Vince Flynn's Transfer of Power

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AppId is over the quota

The series by Vince Flynn focuses on Mitch Rapp, an undercover counterterrorism agent with the nickname of Iron Man. His policy is to do first and apologize later. As an operative he has little patience for the bureaucracy and political dancing that surrounds his job. Although a bit dated, the author's first book Transfer of Power is well researched and a good read for those interested in political intrigue.

Unfortunately, I'm not one of those people. Even though the hero is outside the political machinations of Washington, D.C., he still has to work within its framework. I guess it is the framework that bores me. Descriptions include lots of numbers and initials to describe all the government agencies and its newest toys and gadgets for getting the job done. For some, that is reason enough to read the books.

I also dislike hostage situations, which is the heart of this story. Rapp has to infiltrate the White House, which has been seized by a group of terrorists. They are painted so extreme in their evilness, that they become their own caricatures. That evilness allows our hero to be forgiven for anything he does or may do in the name of truth, justice and the American way. If this sounds a little like the Jack Reacher approach to life, it is. But Rapp does not seem as cold-hearted as Reacher, at least not in the first book of the series.

I did like the descriptions of the White House and some of the insights into the building and its history. The story about which Roosevelt photo gets the position of honor over the fireplace or to its right, based on whether the standing President is Republican (Teddy) or Democrat (FDR), was amusing. Any book, that teaches you some history as it tells a fictional story, is doing a public service. It is, in fact, the insights and thorough research that make this series a step above pure escapist fiction.

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/

Explosive Eighteen By Janet Evanovich

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AppId is over the quota

So can Ms. Plum get any sillier? The beginning of this book starts with somewhat of a mystery. Apparently Stephanie has been to Hawaii and Ranger was there. Hmmm. But then we find out she ran away, and went home to New Jersey and won't tell anyone any details. So we are left in the dark. Well we find out eventually but she definitely keeps quiet for a long time, much to the chagrin of Lula who tries to get any information out in any way possible. This book has the usual FTAs which our bounty hunter extraordinaire has to find and they are just as incredulous as ever. She actually has one who is morbidly obese but he still manages to not only get away from Stephanie and Lula but also to steal her car. Then we get to her love life and she is not speaking to either of her beaus. We don't find that out for a while either but it is pretty interesting as Evanovich writes exactly what Stephanie is thinking most of the time and it is pretty messed up.

There is a reason this series is consistently in the top 10 of the best seller list. They are fun, quick reads which have a light story line that is easy to follow. Meanwhile back at the ranch or the home she grew up in, her mother is still trying to keep the peace along with great meals daily. Her father still grunts every time any of the women say anything and her grandmother has a new friend who is into potions including love potion. Grandmother thinks it is time for Stephanie to pick a man and settle down and she has just the potion for making that decision.

As you can imagine what ensues is hilarious and ridiculous all at once. Stephanie is once again taken to viewings at the local undertakers with her grandmother as well. It is the best entertainment in town apparently but this one is of interest to Stephanie too. They are trying to gather information about someone and actually attend a service. Grandma Mazur is used to crashing funerals so this is no big deal, in fact she relishes it. What a bunch of nutters!

As I write this the film based on the first book about Ms. Plum is due to be released soon and I am looking forward to seeing how well they do with that. Stephanie's shoes aren't that hard to fill but I think we all have an idea of how she looks and behaves and hopefully we won't be disappointed with the way she is portrayed. Regardless report will follow the movie and we can dish about that.

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

The Perfect Marriage Falters From Charleston Ghosts and Murder

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AppId is over the quota

Unrepentant Siren by Karen M. Bence ISBN 978-1-56315-438-6

Bence follows up Midnight Revelations with another compelling and haunting sequel. Characters from Midnight Revelations come back into focus and then erupt into a mystery and in fact a horrific secret that murder is the mildest repercussion these secrets generate.

The story line begins with a shocking accident. Leila, Sara's best friend, is electrocuted. It is a freak accident but apparently only a near death experience for Leila. Sara is the protagonist of the tale carrying to plot with many exciting and interesting discoveries. Alex, Leila's fianc?, has been part of the dramatic changes in Leila's life. Alex is the one boyfriend that survived Leila's six month rule and then he proposed. After Leila's recuperation, all the interested parties go to Charleston for the plans that Alex's mother has for a grand traditional wedding get pushed at Leila. Sara and her son, Jack, are involved as they came to Charleston as a support group. Then the odd happenings that seem to always follow Sara and Jack start up even in Charleston. Sara finds herself drawn into some deep dark family secrets and she must solve these mysteries to save her friend, her friend's marriage and ultimately her own life.

The characters present from the first book in the series, The Dark Whispers Series, continue to develop and are further enhanced with abilities that Sara must deal with and even help Leila to understand and pay attention to. Leila and Sara develop a strong psychic connection despite efforts to stop it. David, Sara's husband, becomes more supportive and understanding.

The plot has sufficient twists and turns to keep even those who don't ever read a book sitting on the edge of their seats. Surprises crop up with unnerving regularity while still maintaining a depth of character not often seen. Bence has done it again and supplied a sequel leaving the reader with a longing for the next book in the series.

Although this deals with some sensitive issues the book should enthrall any young adult through jaded mystery reader. Highly recommended as a stand-alone, it is even better when read after Midnight Revelations. Hopefully Bence is only just beginning to write in this series and there will be many more before she stops writing like this.

Published by Sterling House Publishers, 2011. ( http://www.sterlinghousepublisher.com ) ($15.95 USD SRP/Amazon $9.11 USD) Reviewer received book from author.

Book Review: The Reunion by Sue Walker

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AppId is over the quota

If you have been reading my posts for quite sometime, you already know that I am a fan of mystery/suspense stories. I love the chest-thumping, heart-stopping, and hand-trembling sensation brought about by suspense stories and I love making who-done-it guesses related to solving the mystery in a particular story. My love for mystery and suspense books started when I was in highschool when Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys became popular readings amongst my friends and classmates.

Suspense and mystery are inherent in most if not all crime stories and it obviously follows that I love crime stories too. Before I learned to love other genres, I thought that crime stories are the only books that I can ever tolerate. It's a good thing I came across Goodreads, and I was able to discover other genres and thus expand my reading preferences.

I bought The Reunion by Sue Walkerone fine, random day at Booksale without having any idea how good (or bad) it is and without any inkling who the author is except that it was only Php20.00 and its blurb seems to be just the kind of book I would like (suspense, check...mystery, check). It has suspense and mystery, all right, but I feel that the resolution towards the end took very long. I believe that for a suspense story to be effective, it must keep up with the pace otherwise it will turn out to be anticlimactic. The Reunion was just like that - anticlimactic. The suspense was so prolonged I finally got bored with it and did not care how the mystery will finally unfold in the end. I still endured it until finish and though there were some unexpected plot twists and surprising revelations, my interest had faded already that I was no longer that shocked nor surprised.

I have not heard about Sue Walker before so I did not have any idea about her writings. I do not have any trouble liking the way she writes except that the repeated flashbacks in the story terribly confused me and therefore added to my growing disinterest. This may be the last time I will ever read a book from Sue Walker, no offense meant. I do not mean to say that I entirely hated the book. It is okay, but entirely forgettable.

The Reunion is a leftover reading from last year and I don't know for how long this book has been sitting in my shelf. It just feels good to finally count this off my TBR list. Now on to other more interesting reads.

2 stars.

Blood Collector - The Time Anderson Series, By TC Elofson - Book Review

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AppId is over the quota

It's another Thanksgiving in Seattle, and Detective Tim Anderson has a few problems. His partner, Detective Kenny Johnson, is having family issues with an elderly uncle. Anderson has a few family issues of his own, what with rarely seeing his daughter and having to deal with a bitter ex. Worst of all, somebody's killing people left and right on the Seattle streets, and all the evidence - such as it is - points to a vampire. However, as Anderson investigates further, he discovers it's worse than that: not only is the killer a vampire, but so are her victims.

This is the setup to Blood Collector, T.C. Elofson's mashup of vampire and police procedural novels, and it's a fast-paced ride. In fact, it might be a little too fast-paced; clocking in at just over 200 pages, Elofson takes readers on a whirlwind tour throughout history and several viewpoints as the saga of Fabiana, a nearly 2000-year-old beauty bent on destroying the original vampire, unfolds. Despite switching between first- and third-person points of view, as well as a few nested flashbacks here and there, Elofson does an admirable job of keeping the plot elements straight. Even better, real care is taken with the procedural and scientific evidence aspects of the plot, demonstrating a care and thoughtfulness with the realistic portions of the narrative that thoroughly grounds the novel's events in reality and helps sell the more fantastical aspects. This realism is not as assiduously applied to the vampires' effects on the real world, but there's enough present to sidestep some of the sillier clich?s, such as the lack of reflection in mirrors.

However, in a narrative this streamlined, something has to go, and in the case of Blood Collector, it's the characters. Not one is elevated to anything more than broad archetype, and in the case of the vampires, particularly Fabiana and her longtime love Cerci, all the clich?s Elofson managed to sidestep in vampire lore come crashing to earth from the romance side of the aisle. Even given the routine nature of characterization in most thrillers, these fall flat, and the stilted dialogue, frequent homophone misuse and comma-spliced sentences do the narrative no favors. The humans don't come off much better, and in at least one case - specifically, the FBI agent investigating the Seattle killings, which follow a pattern crossing state lines - some of the characterization and motivations seem to come out of left field. Mid-narrative switches in character don't do much for suspension of disbelief, and in this case, it becomes one too many burdens for the story to bear.

While the weak characterization and fundamental language issues sink the novel overall, Elofson displays strong plotting and clear thinking in constructing the narrative, raising hope that future efforts extend those strengths to characters.

Reviewed by: Nicole Sorkin, Pacific Book Review

http://www.pacificbookreview.com/

Wahoo Rhapsody, An Atticus Fish Novel by Shaun Morey

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AppId is over the quota

This is a rockin' good read! Shaun Morey hit all the bases with this. Readers have never met these outrageous characters anywhere else. They come right out of Morey's rich imagination, and are crafted in such a way that makes a series of Atticus Fish novels a must. Baja California makes a beautiful backdrop for the characters to move through, and these characters are certainly on the move. Drug running from Cabo to San Diego aboard a fishing charter called the Wahoo Rhapsody pulls the reader right in. The writing style is fresh, creative, and fast paced.

Atticus Fish, as a lawyer, sued God and the Church and won! Unfortunately, Atticus runs afoul of the "Christian fanatics," and with the huge settlement from the case he heads for southern Baja. He buys an island and buries his millions in the sand. To keep his sobriety Fish builds a bar, Cantina del Cielo, his reasoning being, "hanging around drunks all day is a good reminder to stay sober." He also owns the Wahoo Rhapsody. Atticus's character continues to unfold throughout the book, as a hero on the side of right, truth and justice he is a champion for sea life, and down and out people. He rides a burro in the name of ecology and simplicity, and doesn't have a girl friend, however there are a few juicy spots for the more randy readers.

Weevil Ott, the first mate on the Wahoo Rhapsody, is also a part-time drug runner, and a hapless sort. The reader starts to feel a little sorry for him, because the author has created hilarious ways of bringing pain to the pitiful fellow who just can't seem to get a break. The bet is on that the reader will actually laugh out loud more than once while reading Weevil's plight.

"La Cucaracha" the drug lord that Ott is tangled up with begins an attack on the Rhapsody for the "fat fish" stored on ice. Morey comes up with an ingenious way of transporting drugs as there is "a fortune in marijuana" hidden inside the cold carcasses. The big yellow-tail are off-loaded to a tuna canning operation in San Diego, where the unscrupulous manager, disembowels the pot from the bellies, cans and labels the Cannabis for shipment to the cartel.

Greed bites everyone but not as hard as poor ol' Weevil, who starts digging in the sand after Atticus' millions. There are many other notable characters, but Weevil steals the show. Foiled again by the drug runners who he had worked with, and being so beaten up he turns heartless as he kills them in very nasty ways. Atticus gets to fly his seaplane into the rescue, fights the bad guys, kills a few, and the plot twists and turns like making a run through the fresh-water mangroves of Baja's inland waterways.

Shaun Morey is also the author of the bestselling "Incredible Fishing Stories" series and won the inaugural Abbey-Hill short-story contest, as well as a three-time winner of the Los Angeles Time novel-writing contest. He has a passion for southern Baja, and has lived off and on in Baja for years, which definitely shows in his descriptive details on location. His inspiration for Atticus Fish started when he "fell in love with the remote rugged beauty of Magdalena Bay." He spent days exploring the outer islands, and "rolling down steep stunning sand dunes." It was natural for Fish to buy an island and build his getaway there. Shaun Morey's second book in the series of Atticus Fish novels is coming out in August of 2012.

Martina Dobesh has been a resident of northern Baja for 12 years, having lived in southern Baja and spending much time on the Gulf of California. She is an author, journalist and editor of The Baja Sun. Her focus and intention is to bring a clearer awareness about what Baja has to offer, beyond the mainstream ideas of real estate and good food. The Baja Sun was created out of this desire. Please visit http://www.thebajasun.com/ and see for yourself. Read the stories from people who know the truth of this most amazing land. "Wahoo Rapsody" by Shaun Morey can be purchased on Amazon.com

Believing the Lie By Elizabeth George

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AppId is over the quota

Here finally is another Inspector Thomas Lynley novel. This one is over 600 pages though. Who knew there would be that much to say about a single case? Well it flows really well and goes exceedingly quickly. Lynley is summoned into the presence of Hillier at his London club away from Scotland Yard. He is asked to not mention where he is going or with whom he will be meeting. Immediately a little suspicious Thomas goes along as asked and finds himself meeting Lord Bernard Fairclough. Fairclough is a little bit of a rags to riches story. He met his future wife when they were teenagers and set about to not only courting her but also to marrying her. Her father owned a very successful business which Bernard eventually took over and made even more successful. This gentleman was requesting the help of Scotland Yard, but only on the sly. His nephew had just died a few days previously which had been ruled an accidental drowning by the courts. He wanted clarification of these results and to not make that public information. Lynley was to tell no one - not even his immediately superior.

Thomas enlists the help of his two best friends, Deborah and Simon St. James and they head up to the glorious Lake District and Cumbria. He knows he is going to need some help as they are to try to remain incognito to the rest of Fairclough's family too. The man has three grown children, all of whom seem to have their own set of issues. The dead nephew has two young children but he had left their mother about a year before to live openly with his male lover. To say the ex-wife was incensed would be to put it mildly and took out her grief and anger on anyone who would listen. As is usually the case, the children of this now defunct marriage are the ones who take the brunt of the hurt.

Every member of the family has a story, and a pretty extreme one in most cases as well. Lynley and his friends initially try to examine the evidence of the drowning as a place to start and quickly become embroiled in the everyday workings of the family. There is the added question as to whether or not the deceased was the intended victim as Lord Fairclough's wife used the boathouse far more regularly than he did.

The plots thicken and thicken and never does this story get old or feel as though one is reading what amounts to a tome. You could literally use the book as a door stop it is so large but then that is what was required to get all the facts out. Throw in Barbara Havers in London dealing with brass at the Yard as well as having to get herself sorted with regard to her personal grooming and a rabid tabloid reporter who is desperately searching for a great byline into the mix and you have a grand novel. A long one but a great one.

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