence is a serial adulterer, constantly looking for women with which to have illicit affairs, despite his constant protestations to the contrary. They are both members of high society, so divorce, let alone raising their voices in argument where others might hear them, is simply not an option; the scandal would be overwhelming.

A few days later, Terence goes off by himself quail hunting, while Faye goes horseback riding along the beach. Several hours later, the horse returns without her. A diligent search along the beach is made, led by Feltus le Bon, the hotel detective. Faye's red scarf, along with some blood, is found near a patch of quicksand. The next day, Terence is coerced into showing Feltus exactly where he was hunting. It turns out to be just a few yards from the quicksand. It would have been very easy for Terence to shoot Faye with the shotgun he was carrying, and dump her in the quicksand, freeing him to have as many illicit affairs as he can handle. Things get complicated the next morning when, serving an arrest warrant on Terence, Feltus finds him in bed, murdered.

Investigating further, Feltus focuses his attention on Preacher Cooper, a priest involved in illicit activities, Elizabeth Bascomb, an elderly, blind psychic, and Lord and Lady Ashburn, visiting from England, all of whom have very good reasons for wanting Terence Underwood dead. Feltus tries several ways to ratchet up the pressure, hoping that the guilty party will crack. While all this is going on, the area is battered by a major hurricane.

This is a really good mystery, but I thought that it moved too slowly. The first death does not occur until almost halfway into the book. I understand what the author was trying to do, and totally agree that not all murder mysteries have to move at breakneck speed. The author certainly knows what he is doing; I guess I would have liked it more if the first half of the story moved a little faster than it did.

Paul Lappen is a freelance book reviewer whose blog, http://www.deadtreesreview.blogspot.com/, emphasizes small press and self-published books.

Death of a Kingfisher By MC Beaton

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AppId is over the quota

Ms. Beaton has hit another doozy on the head with this latest Hamish Macbeth mystery. Set again in sleepy Lochdubh in the Highlands in remote Scotland our fearless cop is faced with more unsavoury people. His police station has also been invaded by another policeman whom headquarters is trying to get rid of without having to fire. Said policeman is older and ready to retire but is more than happy to sit around and do nothing, well except eat, which he is wanting to do continually. Macbeth has to continually berate him and send him on errands and jobs to see to the wellbeing of the townsfolk. In the end this copper turns out to be more of an asset with his tendency to hear about gossip in and around town and therefore hear about several goings on well before Macbeth does.

Macbeth has to call on newcomers to the villages as well as check on old timers. His work takes him to a newcomer who has a strong Highland lilt. It seems she was born and raised from even further north and has come back after the death of her husband. He has left her very well off and she has bought a huge home. At this time her two grandchildren are visiting her although they do not seem to be either very nice kids or to care much about their granny. When there is some aggro in a nearby glen the first question they ask is if their grandmother has died. Macbeth finds this very disconcerting although he seems to be the only one who does. He tries to keep an eye on the children but other shenanigans prevent that from happening completely.

Macbeth receives a call reporting a murder in the aforementioned glen and rushes out to the scene of the crime. When he arrives he realizes that there is no murder, only the death of some birds in the area. The woman who is renovating the nature preserve is beside herself, apologizes to Hamish and then starts to flirt with him something awful. If you have read any previous Macbeth mysteries then you will know he is a sucker for the ladies. The only thing is he doesn't know when to go the full hog or to stop seeing these women. He never gets around to asking the ones he truly loves to marry him and yet is completely overwhelmed by those who want to get the better of him even if they are married. This one is married and yet seems to be either lying about her relationship with her husband or is trying to fool Macbeth. She definitely succeeds for a while.

As usual we have the flying visits of the lady of the manor, whom Hamish has held a torch for over the years. We also have visits from his previous love who is now a very successful reporter who is scheduled to marry very near in the future. There is the usual murder and mayhem and this time the crimes are a little darker but Hamish does get to the bottom of the mysteries.

You can find more of my book and movie reviews at: http://ukchica.com/

Top Mysteries Picks From a Discriminating Reader

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AppId is over the quota

My criteria for liking a book are often based on how much I like the characters. Because I focus on mystery series, I want my characters to grow and to surprise me. I keep a list of what I've read and try to rank them with terms like Excellent or Poor in an effort to keep track. Perhaps the most consistently excellent writer I have noted is Harlan Coben, who writes about modern-day situations that result in choices that don't always turn out the way most would expect.

I pride myself on being somewhat of a shoot from the hip, independent person, so cozies with nosy, manipulative women turn me off. But I do like to read about women, since they are over fifty percent of the population. So I have difficulty with the all male action and spy dramas. I also like reality-based stories, so I'm not inclined to read about comic-book style heroes. Of course there are exceptions to all these rules (including my recent guilty pleasure in Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse vampire series), and it depends upon my mood.

If you dislike getting caught up in a series, there are many great stand alones. In fact, you don't have to read an entire series to appreciate a good story, and many authors have stand out books among their series. One of my favorite stand-alone legal thriller writers is Scott Turow. Start with Personal Injuries. Minette Walters has strong female characters set in England. I thought Shape of Snakes was her best.

Deep South and Blood Lure by Nevada Barr were two of her best works in her series about a female park ranger. I enjoy the historic turn of the twentieth century series by Rhys Bowen with a female detective. Try In a Gilded Cage as one of her best. Michael Connelly's earlier works were great, but recently I have learned to be more particular. I recommend Lincoln Lawyer, City of Bones and Lost Light.

If you want something light with some romance and a few laughs, I recommend Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. If you want light, but thought provoking mixed with charm and an exotic locale try Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies Detective series set in Botswana, Africa. If you want a better than average cozy with likeable characters, but not too much violence try Distant Blood about a male librarian by Jeff Abbott or Sunshine and Shadows by Earlene Fowler, which is set in central California.

Some books stand out in my mind above and beyond all others. Robert Crais' L.A. Requiem, Nelson DeMille's Up Country, Jonathon King's Blue Edge of Midnight, the whole Stieg Larsson series set in Norway, Laurie King's Touchstone and The Beekeeper's Apprentice, Carol O'Connell's Find Me and John Dunning's The Bookman's Wake are just a few. Like Harlan Coben, you can never go wrong with Dennis Lehane, whether reading his series or his stand alones. These are the standouts for those who have to be more selective with their reading time.

If you want to read good writing I recommend James Lee Burke and Barry Eisler for setting a scene and atmosphere, Jeffery Deaver and John Sandford for on-the-edge-of-your-seat pacing and Karin Slaughter and C. J. Box for character driven stories that are full of surprises and not for the faint of heart. If you like futuristic mysteries with lots of hot romance consider J. D. Robb's Origin in Death or Divided in Death. If you like historic mysteries I haven't read much better than Margaret Lawrence's Blood Red Roses, Burning Bride and Hearts and Bones, which takes place after the American Revolution.

I'm sure I'm leaving out many other great authors I have yet to discover. However, for those who make an effort to read and want a recommendation from someone who reads a lot, here are a few books that should keep you entertained for the next couple of years.

Copyright 2012 by Linda K. Murdock. Linda wrote Mystery Lover's Puzzle Book, Crosswords with Clues from Your Favorite Mystery Series. In it she reviews 29 mystery writers, lists all of their book titles and creates a puzzle for each series. Download a FREE sample crossword on Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series or sign up for more mystery book reviews under Author Bio at http://bellwetherbooks.com

Planning 'Yeses' in Our Lives

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AppId is over the quota

Now while this post targets writers, this can be food for thought for any other profession or walk of life. Do we purpose to set ourselves up for 'yeses' when we know that "no" or rejection is part and parcel of the writing experience? I remember my first rejection notice. I had sent my baby...a three year work of art...to a publisher expecting they would be honored to receive such a masterpiece. Well, not exactly, but close. What I received was a notice that said I had a lot of work to do before they would even consider my manuscript.

While that may have been true, and looking back it was, it hurt. I thought about ending my writing career right then and there. I'm glad God had other plans for me. Now I've come to understand the attitude of divorcing ourselves from the manuscript and not injesting the comments as personal.

But do we plan some 'yes' events to pick up our spirits at times like this or even before they happen or do we wait for something to happen incidentally. I'd never thought about this quite this way but for instance...

What if we planned a spa visit before we opened the letter? What if we aligned ourselves with a prayer partner and took the publisher response to them so we could pray together about it after opening it? And it's not just publishers. How many of you have been shocked at the response of an editor who wanted you to delete, delete, and revise... again and again. I've had editors mark of my article in so much red ink that it was hard to see what he accepted.

God wants us to write. That's a given. Otherwise, we'd not be doing what we're doing. Does he want to mold us and make us more Christ-like...even through our writing? Then we need to plan some 'yeses' in our life...some positive events that build us up and point us back to Him. Time to reflect on the idea that God doesn't make mistakes so if He's asked us to write, then... write and learn to be the best example of Christ in our writing that we can be.

Others are watching, wondering. How can a Christian have anything worthwhile to say? Do I want to read what they write? If we make our writing the best it can be, stay away from preaching, then they will be drawn to it, and with be inspired along the way.

Watching the expressions on the faces of her readers is what drives author and speaker, Barbara Ann Derksen to write. Her favorite genre is murder mystery but each book brings forth characters who rely on God as they solve the puzzle in their life.

With 11 books to her credit, two more in the process, Barbara works hard to develop a social media presence. Her books can be found on Amazon, at Barnes and Nobles, and on her website, http://www.barbaraannderksen.com/.

Canadian born, Barbara is a member of The Word Guild, Manitoba Writer's Guild, The Writer's Collective, and Christian Motorcyclists Association, USA.

Books are available through Amazon.com at http://amzn.to/HdXAqQ and at Amazon Kindle

A Trick of the Light By Louise Penny

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AppId is over the quota

Apparently this was an interesting if not particularly difficult book for Ms. Penny to write. I am not sure if it was because of personal experience or just the subject matter but it is absolutely brilliant. If she is an artist and received a not so glowing review I say 'whatever'! If you like it and it made you happy to paint it - go for it. This brings us to one of the topics of this fabulous mystery. Art has critics just like any other medium and sometimes this can be a make or break for said artist. I think most of us can still look relatively objectively at something and realize it isn't the total sum of that person's work but the artist can and often does have a fragile ego.

One of the heroines of the Penny stories is Clara who lives in Three Pines and has been knocking out art for over 20 years now. She has finally been recognized and has her own solo show. This doesn't come as a surprise to those who know her but due to bad reviews years before she never really thinks her work is good enough. As a result of this self-deprecating thinking, Clara is physically sick about attending her own show. In fact if she didn't have friends to literally hold her hand as she walks in, she thinks she would have gone home and missed the entire party. Suffice it to say, she makes it through, endures the false praise as well as the honest and is the guest of honour at a party in her home town afterwards. The next morning she is going over the previous evening and enjoying her garden when a body is found. The body is in her front garden and is a stranger to the town. The stranger is wearing a party dress but no one seems to remember her attending the party, or inviting her either. The more we learn about the victim the more interesting the story becomes. I really don't want to give away a whole lot because this is such a fun book. There is the completely bitchy element of gallery owners who made bad choices, past relationships brought up as well as people who are doing their level best to change the way they have behaved in the past.

If you have read any of Ms. Penny's previous books then the character development continues. We catch up with cantankerous Ruth, lovely Myrna as well as Gabri and Olivier at the bed and breakfast. There is a lot of forgiveness to give and take in this story as a result of previous books as well. It leaves you with almost a warm fuzzy. Enjoy!

You can find more of my book and movie reviews at: http://ukchica.com/

Lilith: Demon of the Night, By Theodore Jerome Cohen - Book Review

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AppId is over the quota

Author Theodore Jerome Cohen brings his NYPD Detective Louis Martelli back with his partner Sean O'Keeffe in his novel Lilith, Demon of the Night, as the duo sleuths solve a bizarre series of murders dealing within the dark side of cult rituals and vampirism.

When a bullet is shot into the coffin containing a corpse lying in state at a funeral home from a mysterious cloaked perpetrator, the odd circumstances alerted NYPD's homicide detectives to take notice. The obvious question of who would want to shoot someone who was already dead prevails; as other details emerge alluding to the rituals and beliefs of something out of Bram Stoker's Dracula. Using silver through the heart, wood stakes to the chest, garlic in the mouth and even a silver crucifix in the coffin, the detectives find these techniques used to keep a vampire rising from the dead as they exhume bodies linked to the trail of finding the serial killer. With twists and turns like a Boa constrictor, the venomous plot unfolds and transports the reader from a modern day high-tech crime fighting novel into the dark side of cult practices within the mind of a serial murderer fixated on revenge.

Theodore Jerome Cohen writes in a very convincing and discerning fashion, offering credibility to his characters with his commonsensical understanding of police investigative techniques. He embellishes his characters with a harmonized balance of dialogue and descriptions, achieving excellent visualization within the reader's mind. The author's written wit is consistent with stereotypical references to tough, macho police work, yet Louis Martelli possesses an intrinsic understanding of human nature. I found it rather clever that in many instances Theodore Cohen referenced prior instances of his character Martelli's experiences from other novels, rewarding the loyal readers of his series with a bit of magniloquent pleasure.

Impeccably written with the obvious goal to entertain, Theodore Jerome Cohen once again effectuates what he set out to accomplish. Lilith is a trophy on any shelf, a book worthy of an afternoon's reading enjoyment, a fine gift, or a welcome companion to take on a trip. Written for young adults all the way to mature audiences, Lilith - Demon of the Night stands on its own merit as an enjoyable read. When combined with TJC Publication's other novels in the Detective Louis Martelli series, it becomes a link in the chain of adventures; an episode quite a bit different from the others.

Editor's note: This novel contains adult language

Reviewed by: Gary Sorkin

Gary Sorkin is the Senior Editor for Pacific Book Review. Please visit Pacific Book Review at: http://www.pacificbookreview.com/

In Dog We Trust

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AppId is over the quota

Desiring to escape his meager middle class existence, and a dead-end job making doughnuts, J.R. dreams of success as a world class counterfeiter. It is a dream that is consistent with the American dream, as J.R. explains in a journal entry: "I had a viable dream! A big, daring, foolproof plan to enter the great mansion of capitalism by using the side door. You can acquire money by earning it, winning it, stealing it, or printing it." Or is the notion that one can attain wealth by any means necessary truly compatible with what we've come to call "the American dream"? Have we as a nation, under the magical power of money, failed to truly consider the nature of our greed and its effect on our neighbors? Is the "American dream" founded on our mindless faith in a 'false-god'? If so, where will such a 'love of money' lead this country in the end? These are some of the questions author John Rimshas explores in his postmodern novel entitled In Dog We Trust.

Determined to reproduce the perfect twenty dollar bill, J.R. attempts to bring his plan to pass without any real consideration for the rest of society. He reasons that as long as he does not deliberately do any obvious harm to another American citizen, he is not really doing anything wrong. Yet through the course of the novel, and with each succeeding journal entry, J.R. and his 'partner in crime' -- his lovely girlfriend and fellow printer Mickey -- begin to doubt the innocuous nature of their initial intentions; as they slowly see that something as American as acquiring money, when approached with the wrong goal or motivation in mind, or even worse, if accomplished through illegal means, does indeed harm both society at large and one's own soul.

"Actually, it was an accident," J.R. confesses in his journal, explaining the strange occurrence that would alter his career as a counterfeiter, and also the entire financial system in America. While preparing to print more phony twenty dollar bills, one of the photograph negatives had been reversed; and instead of the standard motto that resides on the backside of traditional (or authentic) legal tender, he read the words, "In Dog We Trust." At first it appeared to be merely a mistake; but after a minute, considering the comic (and sardonic) implications of the phrase, J.R. decided to play a trick on the world and the American economic system. So he printed a couple thousand copies of this "funny money," featuring the 'sacrilegious slogan' written on the back above the Whitehouse; reasoning that nobody would know the difference.

According to the field of psychoanalysis there are no accidents. When we "slip" and say (or see) something that betrays our conscious mind, we have, in reality, stumbled upon a truth about our self or the situation at hand. This insight may in turn open us up to a new world within ourselves and change our perspective, and even our life, from that moment onwards. Such was the experience of the narrator of this novel. More significantly, J.R.'s decision to use these "dog bills," which the media defined as "a deliberate attempt to make a mockery of society," contributed to the loss of faith in American currency. Consequently, the circulation of these counterfeit bills (further deflating the value of money in America), helped topple the country's financial system; as it ushered in a sort of post-apocalyptical milieu characterized by anarchy and a survival of the fittest approach to existence.

Ingeniously, Rimshas draws us into the drama of our narrator, whose experience, ironically, runs parallel -- and in a sense presages -- the broader American narrative. In this way, we see that J.R.'s inspiration for gaining wealth, along with the methods he employs to carry out his get-rich-quick scheme, are not unlike the driving motivations and unscrupulous manipulation of the market exhibited by Wall Street brokers and world bankers of late. As J.R grows disheartened with his life dedicated to making money (literally), he plunges into a state of despair that mirrors the economic depression of the nation.

Through the lens of the narrator's experiences we not only get a look at the negative aspects of American capitalism, but we also find that "after the monetary collapse," there exists the possibility to enrich one's life through genuine relationships within a smaller and more personal social arrangement; one centered on religious faith and communal existence. The juxtaposition between these two socio-economic systems, one based on crass self-interest, and the other built on bartering and shared beliefs, provides the reader with a picture of two dramatically different ways of life.

Philosophic in nature, In Dog We Trust describes the potential pitfalls and catastrophic consequences of placing one's faith in something as ephemeral as money. Written in journal form, as each subsequent journal entry brings us closer to the narrator's present place and time, John Rimshas dissects the nature of American capitalism; while demonstrating how our dependence on money can become an addiction as destructive as any other drug habit. Couched in the context of a profound, and often comical, experimental novel, it is a timely work that provides the reader with a literary means of analyzing both the nation's recent economic crisis and the human heart.

Christopher Ackerman
For Independent Professional Book Reviewers
http://www.bookreviewers.org/

Death Comes to Pemberley By P D James

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AppId is over the quota

I just realized that I hadn't reviewed this after seeing it for another week in the top 10 of the New York Times best seller list. Oops. Well I will do my best to get this out. I did read it a few weeks ago but can remember how brill it was. From the beginning of this story you are transported to a Jane Austen novel. That probably sounds really goofy but it is true. You are just transported to that time and place and if you've ever seen any of the television productions you can immediately imagine the scenery too. Ms. James has done another great job but this is extraordinary. I literally re-read the first few pages as I couldn't quite believe it. She is amazing. Anyone who has read Pride and Prejudice needs to read this even if you have never read a mystery or like the genre.

The author takes the main characters we know and love, and even those we love to hate, and tells the story of their lives in and around Pemberley. This is a mystery so there has to be some drama but I have to tell you it was so cool reading about Elizabeth and Darcy's continuing relationship and how P.D. James assumes it went. I always hate to give away too much of the actual plot but someone dies on the grounds of Pemberley and Darcy immediately assumes responsibility of the body and informing the local magistrate. Some of the characters who made us all so mad in Pride and Prejudice rear their ugly heads once again and make life a misery for Darcy especially. Right now I just want to spill all the details but I really shouldn't so I won't do that.

Elizabeth's sisters and parents also play somewhat of a part in this book. There is an annual ball at the house that Darcy's parents handed over to he and Elizabeth so that is the backdrop of the main story line. So while the preparations continue for this gala, the decision has to be made on whether or not they should continue after a pretty gruesome death on the grounds. Elizabeth does see her family quite regularly but especially Jane who lives very close by and she comes and stays at the house to help with the ball. Again this is so fab to 'catch up' with Jane and all that she has been up to. I really could go on and on but gushing is so uncouth. Read this beautifully written book and really enjoy the countryside and character development. I know you will be pleased and feel as if you know Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth even better than before.

You can find more of my book and movie reviews at: http://ukchica.com/

Trespasser by Paul Doiron - Mystery-Thriller Book Review - Asian Murder, ATV Adventure, and Amore

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AppId is over the quota

Twenty-five-year-old Mike Bowditch is a passionate Maine state game warden. It's been seven months since the ordeal with his father, Jack Bowditch at Rum Pond (consider reading Doiron's award-nominated debut novel, The Poacher's Son as a preface to Trespasser).

Bowditch responds to a dispatcher's call to investigate a deer/car collision on Parker Point Road. He arrives to find a damaged, red, rental sedan, and deer bloodstains in the middle of the road, but no driver, no deer.

What happened to the driver and the deer? Who anonymously alerted the authorities from the pay phone at Smitty's Garage two miles away about the accident?

The rental car agreement found in the glove compartment indicates the current driver as Ashley Kim, 23, from Cambridge, Massachusetts.

State trooper, Curt Hutchins arrives at the scene soon after Bowditch. He assures him that he'll continue pursuit of Kim, now that it's a state police matter. Bowditch is skeptical. Something's not right and Bowditch knows it.

Bowditch is compelled to do his own investigation of Ashley Kim's disappearance. He entails the help of town clerk, MaryBeth Fickett and legendary, retired warden pilot, Charley Stevens. Stevens befriended Bowditch during his search for his father.

Fickett discovers that Hans Westergaard owns a summer home not far from the accident site. Westergaard is also from Cambridge, Massachusetts and a Harvard Business School professor. The Kim/Westergaard connection is too close to ignore. Bowditch calls Westergaard's wife, Jill, and learns that Kim was her husband's research assistant. She informs him too, that Hans left for a conference the day before and hasn't been heard from since.

Bowditch and Stevens explore the capacious, oceanfront Westergaard home where they discover the mutilated corpse of Ashley Kim. The killer had carved the word SLUT on her body. With no sign of Westergaard, early suspicions focus on a romantic liaison between the two gone sour.

Seven years ago, Earland Jefferts, an affable, handsome, former lobsterman, was convicted of murdering twenty-year old, Nikki Donatelli. The crime occurred on a hot July night after drinking and seduction at the Harpoon Bar. Interestingly, Bowditch learns that Donatelli's body also had the word SLUT carved into her body.

The J-Team, led by Jeffert's aunt, Lou Bates, is determined to win him a new trial; convinced the prosecution did a botched job of presenting the evidence. They approach Bowditch about joining their mission. He initially declines. But, given the similarities between the Kim/Donatelli murders, he finds himself drawn into investigating Jeffert's conviction.

Danica Marshall is the Assistant Attorney General who helped prosecute Earland Jefferts. Often referred to as a "courthouse sex symbol," and "Black Widow," she warns Bowditch to stop investigating Ashley Kim's death, and revisiting the details of Jeffert's conviction.

The Square Deal Diner is the town's gossip hub. Upon entering, Bowditch has been the topic of conversation, both during his father's disappearance and Ashley Kim's murder.

Adventure accentuates Trespasser, as Bowditch engages in a death-defying ATV chase on an ice-filled, snow-driven night to lure local Calvin Barter. Bowditch is sure he's the culprit whose ATV tracks have been ruining neighbor, Hank Varnum's property: " I shifted into a lower gear and gassed it, aiming for as much momentum as possible and hoping to hell my wheels didn't lose traction on the icy surface."

Bowditch met his live-in girlfriend, Sarah, during college. Despite her affluent upbringing, she was attracted to his raw, love for the outdoors. "She recognized something feral underneath my clean-cut exterior, and like many good girls from proper families, she was aroused by the scent of danger."

His affinity for danger, both during the search for his father and now in the Ashley Kim murder investigation, have take its toll on their relationship. Her tolerance for his availability, both physically and emotionally, have peaked, especially now that she's secretly pregnant.

Well-written fiction mirrors reality, often presenting insightful dialogue. One of the best lines in Trespasser worth contemplating is "You never really know someone until they're no longer in your life."

If you enjoy reading crime fiction, you'll appreciate Doiron's newish voice. It's one that's sure to become more recognizable over time.

The 2012 Bouchercon World Mystery Convention is being held in Cleveland, Ohio, October 4-7. To learn more about this gathering of some of the world's best crime fiction writers, visit: http://bouchercon2012.com/

Timothy Zaun is a blogger, speaker and freelance writer. Visit him online at http://timzaun.com/.

A Lost Journal And A Murder Draw An Investigator Into A Spiritual Awakening With Sex And Secrets

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Rinella's first novel is a triumph of erotica, intrigue and mysterious secrets. Well researched yet still remaining intriguing, the book follows Ben Kramer on a journey of self-discovery and inclusion into a hidden mystery religion. This eventually leads him to some intense sexual encounters, solving a murder and further threats of violence, and truly intense enlightenment through ecstatic experiences.

Ben finds a mysterious box in his mother's attic when she moves to Florida for retirement. The journals contained therein reveal much about his reclusive and, at least to Ben, largely unknown uncle, Jonathan. Ben is reminded of a strange theology book this uncle gave him 25 years previously. In the intervening years Ben has developed a career as an investigator but also as a spiritual seeker. His uncle's journals from the box lead him into new situations with the "cult" his uncle and apparently many others close to him have been involved with.

Richard Ceznat is the outer voice of a secret religion, a cult in the positive form of a belief system hidden from public view. Thomas is the monk of this order that is brought in to guide Ben but eventually becomes much more. Cynthia is the priestess brought in to replace the murder victim. She also becomes more to Ben and their relationships all become more entwined in the course of the investigation into the murder. There are other characters and many situations where Ben learns about ecstatic religious practices, odd terrorists and himself. He seeks and finds more information and then enlightenment through these persons and some others that surprise him and the reader equally. Ben finds himself skeptical and doubtful of the veracity of what he reads and finds out. But the investigation becomes more of a journey of discovery for him.

The characters are all memorable. The situations and the religion described here are believable and uplifting for any in alternative sexualities. Such a religion would fulfill many dreams for those who live their lives as gay, lesbian, power exchange and even simply kinky relationships.

Highly recommended for any adult reader looking for light erotica, decent mystery and perhaps even personal enlightenment, the book is well written and very readable. In the genre of BDSM erotica it is a stellar beginning for Rinella, who has made a great first entry in the fiction market, he should write more.

Published by Rinella Editorial Services, 2011. ($19.95 USD SRP/Amazon $19.95 USD)

Reviewer received book from author.

Reviewed by Chris Phillips

No Cure For Murder Written By Lawrence W Gold, MD

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Marvelous story that combines mystery in Brier Hospital, its patients, doctors, nurses, and other workers. There is murder in Brier Hospital, but who is doing the killing? How safe are patients in their room, some in a difficult medical state of health where they are not able to think straight, and some in a very delicate state near the end of their life? Dr. Jacob Weizman and his wife, Lola, were Holocaust survivors well up in years; Jacob was eighty-eight years of age and Lola eighty-five. Jacob was so very highly thought of in the medical world of Brier and beyond for many reasons. He told it like it was but always had compassion for his patients. That, along with his expertise towards almost any health problem, made him so very valuable and trustworthy in the medical field. Lola was also still active in her practice as a psychotherapist despite her age. She and Jacob would be lost without their professions and each other.

There is usually a person on most any hospital staff who has their problems with others in that hospital and that was the case with Jacob with a few thinking he was too darn old to practice medicine, but these same people had to admit he was the best and wisest in the hospital despite his age. When a friend of Jacobs called him and told him of a young doctor, Zoe Spelling, who was looking for an office in which to practice, Jacob asked that she come and see him. Jacob did hire Dr. Zoe Spelling. He knew he was getting old and could use someone to help him. Dr. Spelling was a bright young woman who seemed very capable and Jacob, despite his complaints about some things she did or didn't do, thought she was a good fit as his partner.

A few patients died when they should not have and every one of these deaths was deeply investigated and autopsied. At first it was thought they might have died of natural causes but some were not convinced of that. Another employee was stealing drugs and selling them. He worked at Brier as a regular so he could work freely around the hospital as well as sneak into the locked drug supply room. Eventually the police were brought into the investigation, first with an undercover cop with nursing experience. Shelly fit in well but found nothing for sure as far as a killer.

Jacob and Lola was such a happy couple. Jacob worked such long hours but he knew his beloved Lola was there for him at home regardless. Lola and Jacob would discuss each other's patient problems some times and they really complimented each other in that way. They hated to see so many of their friends passing away, especially after going through the Holocaust, losing so many family and friends during that. The police action intensified as the killings continued with all on the hospital staff being suspects.

I look forward to any future books by Dr. Gold. He writes in a common persons language, which a person in the medical field doesn't always do. You will love this book and you may suspect certain people but in the end you will probably be surprised. Enjoy it and thanks Dr. Gold.

Reader review by Cy Hilterman of a book supplied by the author.

In Her Sights Written By Robin Perini

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Jasmine "Jazz" Parker was an expert with a rifle. She was the lead sniper for the Jefferson County Police Department, recently won by her talent, but bitterly fought by others in the department. This story is excellent as it gives us a glimpse of law enforcement in a small county police force and the politics that go with the positions within the force. The author has to know a lot about the subject as she has written such an excellent story telling in interesting detail this very plausible story. Jazz was raised in the home of an alcoholic father who would beat her and her mother to a pulp before taking off and disappearing for a long time, until he beat his wife so badly that he killed her. Jazz was used to running and hiding to avoid the beating she knew was coming from her father.

The story opens with Jazz having her scope and rifle sighted on the person that had kidnapped the daughter of the Governor. She had this man in her scope sight for some time awaiting the perfect shot and the approval to take her shot. Gabe Montgomery was also on the county police force and was one in on the current situation. His brother, Luke, was a writer who just had to have his news story before the news occurred, if you can understand the mindset of a person such as Luke. Luke felt there was something wrong in the Jefferson County Police Force and he was determined to find out what no matter whom he hurt along the way. He and Gabe were entirely two different types of men and Luke was in love with Jazz, which plays a part in the further parts of the story. Jazz finally received the order to shoot and she nailed the culprit and saved the Governors daughter. At the mini-celebration in the bar after the scene was cleaned up, Luke and Gabe got into it pretty good as Luke had to put in his two-cents worth about the shooting and the entire police force. This banter between the two brothers never did end all through the story and it is a good part of the book.

Another "villain" on the police force was Brian Tower, the son of the Sheriff. He had it in for Jazz and had reported her to Internal Affairs for investigation. After she had saved the life of the Governor's daughter she thought she would receive an advance in position, not be investigated. Between Luke and Tower, Jazz didn't know which was giving her the roughest time. When the next chance arrived for the team to need a sniper, Jazz lined up her shot but when she took it, she missed quite badly and wounded Gabe in the process. This gave more ammunition to Luke and Tower to show up Jazz. Jazz knew she couldn't have missed, much less that badly. She felt someone had sabotaged her scope and/or her rifle. This she tried to prove on the practice range but no one would listen to her side. Jazz was relieved of her lead sniper position, which made her search deepen to find out who or what caused her miss.

The entire story is great. Robin Perini did a fantastic job in writing this book. It has police actions, love encounters, violence and close completion between the police force, sex, and much mystery. It is a thoroughly enjoyable story. When I read a book, and believe me I read hundreds, once in a while I will tell my wife she would enjoy a particular book. This book is one of those.

Reader review by Cy Hilterman of a book supplied by The Amazon Vine Program.

Worst Case Written By James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

This book is excellent. Some of Patterson's books lately have been only fair, especially the ones written with another author. In "Worst Case" I think the story is very well written and in today's world of not knowing what to expect, it is very plausible. This book features Detective Michael Bennett of the NYPD, who has been featured in a few other books by James Patterson. Bennett has 10 children, all adopted and of all origins. He has a nanny to take care of this brood when he has to work, which is quite a bit of time. Since his wife had died several years earlier, the children give Michael Bennett quite a problem of balancing his work and his personal life. In this story he is teamed with an FBI agent, Emily Parker, who, while working close with Bennett, has made both of them open their eyes toward each other.

Children of rich people disappear, followed by a phone call to the parents. When the police get involved, Bennett and Parker along with their teams, at first the culprit says he does not want any ransom but tells them where the child can be picked up. After leading them on a wild goose chase, the body of the first child is found. This is repeated several times with some variation on the kidnappers method of operation. Since all the parents are rich and very influential the police can't make a connection as to why certain children are taken and with different variants involved, how do they get to the whys and wherefores?

As the police are led in circles, or so it seems, they get no closer to finding this dangerous person. Many other aspects are brought into the story such as parents that think they are above all others, priests that don't seem to have any connection, and chases, some of which lead no where. The story is good, well written and has a good flow. The last part of the book will have you wondering what this guy is thinking and when it all comes together you will be very surprised. You might be glad you don't have children in such a mess!

If James Patterson would continue writing this suspenseful type of story, he would remain the best. He, like some others, try to write too many and think that bringing another author into the book helps thihngs along. Not always the case.

Reader review by Cy Hilterman. reviewer of many types of books.