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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AppId is over the quota

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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AppId is over the quota

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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AppId is over the quota

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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AppId is over the quota

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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AppId is over the quota

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.