tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13889695042612557022024-03-13T03:44:38.842-05:00JADBB (Just Another Damn Book Blog)Book reviews, recommendations and discussion.Tad Ottmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425336356743320971noreply@blogger.comBlogger399125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388969504261255702.post-54052524436023665772024-03-06T00:42:00.001-06:002024-03-06T00:42:38.881-06:00Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun/Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice by Elle Cosimano<p></p><table><tbody><tr><td><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKEZZry_I9eLgM-aYyuZs1BbDeU20qjY2Pc8kwQE9KOS4Q9lAoVPTigOHEgFQUKYYOzabb4sbt6xFOgWjTrVSqqjvXYBg5wOnvjpiVJCDwS3YlWS9FN-SMiMn99dLWmdREB_JvVinygaGT2IA3dvOMbLbgwfvrHT0vyefIJ8q06Oywu0BY2NuFZrVeEWq/s500/finlay%20donovan%20jumps%20the%20gun%20audio%20cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKEZZry_I9eLgM-aYyuZs1BbDeU20qjY2Pc8kwQE9KOS4Q9lAoVPTigOHEgFQUKYYOzabb4sbt6xFOgWjTrVSqqjvXYBg5wOnvjpiVJCDwS3YlWS9FN-SMiMn99dLWmdREB_JvVinygaGT2IA3dvOMbLbgwfvrHT0vyefIJ8q06Oywu0BY2NuFZrVeEWq/w200-h200/finlay%20donovan%20jumps%20the%20gun%20audio%20cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></td><td><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaF9E_X1TM5uCm2FZRwu1tDdlmhg6I6ZtK_kg4x0nUSp9O5DwOkDW0o9c5toUOSHISTr_mnjpOxpUndFxcSgjlWQmbL2g9FerA_MaRpVRzOcjPiVUpEvFHAW9hbAzn-TfIkTIMA79DoMxOMht7KS3zuOjGYCSA2k_PYCdB2ecBqlh0dgIXS9bTytEJW_ZJ/s500/finlay%20donovan%20rolls%20the%20dice.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaF9E_X1TM5uCm2FZRwu1tDdlmhg6I6ZtK_kg4x0nUSp9O5DwOkDW0o9c5toUOSHISTr_mnjpOxpUndFxcSgjlWQmbL2g9FerA_MaRpVRzOcjPiVUpEvFHAW9hbAzn-TfIkTIMA79DoMxOMht7KS3zuOjGYCSA2k_PYCdB2ecBqlh0dgIXS9bTytEJW_ZJ/w200-h200/finlay%20donovan%20rolls%20the%20dice.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></td></tr></tbody></table>Finlay Donovan is an author and a single mom who, despite the best intentions, just can't seem to stay on the right side of the law. Along with her nanny/accountant/more than willing partner-in-crime Vero, the two of them have a habit of stumbling upon or inadvertently creating dead bodies. Not wanting to draw attention to their hard-to-explain activities, they have to find a way to solve the crime without any fingers pointing back at them. <br /><div><br /></div><div>In <i>Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun</i>, Finlay has just escaped her last jam with the help of a Russian mobster. Now she owes him a favor. He needs her to track down a contract killer who just might be a cop. Fortunately, Finlay's hot cop boyfriend, Nick, has started a citizen's police academy. Despite her reluctance to head into the lion's den, the academy provides her and Vero the perfect opportunity to figure out who the real killer is. All while maneuvering around two small children, an ex-husband, a romantically interested cop, and the mob. </div><div><br /></div><div>In <i>Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice</i>, Finlay and Vero don't even have time to clean up from their previous adventure when they head off to Atlantic City under the guise of a girl's trip. In fact, they need to rescue Vero's friend Javi, try to get Vero out of her massive loan shark debt, and try to get Finlay out from under the thumb of the mob. Before they can even grab the kids and get on the road, ex-husband Steven forces his way onto the trip, followed shortly by Finlay's mom. </div><div><br /></div><div>Once in Atlantic City, the girls sneak away to find Javi and instead find two dead bodies (including Vero's loan shark) and a dog named Kevin Bacon. Unable to call the police without facing some questions they had no good answers for, Finlay and Vero must once again hide some bodies. Returning to their own hotel, they find that Nick has come to town, along with three other members of the police force, one of whom is Finlay's sister. Nick doesn't want to let Finlay out of his arms, let alone his sight. </div><div><br /></div><div>Trying to juggle her kids, a jealous ex-husband, a cop boyfriend, her mother's marital issues, saving Vero's childhood crush Javi, and figuring out who murdered the loan shark, Finlay might as well be in a circus as a casino. It will take a good roll of the dice to come out of this mess!</div><div><br /></div><div>These characters are so much fun. Finlay and Vero make a great team. They are part Cagney and Lacey, part Lucy and Ethel. They manage to be clever and reckless at the same time, which adds to the excitement as they always seem on the verge of being discovered. The mystery in each novel is engrossing and challenging. There are plenty of exciting action sequences in each book and a few steamy romantic scenes to boot. The supporting characters mostly add spice and emotional stakes to the story. The one exception is Steven. He played a critical role in some of the earlier books, but now he has grown tiresome and disagreeable. Less Steven in favor of characters like Mrs. Haggerty, Finlay's neighbor and fellow citizen's police academy alum, would be a lot more fun. Finding out more of Vero's and Javi's history in <i>Dice</i> also opens up some interesting opportunities for them in the future. </div><div><br /></div><div>Elle Cosimano's Finlay Donovan books are a blast. I love the structure, with each book a complete adventure while also laying the foundation for the next story. They are funny, sweet, occasionally steamy, and always exciting.</div><div><br /></div><div>Angela Dawe narrates the audiobooks and she is perfectly cast. Her pacing, inflection and distinctive character voices draw you into the story and convey the book's emotion and humor at every step. I love her voice for Vero which captures her fierceness and raw emotion perfectly. Dawe takes great material and elevates it. This is such an enjoyable series and I look forward to many more adventures with Finlay and Vero.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was provided a copy of these books by the publisher.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Tad Ottmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425336356743320971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388969504261255702.post-65702017943610644342024-03-05T19:35:00.000-06:002024-03-05T19:35:02.220-06:00Aftermarket Afterlife by Seanan McGuire<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kEY3ATwbfZ_wGSwYNDe5y8wEOSIZIsGjarRRORnAHqbJTZ1Ul0RNdnOi-7a5Hvw-3OhOooraOe2yvMqtsqJQCXF288W3kVzF3SD02czjpA_RHKpeiie4V5CxkkCYmJbNcmWuJ7qC23DUauQO8GsMbDNovYq7Qwt6TpKrMHUz9w_mU_GGb4mPUV-vpcfI/s450/aftermarket%20afterlife%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kEY3ATwbfZ_wGSwYNDe5y8wEOSIZIsGjarRRORnAHqbJTZ1Ul0RNdnOi-7a5Hvw-3OhOooraOe2yvMqtsqJQCXF288W3kVzF3SD02czjpA_RHKpeiie4V5CxkkCYmJbNcmWuJ7qC23DUauQO8GsMbDNovYq7Qwt6TpKrMHUz9w_mU_GGb4mPUV-vpcfI/s320/aftermarket%20afterlife%20cover.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>The <i>InCryptid</i> series has twice been a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Series, and <i>Aftermarket Afterlife</i> proves why this is still one of the best and most popular series running. <p></p><p>Mary Dunlavy has been the Price family babysitter for generations. She doesn't have trouble keeping up with her charges even though they are scattered across the country (and sometimes across dimensions) because, well, she's a ghost. Just as the Price family is all back together, including Alice and her decades-lost husband, the Covenant of St. George launches an all out attack on the Prices and the cryptid community in North America. <br /></p><p>The Price family and allies are outmanned and very much in danger. It's going to take a lot of skill and some clever thinking to survive this. Mary Dunlavy is facing a question she's never had to ponder before: What happens to a babysitting ghost if all the people she's supposed to protect are gone?</p><p>Each book in the <i>InCryptid</i> series tells a complete story and is told from one viewpoint character. I've jumped around a bit in the series so I was familiar with all the characters and a lot of the history, but most people will want to read the series in order. This world is filled with many fascinating cryptid races and familiarity with them builds throughout the series as well.</p><p>Mary Dunlavy is an interesting viewpoint character, both in relation to her powers and duties as a babysitting ghost and in her history with the Crossroads. Her ability to move to her charges in different parts of the country allow for direct interaction with many individual family members that is not always possible in some of the other novels. Her knowledge and abilities are a huge asset even considering her limitations compared to some of the other family members. </p><p>Seanan McGuire is such a skilled writer that her style pulls you deeply and effortlessly into this world. Her characters are varied but relatable, particularly in their passion and determination. Ruminations on life and death, particularly from a ghost, offer a unique perspective. </p><p>There is plenty of thrilling action and the pace moves along briskly. With the escalation of war with the Covenant, there is less levity in this story than some of the others along with some truly devastating heartbreak. The book tells a complete story, but there are still loose ends and consequences to be dealt with in the future.</p><p>I do enjoy spending any time I can with the Aeslin mice, which belong on the Mount Rushmore of greatest literary creatures ever invented. </p><p>Another great entry in an outstanding series.</p><p>I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.</p><p><br /></p>Tad Ottmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425336356743320971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388969504261255702.post-24507784921124066182024-02-15T15:47:00.000-06:002024-02-15T15:47:15.248-06:00Lone Wolf by Gregg Hurwitz<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRq_P0o46of2U18PLqDPrbaZo5njeSvqOpvZqKP3vbN2P1Ltnd90VNA14BuVy4mzT29SrmCMeffH0qD-VL3sg4TR921izY_BJ4vynvTPJkHI1JGen-ZBBsNWP506f9TDGcTqnFxj9YIIGc_OtBhvv8r8xHox-PbROVTPfT9LgXnSckiggwLAiZT2XbUNWs/s1000/lone%20wolf%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="658" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRq_P0o46of2U18PLqDPrbaZo5njeSvqOpvZqKP3vbN2P1Ltnd90VNA14BuVy4mzT29SrmCMeffH0qD-VL3sg4TR921izY_BJ4vynvTPJkHI1JGen-ZBBsNWP506f9TDGcTqnFxj9YIIGc_OtBhvv8r8xHox-PbROVTPfT9LgXnSckiggwLAiZT2XbUNWs/s320/lone%20wolf%20cover.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>The Orphan program is no longer active, but its former member Evan Smoak, known as Orphan X or The Nowhere Man, is still alive and active. However, dangerous individuals still exist in the world, and one of them is Karissa Lopatina, who possesses skills that are comparable to those of the Orphans. It appears that her path is about to intersect with that of the Nowhere Man.<p></p><p>Evan has been dealing with a rare personal issue and uncharacteristically devolves into a spell of self-pity. His young protege, Joey, tracks him down and sets him back on his path. When his phone rings with someone on the other end of the line who needs his help, that person happens to be his young niece, Sofia. Sofia needs help finding her missing dog, Loco. This is obviously beneath the skills normally required of The Nowhere Man, but Joey bullies/shames him into agreeing to help. </p><p>While searching for Loco, Evan crosses paths with Lopatina as she has just murdered Dr. Benjamin Hill, an AI expert. What follows is an explosive chase that spans several chapters, and nearly 60 pages including gunfights, fistfights, running, and car chases that are the envy of any book or movie you could name. Now Evan is up against a powerful AI executive and in the crosshairs of an assassin. But she's also in his crosshairs.</p><p>And he still has to find the damn dog.</p><p>Nine books into the series and Evan Smoak is still going strong. His personal growth is shown in dealing with his family by blood as well as his found family. His surrogate father trained him in the skills he has while also retaining his humanity. Evan is discovering that he may have to grow beyond that training and the commandments he has lived his life by. Even if it does allow in some of the messiness of life that he has always kept at bay.</p><p>This is one of the most action-packed Orphan X books to date with a hero who still has more depths to plumb. </p><p>If you are in a reading slump, this is the book to break you out of it.</p><p>I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.</p>Tad Ottmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425336356743320971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388969504261255702.post-11020127350240835942024-02-07T02:04:00.000-06:002024-02-07T02:04:27.870-06:00One Wrong Word by Hank Phillippi Ryan<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGma7GouAE5IcCymlS2x-F0m_ssRdhyphenhyphenOEdDyWgdQGs19__XaAgT7WpTc2gq20_VOVCXm8qEK1IICdNP_tgQThfRUZlWJ0NbfWylBtQAtSnlRcZPYsW_7OROils_ophcVS73U4ih4sCWGuyMt59no8vywGMYxUjf1pn6qu_hQHzhHMlWXlHTIkcJdTUe3WM/s2850/one%20wrong%20word%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2850" data-original-width="1875" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGma7GouAE5IcCymlS2x-F0m_ssRdhyphenhyphenOEdDyWgdQGs19__XaAgT7WpTc2gq20_VOVCXm8qEK1IICdNP_tgQThfRUZlWJ0NbfWylBtQAtSnlRcZPYsW_7OROils_ophcVS73U4ih4sCWGuyMt59no8vywGMYxUjf1pn6qu_hQHzhHMlWXlHTIkcJdTUe3WM/s320/one%20wrong%20word%20cover.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>Arden Ward is a crisis management expert. No one knows better than her that one wrong word can ruin a career and a life. Now, Arden finds herself on the other side as she is wrongfully accused of having an affair with a client. Her job is lost, but her career may be salvageable, IF, she helps out one more client.<p></p><p>Cordelia Bannister needs help for her husband, Ned. Cordelia thought that once Ned was acquitted of the drunk driving accident that killed a man, her life would begin to return to normal. It didn't. She needs Arden's help to get Ned to take this seriously and to put their life back on track. </p><p>Arden is up against a clock to save her reputation, but she finds herself drawn into the mystery of what really happened the night of the accident. Before long, another accident further complicates the issues. Is Arden helping a killer? And how much danger has she put herself in?</p><p><i>One Wrong Word</i> is a fast-paced and suspenseful novel with an interesting and likable main character. The mystery unfolds with plenty of twists and turns that keep you guessing. In addition to uncovering evidence, the perception of who is telling the truth and how much of it are they telling is constantly changing.</p><p>Although Arden is a likable character, she never seemed to be doing much actual crisis-managing. Other than a few off-handed remarks about handling reporters, there didn't seem to be much going on related to her actual job. Arden also seemed too credulous in believing people who were pretty obviously lying. Her occasional gullibility helped move the story forward, but overall, the mystery was exciting and the pace of the story never flagged. The twists felt realistic and the story lets the reader guess along with Arden about what actually happened. </p><p>This is a fast-paced thriller with a strong central character. </p><p>I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.</p>Tad Ottmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425336356743320971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388969504261255702.post-33188161644025756462024-02-06T22:37:00.002-06:002024-02-07T02:12:28.946-06:00The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcJVD8IZIw12N9Pb25uAJixJqlUxcTyPa3MEiY6hYhtU3EWnhEMddkHSL5ez8eShFXIeh3x1oYqzITgcHq8_-SBG39nVarpxQ2mCT5QirtZiibS25JuLTUTAbzHumUvvQobs6O634H2YJGSGNmTEtam29mMfZEEjm1-vudK1FX18dAcnuIRGCPMXOlzLQ/s630/tainted%20cup%20cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="417" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcJVD8IZIw12N9Pb25uAJixJqlUxcTyPa3MEiY6hYhtU3EWnhEMddkHSL5ez8eShFXIeh3x1oYqzITgcHq8_-SBG39nVarpxQ2mCT5QirtZiibS25JuLTUTAbzHumUvvQobs6O634H2YJGSGNmTEtam29mMfZEEjm1-vudK1FX18dAcnuIRGCPMXOlzLQ/s320/tainted%20cup%20cover.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><i>The Tainted Cup</i> is the first "wow" book of the year. This is a brilliant detective novel in a fantasy setting that is marvelously inventive.<p></p><p>Ana Dolabra is an eccentric investigator sent to the outer reaches of the Khanum Empire. Young Dinios Kol is hired as her apprentice assistant. In the four months she has been there, their investigations have mostly involved pay fraud. When a dead body is discovered in a home belonging to the wealthy Haza family, she dispatches Kol to investigate.</p><p>Ana prefers to never leave her home, sitting blindfolded so as not to be distracted as she considers information. Kol has been specially altered to be an Engraver, able to recall everything he sees, hears, and smells in the smallest details. He serves as Ana's eyes and ears. When Kol reaches the Haza mansion, he discovers Commander Taqtasa Blas who appears to have had a tree sprout from inside him, rendering him quite dead. Ana is intrigued by this fascinating mystery, which soon finds her summoned to the city of Talagray, which stands near the giant seawall built to keep out the leviathans that approach every wet season. Failure to stop the leviathans would threaten the entire empire. </p><p>More murders indicate that a complicated plot may be afoot, with implications for the entire empire. Some delicacy is required as the nobles and the items they produce on their vast lands are important to the functioning of the empire. The Haza family is nearly as wealthy as the Emperor, requiring even greater deference. Deference does not come naturally to Ana Dolabra. Finding the answers and preventing disaster may challenge even her formidable intellect.</p><p>This is first and foremost an excellent mystery. It is deeply intriguing and for each part of the mystery that is solved another is uncovered, more fascinating than the last. The fantasy elements are interwoven so unobtrusively that you may not even realize how much about this amazing world you have absorbed. </p><p>Robert Jackson Bennett notes in the acknowledgments that Ana was inspired by Nero Wolfe, even if elements of Hannibal Lecter crept in. Of all the great detectives, Nero Wolfe is at the top of my list and it is easy to see how Ana sprang from that inspiration, even as I suspect she quickly took on agency of her own. I hope that this will inspire some who love this book to seek out the Nero Wolfe books by Rex Stout, or even better, the outstanding audiobooks narrated by Michael Prichard, who is forever the voice of Nero Wolfe in my head. </p><p><i>The Tainted Cup</i> is easily my favorite book of the year so far, and I am confident it will remain one of my favorite reads when 2024 ends. Mystery and fantasy fans will be equally delighted. I can't wait for the next book!</p><p>I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.</p>Tad Ottmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425336356743320971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388969504261255702.post-27705508847679598482024-02-06T21:49:00.000-06:002024-02-06T21:49:17.471-06:00The Slain Divine by David Dalglish<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vtBbJjLH_eWI1afg054G3eVw4Q6xRtC228c2sxy1psyQpOBnPoiiMmx1U4RP4Y2JmIAqUt8oytv1HET6JPBpNA7ZEIwoHew9fCy8FX5xlGlEgM_grO_Zzy_YDaxTpkQDH2IRUAeFUArDYFTnA41UwYog0vurG83FjG80MxPmSmlfuIfhTVtSLdS3rRvg/s393/slain%20divine%20cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vtBbJjLH_eWI1afg054G3eVw4Q6xRtC228c2sxy1psyQpOBnPoiiMmx1U4RP4Y2JmIAqUt8oytv1HET6JPBpNA7ZEIwoHew9fCy8FX5xlGlEgM_grO_Zzy_YDaxTpkQDH2IRUAeFUArDYFTnA41UwYog0vurG83FjG80MxPmSmlfuIfhTVtSLdS3rRvg/s320/slain%20divine%20cover.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>The Vagrant Gods trilogy comes to an exciting conclusion in <i>The Slain Divine</i> by David Dalglish. The island nation of Thanet has been conquered by the Everlorn Empire and with the arrival of the God-Incarnate on the island, its people are being prepared for a brutal sacrifice in his name. <p></p><p>Thanet's rebellion, led by a group of fallen heroes, gods, and princes has been slowed not only by the powerful Everlorn armies and paragons but by treachery from within. Cyrus has grown from the young prince forced to watch the slaughter of his parents and the gods that protected his island into a skilled fighter and masked "Vagrant", a master of shadows and an instrument of vengeance. The rebels must devise a plan to stop the God-Incarnate or Thanet will disappear forever. </p><p>Dalglish has created a series that builds from book to book and from beginning to end in each book. <i>The Slain Divine</i> is the fastest-paced and most action-filled of the three. The action is fun, but the characters and themes really stand out. The Everlorn Empire's stated goal is to prevent hundreds of nations with different gods and beliefs from warring with each other and unite them under one church and one rule. But their methods have left slain gods and people behind them and destroyed the things that made their conquered nations unique. Dalglish shines further light on Everlorn's history and how the God-Incarnate came to be, as well as on Thanet's history involving invading and exiled gods. The fact that there are any shades of grey in this story of invasion and rebellion is a testament to the writing.</p><p>Some of the battles in the first part of the book felt less in doubt than battles in the previous books, given the heroes' growth in skill and strength. This didn't lessen the tension over the final battles, with the fate of the island and all its people hanging in the balance. The individual storylines were all wrapped up nicely. Some happy, some more wistful or melancholic. Arn's story will stick with me the longest of all the individual stories. His poignant interaction with the fox god and the profound ways she affected his life resonate deeply. </p><p>Dalglish does a great job in all facets, creating a world rich in history and culture, filled with great battles, a large cast of characters that you will grow to care about, and a thoughtful narrative that will stick with you for a long time. </p><p>I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.</p>Tad Ottmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425336356743320971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388969504261255702.post-65077380469300224292024-01-21T19:08:00.000-06:002024-01-21T19:08:29.456-06:00The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5wCk0b86WAsQ51xUehLjknwxWpxSqiBsA9SqsodJlyg2PMe5G5YUdLZTOfP1Vo2MH7i8noTTE70HDXw3_yaieOk-K6FEoKP7F7zF1GcJKPp9LT0GKr-xQi-rwoaGhD1RVFl6mc-q4xiDDC1Cem8NI2Weoci_Qw1nAB8H1pJu2B6ODJgq930zujRvpl1n/s2113/mysterious%20case%20of%20the%20alperton%20angels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2113" data-original-width="1400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5wCk0b86WAsQ51xUehLjknwxWpxSqiBsA9SqsodJlyg2PMe5G5YUdLZTOfP1Vo2MH7i8noTTE70HDXw3_yaieOk-K6FEoKP7F7zF1GcJKPp9LT0GKr-xQi-rwoaGhD1RVFl6mc-q4xiDDC1Cem8NI2Weoci_Qw1nAB8H1pJu2B6ODJgq930zujRvpl1n/s320/mysterious%20case%20of%20the%20alperton%20angels.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>A true crime author, Amanda Bailey, decides to revisit the case of the Alperton Angels. The Angels were a cult that convinced a young girl and her boyfriend that their baby was the anti-Christ and needed to be sacrificed. The girl called the police and she and the baby were rescued and subsequently disappeared. Amanda believes that finding the baby who is now about to turn 18 is the perfect angle for he book.<p></p><p>Amanda isn't the only one with the idea. Fellow author Oliver Menzies has the same plan. He and Amanda share a complicated history, but their publishers decide they should work together on the story. </p><p>Digging into the events they discover that there is still a lot of mystery surrounding what happened beyond the fate of the mother and baby. Recollections of witnesses to the events don't always agree on details. Not all are eager to share what they remember. As they delve further into the story it seems there still is some danger surrounding the Alperton Angels, and maybe not everyone wants to know the truth.</p><p>Janice Hallett tells her story through WhatsApp messages, transcripts of recorded conversations, and draft chapters for the proposed books. There is a lot to keep track of. The nature of the messages and conversations keep the story moving propulsively forward. Twists and turns along the way keep readers constantly on their toes. Hallett does a masterful job at creating both mood and suspense. The story never flags and the ending comes at you like a freight train. This is a great story sure to please fans of mystery and suspense.</p><p>I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.</p>Tad Ottmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425336356743320971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388969504261255702.post-41906212941590391202023-12-30T19:35:00.000-06:002023-12-30T19:35:04.116-06:00Top Twelve Books I Read in 2023<p>These are my top 12 favorite reads of 2023</p><p>Thanks to all the great publishers for providing review copies!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgipyO7wza0VqnB6ZplhECYnJq3oZHBBsDj6tUjFms__yiOHq-SFwEzwAdxuztxTJIPhXWkxT2fdiHr4-ZOdzkG8_FlXQX6bsquc9T-sYfagE0IRtoM4spMDYEblvmIoEBYU9bSA5q4lRYdarQIznHAVT7kyL_DOaar2ZZQAWnP3RE0I-EuC7wpMrq1E7Pg/s500/cabinet%20of%20dr%20leng%20cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="330" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgipyO7wza0VqnB6ZplhECYnJq3oZHBBsDj6tUjFms__yiOHq-SFwEzwAdxuztxTJIPhXWkxT2fdiHr4-ZOdzkG8_FlXQX6bsquc9T-sYfagE0IRtoM4spMDYEblvmIoEBYU9bSA5q4lRYdarQIznHAVT7kyL_DOaar2ZZQAWnP3RE0I-EuC7wpMrq1E7Pg/s320/cabinet%20of%20dr%20leng%20cover.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>12. <b>The Cabinet of Dr. Leng</b> by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.<div><br /><p>The Pendergast family is known for their genius, but one of the most brilliant and evil on that family tree is Dr. Enoch Lang. Pendergast's ward, Constance, has gone back to 1800's New York to save her siblings from Leng's evil clutches. Pendergast must find a way to join her for he fears that even Constance is no match for Leng. </p><p>Every great investigator is at their best when matched with an adversary equal to their talents. Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child have created one of the most brilliant literary investigators of all time in Pendergast, and in Leng, they really put him to the test. They vividly recreate New York in the 1880s in a way that makes you feel like you are experiencing it firsthand. </p><p>Readers of <b>The Cabinet of Curiosities</b> will have a better understanding of Leng and having read <b>Bloodless </b>will explain Constance's visit to 1880's New York. I am eagerly awaiting the conclusion of this story in 2024.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8fHn-YFYMwsfxQA0M5BxL-K2UgnbVo-Zl7TdRpOCTangcKyWgVQ9Uwa66RflHrDkM4gBu7_6FiRbOLBweiFZHotxPm8Of8RwwYDsNeO6dIQuTAACi9QQFa3VtB96fargNSD-HBdNyPMUC8q_y2L0liMHyqZhKlZkA8TtKfUupenPI0EeKXjLEZI1TJCx/s500/bookshops%20and%20bonedust%20cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8fHn-YFYMwsfxQA0M5BxL-K2UgnbVo-Zl7TdRpOCTangcKyWgVQ9Uwa66RflHrDkM4gBu7_6FiRbOLBweiFZHotxPm8Of8RwwYDsNeO6dIQuTAACi9QQFa3VtB96fargNSD-HBdNyPMUC8q_y2L0liMHyqZhKlZkA8TtKfUupenPI0EeKXjLEZI1TJCx/s320/bookshops%20and%20bonedust%20cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>11. <b>Bookshops & Bonedust</b> by Travis Baldree<p></p></div><div>There's something inherently magical about books about bookshops. When Orc Viv is injured in battle while pursuing a powerful necromancer and left in the backwater town of Murk to recover, she is restless and grumpy. While exploring the town, she stumbles upon a rundown bookshop run by a rattkin named Fern. <br /><p>Fern, as any good bookshop owner/librarian does, found a book perfectly suited to Viv. As Viv discovers the joy of reading, she decides to make herself useful by helping to spruce the store up. </p><p>Viv's peaceful recuperation is not to last, however, as soon a body turns up along with a mysterious satchel of bones. It seems the necromancer's reach may be further than anticipated. This book is filled with wonderful characters, adventure, and a good mystery. Travis Baldree reads his own work and captures the joy that is present on every page. This is a wonderful story that will leave you sighing with contentment.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrLjiICJVET7qWkuChonXtu5HpVzkyYa0hz0uckBvhpy1Dn1xlXayKOuVpYjWKuVvEqjiJcZWt1OqnAkxqx3jPitJNQBPPfOCnDoytjR2jrmXGYb7ZPtKuIZsQnm3K6BG39vmMYdReSh9iveDLcBG9p5KXnYmT9fy8oHLbYmrlCgUa8H9xszK-3NciFR2/s2554/hard%20wind%20cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2554" data-original-width="1672" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrLjiICJVET7qWkuChonXtu5HpVzkyYa0hz0uckBvhpy1Dn1xlXayKOuVpYjWKuVvEqjiJcZWt1OqnAkxqx3jPitJNQBPPfOCnDoytjR2jrmXGYb7ZPtKuIZsQnm3K6BG39vmMYdReSh9iveDLcBG9p5KXnYmT9fy8oHLbYmrlCgUa8H9xszK-3NciFR2/s320/hard%20wind%20cover.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>10. <b>In A Hard Wind</b> by David Housewright</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Something Wicked</b> was one of my favorite books of 2022 and David Housewright topped himself with 2023's <b>In A Hard Wind</b>. Retired detective McKenzie agrees to a favor for a friend of a friend to look into the case of J. C. Carrell, who is accused of killing developer Charles Sainsbury and burying him in her backyard. </div><div><br /></div><div>J. C. and several of her neighbors have a gazebo on some land near their pricey homes known as "The Circle" where they regularly gather together. It appears that J. C.'s Alzheimer-suffering friend and neighbor, Carson Vaneps, has sold the land to Charles Sainsbury who plans to tear down the gazebo and develop the land. J. C. is an obvious suspect when Sainsbury's body is found.</div><div><br /></div><div>McKenzie is highly intelligent and a good investigator and his instincts and diligence lead him eventually to the answer. In a delightful twist, solving this mystery only uncovers a more fascinating one. The latter half of this book is filled with a number of jaw-dropping revelations. J. C. Carrell is a strong and complicated character. Housewright creates a compelling story whose mystery proves worthy of the formidable skills of McKenzie. Truly a delight!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vrkF9AGpIeAhht21TozsuwNqjm_ksT83_AO5hqWE1bKq3sn_lmOMagy1jO5LOkG-mZnCPy5KPkxrQOcfoL94LN4GCo2_7pWv3ToJGA9ORgZlcakY6esesZ6Ng-ts5vEvtwuxuqgksFwiPa-zJACeAgE7O1XtvuoXbssMQjrNzEXdXE3EnyNCPUpFQdiD/s1007/paradise%201%20cover.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1007" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vrkF9AGpIeAhht21TozsuwNqjm_ksT83_AO5hqWE1bKq3sn_lmOMagy1jO5LOkG-mZnCPy5KPkxrQOcfoL94LN4GCo2_7pWv3ToJGA9ORgZlcakY6esesZ6Ng-ts5vEvtwuxuqgksFwiPa-zJACeAgE7O1XtvuoXbssMQjrNzEXdXE3EnyNCPUpFQdiD/s320/paradise%201%20cover.jpeg" width="203" /></a></div>9. <b>Paradise 1</b> by David Wellington<div><br /></div><div>Lt. Alexandra Petrova pursues a serial killer who only she believes exists on Ganymede. When her investigation blows up, she is assigned what seems to be a punishment mission to check on the colonists on Paradise 1, a startup colony 100 light years away. Her companions on the trip are the pilot, Sam Parker, and a misanthropic doctor, Zhang Lei. </div><div><br /></div><div>Their ship is attacked and nearly destroyed immediately upon arrival at Paradise 1. Fighting to keep their ship and themselves alive is their immediate concern. Temporarily succeeding in that, they consider an eerily quiet system that appears abandoned. Determining who or what is trying to kill them and figuring out what happened to the colonists is only part of the mystery. </div><div><br /></div><div>Wellington moves the story forward with short chapters and plenty of action. Flashbacks fill in some of the gaps in the character's history. Pervading it all is a sense of dread as Wellington expertly combines science fiction with horror. Action and several surprises make this 700-page book a fast read. I can't wait to see where this story goes next!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyXEaEVA5f4y2jt1H36MFhjULF2lFhpNh1OR2kGDOW5TRTeGerIwX9Xx_kFyt5kz9Fd79AAw36ojpFAaxf1ZIeonWkD5BeBcu5C1MFyKRn0OxwtT_2ihxNpkwo1SUk7mM0N-mgNg3t2h_bpCcJHqu9K9lP0d8QbasE153O0fj9_2BFBNYvQdVZkKjS95O/s500/after%20that%20night%20cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="329" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyXEaEVA5f4y2jt1H36MFhjULF2lFhpNh1OR2kGDOW5TRTeGerIwX9Xx_kFyt5kz9Fd79AAw36ojpFAaxf1ZIeonWkD5BeBcu5C1MFyKRn0OxwtT_2ihxNpkwo1SUk7mM0N-mgNg3t2h_bpCcJHqu9K9lP0d8QbasE153O0fj9_2BFBNYvQdVZkKjS95O/s320/after%20that%20night%20cover.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>8. <b>After That Night</b> by Karin Slaughter<div><br /></div><div>Nobody writes more powerfully about the devastation inflicted by violent crime than Karin Slaughter. In <b>Ater That Night</b>, Sara Linton is on call at the ER of Grady Memorial Hospital when Dani is brought in, the victim of a brutal attack. Sara promises the girl that she will stop the man who did this to her. As Sara's fiance, Will Trent and his partner Faith investigate, they discover a link to Sara's rape 15 years earlier. If Sara is going to keep her promise to Dani, she's going to have to reopen the scars of the worst thing to ever happen to her. </div><div><br /></div><div>The crime draws connections to Sara's circle of college friends, all wealthy doctors now. The investigators discover a "rape club", which is even more despicable than it sounds. Many of the crimes range back as much as 15 years, making evidence scant. Without better evidence, Will and Faith's investigation is done without official sanction of the GBI, since the people being investigated have the resources to make crimes like these go away. </div><div><br /></div><div>Slaughter never shies away from describing horrible crimes in unflinching detail. She also manages to display an enormous amount of compassion, which is the real magic trick. This is another page-turner that will keep you up late at night. Slaughter is simply the best. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDd9JtN1QLa06-lmJous_M1GI5Z_PvJaaC134gKY2wSbqqEoYMoinw3p-8pSnlVO0MuuSyeuZEuSz80LiKG9iYg5uoQNi8d7rWecD610vqvEHEH28rW73ijAgh6nWiHi48oxXTziHmNZ5bUa7JWq7L4AWYxQ5iK2lKCVQzGnbcDgbENQHpNv55tF8CaG5/s500/wolf%20trap%20cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="336" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDd9JtN1QLa06-lmJous_M1GI5Z_PvJaaC134gKY2wSbqqEoYMoinw3p-8pSnlVO0MuuSyeuZEuSz80LiKG9iYg5uoQNi8d7rWecD610vqvEHEH28rW73ijAgh6nWiHi48oxXTziHmNZ5bUa7JWq7L4AWYxQ5iK2lKCVQzGnbcDgbENQHpNv55tF8CaG5/s320/wolf%20trap%20cover.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>7. <b>Wolf Trap</b> by Connor Sullivan</div><div><br /></div><div>Brian Rhome is a former operative from an elite CIA force who is scarred by a disastrous operation that left the men he led dead. He is eventually lured back by a promise of enough cash to save his home and to get revenge on the man who masterminded his team's death.</div><div><br /></div><div>President Angela Buchanan is on the verge of signing a sweeping international climate accord when disaster strikes. Her efforts to salvage the agreement are undermined by outside forces as well as a conspiracy deep within her own government. Rhome finds himself at the center of events trying to unveil the conspirators, save the president, and prevent global catastrophe.</div><div><br /></div><div>The scheduled signing of the accord establishes a deadline and a race-against-the-clock element that adds to the superb action and makes the pages fly by. Rhome is a compelling hero joined by an equally compelling cast of characters that include intelligence agency officials, foreign dignitaries, and terrorists. The clever plot will keep you in the dark until the very end. This is the best political thriller of the year and will remind you of Tom Clancy. I'm very excited for more entries in this series!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_0ah6IKomQpTVqakpdMk5K1xP5qE-g3Rx8jGmxbbunl9-Ca_qiCfW14gp6q5R7ohlmeSktGemk6eFc7iQEwQxix87D6G2eYoPCk3noiuWqNGNZOuOxdryB7qOAS-syFq3n72cnIM-xmqTyB0fXnrDhObw4Oa1N_7F8p0lTKaGnGjXMMjIVSYwivE5zFs/s1080/traitor%20cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_0ah6IKomQpTVqakpdMk5K1xP5qE-g3Rx8jGmxbbunl9-Ca_qiCfW14gp6q5R7ohlmeSktGemk6eFc7iQEwQxix87D6G2eYoPCk3noiuWqNGNZOuOxdryB7qOAS-syFq3n72cnIM-xmqTyB0fXnrDhObw4Oa1N_7F8p0lTKaGnGjXMMjIVSYwivE5zFs/w279-h300/traitor%20cover.jpg" width="279" /></a></div>6. <b>The Traitor</b> by Anthony Ryan<div><br /></div><div><b>The Traitor</b> concludes one of the best fantasy series of the last 10 years, maybe the last 20. Alwyn Scribe is one of my favorite characters and one I don't think I'll ever forget. </div><div><br /></div><div>Anthony Ryan credits David Gemmel with imparting the lesson that the hero's journey is always more tragedy than triumph. That's certainly the case with Alwyn. From bastard outlaw to knight and trusted advisor to Lady Evadine Courlain, Alwyn has shown a gift for strategy that has led Evadine to the heights of power and now threatens the entire kingdom. The war Alwyn is fighting is both internal and external as he begins to doubt Evadine's motive and cause. </div><div><br /></div><div>Alwyn is clever, calculating, and has made himself skilled in battle. Evadine's puritanical zeal grows in proportion to her evaporating benevolence. Alwyn knows he must make a choice and he is fully conscious of the blood already on his hands and the amount of bloodshed still to come. Ryan skillfully leads Alwyn through this fantastically developed world towards a battle whose outcome remains uncertain until the very end. </div><div><br /></div><div>This book and series highlight the best of what epic fantasy has to offer. Great world-building, a large cast of wonderfully developed characters, and a memorable, tragic hero. My only regret is that I will never experience this series for the first time again. I envy those who will.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8H_UV1UVsw2yvPBX2pG7YJr49M5Ddq7gHr0zfkSoYPh2hqOv2gsEiDE2JF7BZjrU8KRyMUG6eSExRx08CBPhoPl1A7DO7DlVhEKcugdW_qSQYV-06yf1KQAuG6DSYSzZgQmJyHbkUtY4bOfiWxE66k-kACmwbTJw9D4WabfmZdepB_b60UCDPt4A1rrfP/s2850/deadlock%20cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2850" data-original-width="1875" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8H_UV1UVsw2yvPBX2pG7YJr49M5Ddq7gHr0zfkSoYPh2hqOv2gsEiDE2JF7BZjrU8KRyMUG6eSExRx08CBPhoPl1A7DO7DlVhEKcugdW_qSQYV-06yf1KQAuG6DSYSzZgQmJyHbkUtY4bOfiWxE66k-kACmwbTJw9D4WabfmZdepB_b60UCDPt4A1rrfP/s320/deadlock%20cover.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>5. <b>Deadlock</b> by James Byrnes<br /><div><br /></div><div>My favorite new character from 2022, Dez Limerick, returns in 2023's <b>Deadlock</b>. Dez loves to play guitar and befriended a talented young singer named Raziah Swann. Raziah left L. A. for Portland, OR and when her sister, Laleh, was attacked and landed in the hospital, she calls the most capable man she knows for help. Dez Limerick. Dez isn't just a good guitarist. He has a shadowy past in covert work, he's good with locks, and he has fists like sledgehammers. </div><div><br /></div><div>Dez arrives in Portland just in time to thwart the thugs who attacked Laleh from finishing the job. Neutralizing them draws the attention of both the U.S. Marshalls and the DEA. It also puts him in the crosshairs of a very large tech company, Clockjack. </div><div><br /></div><div>Dez is one of the most chill characters I know, but if you threaten his friends, he is a threat to you, and Clockjack is about to find that out. </div><div><br /></div><div>Everything I loved about the first book in the series is back here, only better. More detailed mystery, sharper humor, and most importantly, a smart adversary who proves a true match for Dez. </div><div><br /></div><div>John Keating narrates the audiobook and is one of those perfect matches of voice to character. He captures the action and humor of the story and the confidence and heart of Dez. I hope this is a partnership that continues for a long, long time.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKToKM-LTGeUR1CfvtD5sfDSb_Z-6PSEFe4LHrAAELu339g0M3seAvrV7tkjKgNbTdz8j6PCW-ZtrGZuMKH5X9evzXdmJqOIbKRJQhZaABzryLGuiFSDOBI64ty3OGSBQhj1XZyji6u4p2Yu3h_KJBvuQHv33NTp1NuSLsVJbHiZnOiHRPOhM0R7Nyvg7r/s1000/these%20burning%20stars%20cover%202.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKToKM-LTGeUR1CfvtD5sfDSb_Z-6PSEFe4LHrAAELu339g0M3seAvrV7tkjKgNbTdz8j6PCW-ZtrGZuMKH5X9evzXdmJqOIbKRJQhZaABzryLGuiFSDOBI64ty3OGSBQhj1XZyji6u4p2Yu3h_KJBvuQHv33NTp1NuSLsVJbHiZnOiHRPOhM0R7Nyvg7r/s320/these%20burning%20stars%20cover%202.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>4. <b>These Burning Stars</b> by Bethany Jacobs<div><br /></div><div>I had to double and triple check that this is a debut novel. This book starts with scorching prose and a trio of main characters that are riveting.</div><div><br /></div><div>An elaborate cat-and-mouse revenge quest involving hacker/thief Jun Ironway and two clerics, Chono, and Esek Nightfoot. Circling the three of them is a mysterious character known as "Six". Jun has stolen a secret that threatens the empire broadly and Esek Nightfoot and her aristocratic family in particular. </div><div><br /></div><div>Esek is tasked with tracking down Jun, but she is also on a long hunt to track down Six. Chono is assigned to assist and monitor Esek. She is the ice to Esek's fire. The action jumps from planet to planet as the chase ensues, with each character pursuing different goals. Jumps back in time fill in the backstory of both the characters and the Empire. More than simply character development, this history proves key to the plot as it continues to come together. </div><div><br /></div><div>The action is brutal and relentless making the pages fly by. All of the characters are great, but Esek Nightfoot is a spectacular creation. I've not met a more fascinating character since Hannibel Lector.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is easily the best debut sci-fi novel of the year and I can't wait until the next book comes out!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGiXdLiiXbz6WJsIc0Rw4RFJ6ykx5M7p2MejOKMIeCKviV_5_xdM85s_f4f_N802Q-ASfYIXTYhV6oCCc1e1LpvJanvu-dP44GFAMj67zGlV-BB7w5G7c2gI3W-Zg_C6tSsq7aCtgIzFqgS8wq_4zDL6bekqU7ObKqUgl1PKSbtKgmhse3etPpV9eTr-i/s500/exiles%20cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="329" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGiXdLiiXbz6WJsIc0Rw4RFJ6ykx5M7p2MejOKMIeCKviV_5_xdM85s_f4f_N802Q-ASfYIXTYhV6oCCc1e1LpvJanvu-dP44GFAMj67zGlV-BB7w5G7c2gI3W-Zg_C6tSsq7aCtgIzFqgS8wq_4zDL6bekqU7ObKqUgl1PKSbtKgmhse3etPpV9eTr-i/s320/exiles%20cover.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>3. <b>Exiles </b>by Jane Harper<div><br /></div><div>Jane Harper rivals Karin Slaughter in her ability to wring emotion out of a story with her deeply sympathetic characters and devastating mystery. In the third (and last?) Aaron Falk book, Aaron returns to Marralee to be the godfather to his friend Greg Raco's child. Aaron had been to Marralee, home to a popular food and wine festival, a year earlier. During that festival, 39-year-old Kim Gillespie disappeared, leaving behind her infant daughter in a stroller. In the intervening year, the only trace of Kim that has been found is her shoe in a nearby reservoir.</div><div><br /></div><div>Falk agrees to look into the case at the behest of Kim's teenage daughter, Zara. His investigation examines the relationships of Kim and her friend group who grew up in Marralee. Old wounds are opened and new ones created as Falk pulls back the curtain on the narratives people like to tell each other and themselves.</div><div><br /></div><div>The slow unveiling of the truth only deepens the grief and the guilt that Harper let's you feel along with her characters. Falk's own journey pulls on your emotions as well. Harper's description of the different regions of Australia are better than a travel informercial. Her painting of the landscape rivals Cornac McCarthy's. This is a powerful book that will take you on an emotional journey.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgmlIuEHcvHYzdoMA87aZ3p-vBZzvRpcX03vWYdOT-wuyqIza14qLDTMEbq6-o81HevsEKaebQuBkiyz28geFMFuDfQfLONMeUTO7pZc3WI1mIBhOzBomTCLcZEU03oSNW8dK_XSgabAbtGekT8tss2ZT0PVLxf_-Q0ZaLchgM0Vmg35GsXQ4cn8hEh4e/s2560/ferryman%20cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1684" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgmlIuEHcvHYzdoMA87aZ3p-vBZzvRpcX03vWYdOT-wuyqIza14qLDTMEbq6-o81HevsEKaebQuBkiyz28geFMFuDfQfLONMeUTO7pZc3WI1mIBhOzBomTCLcZEU03oSNW8dK_XSgabAbtGekT8tss2ZT0PVLxf_-Q0ZaLchgM0Vmg35GsXQ4cn8hEh4e/s320/ferryman%20cover.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>2. <b>The Ferryman </b>by Justin Cronin<div><br /></div><div>Proctor Bennett is part of the elite, at least by marriage. His job as a ferryman sees him guiding older Propserans across the water to a facility where they are reconstituted into younger bodies. When Proctor is assigned to ferry his own father, with whom he has had a difficult relationship, something goes very wrong. </div><div><br /></div><div>Proctor finds himself on the run and his only allies are in the Annex, home to the working class which keeps this utopian society running smoothly.</div><div><br /></div><div>The story moves steadily through the first part of the book, creating an uneasy mood and developing the strong, complicated characters, their relationship to each other and their relationship to the society they live in. Once Cronin pulls back the curtain on this society, the pace increases faster and faster as each new revelation will have your jaw dropping to the floor. </div><div><br /></div><div>The writing is superb, the plot intricate and the characters fantastic. This book takes you on a journey that you can't possibly forsee and pays off with a memorable ending that will keep you thinking long after you finish. What an achievement this book is!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSiiaRJTY6CHo2Lf0IOrSs7bMI38lEGkkMy8zMYAwLQ1pz3rQDeoaUOxarILnWzy7yUNbHxEpA20wsx_w1zpHRxF1_mIKTB9M2qg8mFhuFhF0rsl6sLnhQcYvUbT2aaTqojjYe1r2pmKRzU3w8Np-YBfvuYffN-ffkxeUEBSShXr4tJG4eRu0iA9jmxROu/s604/drowning%20cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSiiaRJTY6CHo2Lf0IOrSs7bMI38lEGkkMy8zMYAwLQ1pz3rQDeoaUOxarILnWzy7yUNbHxEpA20wsx_w1zpHRxF1_mIKTB9M2qg8mFhuFhF0rsl6sLnhQcYvUbT2aaTqojjYe1r2pmKRzU3w8Np-YBfvuYffN-ffkxeUEBSShXr4tJG4eRu0iA9jmxROu/s320/drowning%20cover.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>1. <b>Drowning </b>by T J Newman<br /><div><br /><div>T J Newman blew everyone's socks off with her debut novel <b>Falling</b>. If that book was a 10, the only way to describe <b>Drowning </b>is to quote from <i>Spinal Tap</i>: "This one goes to 11."</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Drowning</b> begins with an engine exploding just after takeoff on a flight from Hawaii. Crashing into the water, survivors are faced with trying to escape through an ocean of burning jet fuel or staying on board hoping for a rescue before either their air runs out or they are crushed by the depths. </div><div><br /></div><div>Will Kent and his 11-year-old daughter are among the passengers. Will's estranged wife Chris lives nearby and inserts herself into the rescue effort. </div><div><br /></div><div>The damage to the plane, it's precarious position where it submerged, and challenging weather conditions on the surface all contribute to the race-against-the-clock atmosphere. Glimpses into Will and Chris's past and the tragedy that led to their divorce further heighten the emotional stakes. </div><div><br /></div><div>Page after page your heart is in your throat as this story moves at a breakneck pace. This book is <i>Die Hard</i> in the water. My favorite read of the year.</div><div><br /></div><div>What a great year for books!<br /><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Tad Ottmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425336356743320971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388969504261255702.post-57963273654484022682023-11-28T18:05:00.000-06:002023-11-28T18:05:51.981-06:00System Collapse by Martha Wells<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDWA0f97fU7lhLecrchJuGKYpezKdhuAd_yQcJ7aiiqmblDMo7a7ibR82cSXSgCoxyob6nlBESK_DOnnFQ73JkOyCxS3_45azN85Ct6VzvBNuFP5b2U8dJbV4onkNb879CxTiQG3jgCA8axsH8I9RCGURFdaFg2UUoFxSZRsxGogYBpiXYGKqTo52IN5b/s1500/system%20collapse%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="938" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDWA0f97fU7lhLecrchJuGKYpezKdhuAd_yQcJ7aiiqmblDMo7a7ibR82cSXSgCoxyob6nlBESK_DOnnFQ73JkOyCxS3_45azN85Ct6VzvBNuFP5b2U8dJbV4onkNb879CxTiQG3jgCA8axsH8I9RCGURFdaFg2UUoFxSZRsxGogYBpiXYGKqTo52IN5b/s320/system%20collapse%20cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Officially known as a Security Unit, or SecUnit for short, it refers to itself as Murderbot. And it's just about the most identifiable Murderbot you're ever going to meet! <i>System Collapse</i> picks up after the events of <i>Network Effect</i>. The Barish-Estranza Corporation has sent rescue ships to a lost colony planet in trouble due to alien contamination. <p></p><p>Anyone who knows Barish-Estranza, or most corporations, knows that they are up to no good. They've also brought along a contingent of SecUnits of their own. Normally this wouldn't be much of a problem for Murderbot, especially with ART on its side. But something's wrong with Murderbot and if it doesn't figure out what that is quickly, things could go sideways in a hurry.</p><p>The stranded colonists are so long removed from the wider universe, that they are unaware of the corporations' reputation, and have no reason to trust one set of humans over the other. Murderbot and ART must work with their human crews to come up with a compelling way to convince the colonists or risk seeing them hauled away as slave labor.</p><p>Martha Wells has created a fascinating universe with corporation-heavy governance, built on top of a little-understood pre-corporation settlement system, with a sprinkle of very poorly understood alien influence. This creates fertile ground for interesting politics and exploration. Add a sarcastic killer robot who just wants time to watch soap operas and you have an unbeatable combination. </p><p>Murderbot is the driving force and for all its sarcasm, the humanity it is coming to find within itself gives tremendous heart to this story. Murderbot knows it is not operating correctly, and furthermore realizes that the lives of the colonists and the humans that it has come to care about are in danger unless it figures out how to repair itself. Fortunately, ART is there to offer assistance and understanding that maybe nothing and no one else is equipped for. Murderbot and ART is one of my favorite buddy pairings. (A Murderbot/ART buddy cop movie is something I'd pay to see). Hopefully, it's enough to let them figure a way out of this mess.</p><p>Martha Wells delivers again with another outstanding story with my favorite character. </p><p>I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.</p>Tad Ottmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425336356743320971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388969504261255702.post-42283565277423392742023-11-28T00:29:00.000-06:002023-11-28T00:29:10.194-06:00These Burning Stars by Bethany Jacobs<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKR2yaszNV3JD8Jka3O4RJmRJY51v9Myy5VGL9wcPF7bMyQovqnnc5PaczJU9krc8HJYljvcBrAtgMhbI69-KNHZ8AAsG_ZHGjKMhBQZta_T6UYyJMZRmORM8oOXKvrU0JmDhaL4hrDyqQeBA_khGBh7JWj1cRgKtgWiamiEWGKUrhoZXNONstaCSIQS/s1000/these%20burning%20stars%20cover%202.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iKR2yaszNV3JD8Jka3O4RJmRJY51v9Myy5VGL9wcPF7bMyQovqnnc5PaczJU9krc8HJYljvcBrAtgMhbI69-KNHZ8AAsG_ZHGjKMhBQZta_T6UYyJMZRmORM8oOXKvrU0JmDhaL4hrDyqQeBA_khGBh7JWj1cRgKtgWiamiEWGKUrhoZXNONstaCSIQS/s320/these%20burning%20stars%20cover%202.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>What an amazing debut novel! <i>These Burning Stars </i>by Bethany Jacobs is one of the best books I've read all year. Described as a cat-and-mouse quest for revenge, it involves the ruling class of an empire, one of its prominent families, and a thief who holds secrets that could threaten it all. <div><br /></div><div>The characters are sharply drawn. A hacker/thief, Jun Ironway, two clerics, Chono and Esek Nightfoot, and a mysterious former student known only as Six are the main players in the cat-and-mouse game. Several other characters orbit these main players and all are compelling. Esek Nightfoot is the most fascinating character I've met since Hannibal Lecter. Esek is intelligent, ruthless, and compelling. <br /><p></p><p>Jun Ironway has gotten her hands on an item that could devastate the empire, and Esek's family in particular. Esek is tasked with tracking her down and Chono is assigned to accompany her. Chono is the cool reason to Esek's fiery passion. Esek and Chono are also trying to track down Six, though their motivations differ. Six is orbiting all three, playing a game that is known only to them. </p><p>This story is scorching and it shows in the language Jacobs uses. Sentences like, "Her ship alighted on the tarmac with engines snarling, hot air billowing out from beneath the thrusters.", and "...the stench of the jump gate that had so recently spit her into Ma'Kess's orbit..." make you sit up and take notice from page one! While the chase moves from planet to planet, Jacobs jumps backward in time to fill in some history. What appears at first to be unrelated threads prove crucial by the end. The action moves forward, brutally and relentlessly, but it is the fascinating characters that will have you even more riveted. The pace of this novel keeps you racing forward while trying to simultaneously savor this immersive experience. </p><p>This is a debut novel that instantly puts you on notice that Jacobs is one to watch. It is one of the year's best novels. I can't wait to see where this trilogy goes next, but I'll be first in line to find out!</p><p>I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.</p></div>Tad Ottmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425336356743320971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388969504261255702.post-69110857819032097972023-11-11T23:58:00.000-06:002023-11-11T23:58:41.612-06:00Spirit of the Wood by Kristen Britain<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuROj5724hEIdQhRiNXtdATCxTOiESKhLhP4Kv2ft_c5DWBaXteykolrhbgj7RcMKDJ8FXYRZknPlCUlhDpZ1yusOTHW4H5gF_Rkodea3iutFRibQTqb8-TDlaZLJQTmnL3c6VFtLkBqOqHJMfj9KNF1H48y6nwKmlcOpJcf5DvAn1gM4jiOudsQAA0Acd/s1000/spirit%20of%20the%20wood%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuROj5724hEIdQhRiNXtdATCxTOiESKhLhP4Kv2ft_c5DWBaXteykolrhbgj7RcMKDJ8FXYRZknPlCUlhDpZ1yusOTHW4H5gF_Rkodea3iutFRibQTqb8-TDlaZLJQTmnL3c6VFtLkBqOqHJMfj9KNF1H48y6nwKmlcOpJcf5DvAn1gM4jiOudsQAA0Acd/s320/spirit%20of%20the%20wood%20cover.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>On the 25th anniversary of the first Green Rider book, Kristen Britain returns with a beautiful novella, <i>Spirit of the Wood</i>, telling an early story of Laren Mapstone. <p></p><p>Mapstone has spent years battling the vicious Darrow Raiders, with great success but at a great cost. The scars she accrued are both physical and emotional, and they run deep. Mapstone is mentoring a young Rider, Tavin Bankside, on his first message errand. While on the North Road, they are attacked by bandits and Laren is seriously wounded. </p><p>Making his way to a Rider sanctuary in the forest, Tavin tends to Laren's wounds as best he can. Laren's cool demeanor has earned her the nickname "Ice Lady". Her deep physical wounds lay bare her deep emotional damage and practically assault the naturally empathic Tavin. He must master his gift if he is to save the Lieutenant's life. There is an ancient power in the forest, and Tavin must turn to it to save Laren. The fate of the Riders and all of Sacoridia hang in the balance. </p><p>This is a wonderful story that sinks into its world and its characters so that your own world falls away as you spend time with them. Tavin in particular is a relatable character. His youth leads to impatience and some petulance, but his innate goodness and willingness to help are dominant traits. The description of the forest and its denizens is truly magical, lending a sense of peace and wonder while also conveying the sense of danger represented by the brigands who walk in it. Tavin's journey to understanding his gifts and Laren's need to deal with her emotional scars are both touching and heartbreaking. </p><p>The ending is surprisingly moving and emotional. The characters and setting are wonderful. This is a great entry in the Green Rider series and offers something for both new readers and long-time fans. The author's illustrations are a nice addition which adds to the experience. This is a warm, cozy comfort read.</p><p>I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.</p><p><br /></p>Tad Ottmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425336356743320971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388969504261255702.post-32277732458435098592023-10-20T19:00:00.000-05:002023-10-20T19:00:17.678-05:00Home at Night by Paula Munier<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2kb69lFDwzL3ScI-ez9K-tpt5reKMJzFKbq0fgtmO-CyypFonoGTKw_76ajR8vOCor8Uwr2hG86XIof4oZHzYmVilkHAhLBqZs5VVup_tI6HhVPMGHDe-JDKzPGWE6WpZrwXgutquqZfy3N142gwXQRmiGS05Kt8o8y9fDSxxyhrvscY_JM5ofYyfvE-/s5000/home%20at%20night%20cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5000" data-original-width="3289" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2kb69lFDwzL3ScI-ez9K-tpt5reKMJzFKbq0fgtmO-CyypFonoGTKw_76ajR8vOCor8Uwr2hG86XIof4oZHzYmVilkHAhLBqZs5VVup_tI6HhVPMGHDe-JDKzPGWE6WpZrwXgutquqZfy3N142gwXQRmiGS05Kt8o8y9fDSxxyhrvscY_JM5ofYyfvE-/s320/home%20at%20night%20cover.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>With Mercy Carr's cabin stuffed to the gills with 5 people and 2 dogs, it's time to find a new place. When Mercy finds out that Grackle Tree Farm is for sale, a place she's loved since she was a child, it seems like the perfect opportunity!<p></p><p>Grackle Tree Farm is rumored to be haunted, but that's never bothered Mercy. The dead body in the library that her dog Elvis discovers might be a bigger obstacle. It seems that ghosts aren't the only thing Grackle Tree Farm is hiding. It's also full of secrets and maybe some treasure!</p><p>The Farm has a long history that includes both fame and tragedy. It was home to a famous author who may have left behind something valuable. After discovering the body, Mercy's uncle and her sometimes (very wealthy) employer show up at her doorstep. They ask her to try to find what they suspect the dead man was looking for: literary treasure. </p><p>Mercy goes back to the farm along with Elvis and Captain Thrasher. A masked man is there who shoots at them, hitting Mercy and seriously wounding Thrasher. Now it's up to Mercy, her husband Troy, and their two dogs, Elvis and Susie Bear to find the killer and discover the secret of Grackle Tree Farm. </p><p><i>Home At Night</i> intertwines a very interesting mystery, some thrills, and plenty of suspense. Mercy Carr is competent and compelling. Munier surrounds her with other enjoyable characters who greatly add to the fun of the story. Elvis and Susie Bear are more than just window-dressing. They are each service animals so they have important roles to play in the story. The love they share with their human companions ingratiates them to us even more and helps tell us who Mercy and Troy are as well. </p><p>The Grackle Tree Farm setting is ideal for a mystery story. A very old house, rumors of ghosts, and a long rich history. The Halloween setting further adds to the atmosphere. The mystery is intricate and Mercy follows the clues methodically. The solutions feel earned. There are plenty of suspects and unraveling it all is very satisfying. </p><p>This is the fifth book in the series but my first time reading it. I had no trouble jumping into the story. These feel like characters and a location that have a lot more stories in them. I'm looking forward to future installments in this series and especially to spending more time with Elvis and Susie Bear. </p><p>I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.</p>Tad Ottmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425336356743320971noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388969504261255702.post-92119220720327620452023-10-03T16:12:00.000-05:002023-10-03T16:12:03.279-05:00Surely You Can't Be Serious by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEfnUSKjGAapowVWz1DX0Kak27KWob275X5yn6vRieqxaltD7S-9NeOZLo89oebUwv5Q2cqUdXeRsENbnIiP53YqQEIv9tPmFVYfjwT5hF1bKlKt60NsbxeUlPrDThcKdTG8KFvXW1ptogH9RL-CfJTSRBAG4nWxgrlB8nbiIQ8FXwW6FuSetFZ6O86aY/s1160/surely%20you%20can't%20be%20serious%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEfnUSKjGAapowVWz1DX0Kak27KWob275X5yn6vRieqxaltD7S-9NeOZLo89oebUwv5Q2cqUdXeRsENbnIiP53YqQEIv9tPmFVYfjwT5hF1bKlKt60NsbxeUlPrDThcKdTG8KFvXW1ptogH9RL-CfJTSRBAG4nWxgrlB8nbiIQ8FXwW6FuSetFZ6O86aY/s320/surely%20you%20can't%20be%20serious%20cover.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>The book you never knew you needed is finally here! <i>Surely You Can't Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane</i> by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker.<p></p><p>There are specific demarcations in cinema. One of them is before and after <i>Airplane</i>. The style, the casting, the jokes, the references all combined in a way that had never been seen before. Its impact is still felt today.</p><p>This book takes you behind the scenes of the long road to the making of Airplane. The creators and directors of the movie share anecdotes from the movie, along with comments from many of the actors. In between, we learn where they came from, how they came together, and how their unique style of comedy was created.</p><p>Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker, ZAZ for short, are all from Wisconsin and attended the University of Wisconsin. As a fellow Wisconsinite and fellow UW-Madison alum, I was aware of the broad strokes of their story. This book goes far deeper and shares a lot more insight. From their shared sense of humor to the creation of the Kentucky Fried Theatre to their move to Los Angeles and dogged pursuit of their dream.</p><p>The story is told in an oral history style as ZAZ shares their recollections. Comments from some of the actors, particularly those like Peter Graves and Robert Stack who were known for their serious roles and really had no idea what kind of a movie they were making, at least initially, add to the pleasure. Additional comments from other actors as well as David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel, Bill Hader, and many others underscore the influence this film had on a generation of comedians and filmmakers. </p><p>Even today, if you watch a trailer for <i>Airplane</i>, you might say, "Oh, they've put all the best jokes in the trailer." It's not true. The movie is simply stuffed with jokes from start to finish. There are so many steps along the way that can either be ascribed to luck or fate. From the unintentional taping of an obscure 50's movie, <i>Zero Hour</i>, which the movie spoofs, to a surprisingly strong padlock to running into the right people at the right time. The fight to find a studio with the vision to let them make this movie, let three unknown, inexperienced kids direct, and finding just enough of the right people who got what they were trying to do all underscore how unlikely it was for this movie to ever happen.</p><p>The book includes pictures from the film as well as some iconic behind-the-scenes photos. The close relationship between Zucker, Abrahamson, and Zucker continues to this day and their shared sense of humor comes through as they recount their story. </p><p>This book is a delight for anyone who loves the film, loves comedy, or loves filmmaking. </p><p>I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.</p><p><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Tad Ottmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425336356743320971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388969504261255702.post-74806091347813999292023-09-18T23:17:00.001-05:002023-09-19T16:19:22.660-05:00Starter Villain by John Scalzi<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRYsMJfHmeqHWmIAtOPLX0jpaVVsJlzHzjJhxu88Xt2GXohz6CurRMUmNObeT_jwVFjRZwikqhH0YugQHxmj66GqFIuIlgTUnfj2Eus8HhnHjmBaqhUWMxQtV-lg-CompmOaF8inHnDFybr01RtI_bmhNWHdIMH6096po_1-_F0yfXSsnibL7E-LEOuqa/s2550/starter%20villain%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="1650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRYsMJfHmeqHWmIAtOPLX0jpaVVsJlzHzjJhxu88Xt2GXohz6CurRMUmNObeT_jwVFjRZwikqhH0YugQHxmj66GqFIuIlgTUnfj2Eus8HhnHjmBaqhUWMxQtV-lg-CompmOaF8inHnDFybr01RtI_bmhNWHdIMH6096po_1-_F0yfXSsnibL7E-LEOuqa/s320/starter%20villain%20cover.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>John Scalzi is back with another light-hearted story in <i>Starter Villain</i>. Charlie Fitzer is your typical down-on-his-luck former business reporter and substitute teacher whose billionaire uncle dies leaving him a supervillain empire. After his uncle's funeral, attended mostly by people trying to make sure he is actually dead, Charlie's house is blown up. Charlie is visited by his uncle's assistant, Mathilda, learns that his cat is genetically modified, can talk and has been spying on him, and is wisked away to his uncle's volcano lair.<p></p><p>This is a lot to take in for a guy who was just trying to scrape together enough money to buy a bar. Danger increases when he is invited to a group of supervillains, the Lombardy Convocation. They want him to join, but they'd be just as happy if he died. </p><p>Scalzi is always entertaining, and <i>Starter Villain</i> is no different. There is a lot of sly humor, social commentary and some actual thought-provoking ideas. Charlie turns out to be cleverer than anticipated and makes some astute observations and deductions along the way. The supporting characters, particularly the animals, are lovingly rendered and very likeable. Scalzi is as good as anyone at developing likeable characters. This helps you connect with them whether they are involved in unusual labor negotiations or trying to escape a building literally coming down around their ears. </p><p>There are a few surprises along the way but this story is more about the journey than the destination. It's fast-paced, funny and has some genuine feeling. The stakes never feel too high and you'll get some good laughs along the way.</p><p>I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.</p>Tad Ottmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425336356743320971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388969504261255702.post-33217918166291284062023-08-21T17:51:00.001-05:002023-08-21T17:51:26.898-05:00Five Years After by William R. Forstchen<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMuRewWuvxpCagV9ODYF6eWpt00DV6Y2og7QmcKdgkRYibDkM3GXzb_mNMXN9n1bY8atns5u4zuM-Z72u_Kfha7FW4dBTj7Kf4WnJlmXKDS2vGT9rCWmCwg5e0wPutJXXhnpI4iCT2AARWQuYKM3pVOiiGnrKsZDa1RYlaNxxH9RyxfsrxPDx3MPXz1Ffe/s2775/five%20years%20after%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2775" data-original-width="1838" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMuRewWuvxpCagV9ODYF6eWpt00DV6Y2og7QmcKdgkRYibDkM3GXzb_mNMXN9n1bY8atns5u4zuM-Z72u_Kfha7FW4dBTj7Kf4WnJlmXKDS2vGT9rCWmCwg5e0wPutJXXhnpI4iCT2AARWQuYKM3pVOiiGnrKsZDa1RYlaNxxH9RyxfsrxPDx3MPXz1Ffe/s320/five%20years%20after%20cover.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>The fourth John Matherson book in the series by William R. Forstchen which began with <i>One Second After</i> continues in <i>Five Years Later</i>. Not much has changed in the five years since the attack. Most of the United States is living hand-to-mouth with subsistence farming and only a smattering of rudimentary technology. President Robert Scales, Matherson's friend and mentor, heads a sort of government based out of Raven Rock. Matherson serves from his Black Mountain home as the nominal vice president as well as president of Montreat College. Supplies at the Raven Rock facility are starting to run out and technology and equipment that breaks are no longer able to be repaired. <p></p><p>Scales, dying of cancer, summons Matherson to Raven Rock where he meets General Joshua Lawrence. Lawrence is running another hitherto unknown underground (literally) facility that is far better supplied. Lawrence delivers a demand that Scales and his government immediately and unconditionally surrender to him and his organization. </p><p>Meanwhile, a deadly disease is ravaging China and has made its way to US shores. It is through these obstacles that Matherson must navigate in an attempt to restore something of the America he remembers.</p><p>The apocalypse and its aftermath in <i>One Second After</i> were novel and thought-provoking. There aren't a lot of new ideas in this book. A good deal of Matherson's time is spent missing cigarettes, finding cigarettes, enjoying cigarettes, rationing cigarettes, and then finding more cigarettes. The underground facilities are reminiscent of the caves referenced in <i>Dr. Strangelove</i>, sometimes explicitly so, but there is none of the humor and self-awareness found in that movie. The characters and the plot in this book are ultimately a little hard to swallow.</p><p>Little of what happened in books two and three of the series is necessary to understand what is happening in this book, but reading the first book would be helpful for new readers. Much of the intrigue of the first book is missing here, but fans of the series and completists may enjoy returning to Black Mountain. A disappointing book in the end.</p><p>The audio version of <i>Five Years After</i> is read by Bronson Pinchot. Bronson is an amazing narrator who adds a great deal of energy to the characters and the story. His different voices sometimes make you feel like you are listening to a full-cast recording of the book. The dialogue for the main antagonist, Joshua Lawrence, comes across as cartoonish, which Pinchot's narration underscores.</p><p>I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.</p>Tad Ottmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425336356743320971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388969504261255702.post-37845510159970054662023-08-21T01:48:00.002-05:002023-08-21T12:14:59.686-05:00After That Night by Karin Slaughter<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyGbHz-vcphtiokLC1n9uapuMjngDUIPo-8_pRljW5WMdQUgbJvz79ymAQGIpyv6w4Bqi8pW3z2xmGAbiRdesi4CNOp2LB1nEWh5Rqt_6uyXiufeT-q9JdsLSaMj__6Gf_YC0eO2VBk8e7G30v_YAfJVcvHv9CqFvi5tCZM3EOsQn-3VG4hC5Odyrt4v7/s500/after%20that%20night%20cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="329" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyGbHz-vcphtiokLC1n9uapuMjngDUIPo-8_pRljW5WMdQUgbJvz79ymAQGIpyv6w4Bqi8pW3z2xmGAbiRdesi4CNOp2LB1nEWh5Rqt_6uyXiufeT-q9JdsLSaMj__6Gf_YC0eO2VBk8e7G30v_YAfJVcvHv9CqFvi5tCZM3EOsQn-3VG4hC5Odyrt4v7/s320/after%20that%20night%20cover.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>The hardest decision when reading a Karin Slaughter book is whether to stay up all night to finish it or to pause after each chapter to absorb and reflect on what you've just read. Her latest Will Trent book, <i>After That Night</i>, certainly presents that dilemma.<p></p><p>Sara Linton is on call in the ER at Grady Memorial Hospital when a girl, Dani, comes in after a brutal attack. Sara makes a promise to the girl that she will stop the man who'd done this to her. As Sara's fiance, GBI investigator Will Trent and Will's partner Faith investigate, it appears there is a link between the assault and Sara's rape 15 years earlier. To keep her promise, she's going to have to dredge up memories of the worst thing that's ever happened to her. </p><p>It turns out that the car that Dani was driving belongs to the son of one of Sara's med school colleagues from 15 years ago. As both a doctor and the only witness to Dani's dying declaration, Sara is the star witness in the civil trial against him. When the boy's mother, Britt McAllister, confronts Sara in the restroom, Britt tells her that what happened to Dani is linked to a mixer that they all attended on the night of Sara's rape. Now it's up to Sara, Will, and Faith to discover the connection and determine which of Sara's fellow med school colleagues is responsible.</p><p>The trio discovers what they describe as a "Rape Club", which is even more horrible and despicable than it sounds. The first emotional impact is reading about the devastating impact that rape has on its victims and the course of their lives. The second impact is realizing that it happens all the time. Slaughter describes these events in unflinching detail and with a great deal of compassion. The characters all feel like real, complicated people. The ability to understand and sometimes relate to them draws your admiration, your sympathy, and your revulsion respectively. The effect on the investigators investigating these crimes is its own sort of devastation.</p><p>Will and Faith do a great deal of the leg work without official sanction of the GBI. Since the crimes range back as far as 15 years, hard evidence is in short supply and they know they'll need a strong case before the investigation will be approved. The people being investigated have the resources to make problems go away. Given Sara's relationship with them, she is integral to the investigation. The mystery comes together piece by hard-won piece. When you think you've plumbed the depths of depravity and cruel indifference, Slaughter still has more surprises in store. </p><p><i>After That Night</i> is an intense page-turner and one of the best books of the year. This is a must-read for any fan of thrillers and suspense novels. Slaughter is as good as they come.</p><p>I received a copy of this book from the publisher.</p>Tad Ottmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425336356743320971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388969504261255702.post-29871390794675447422023-08-10T19:55:00.000-05:002023-08-10T19:55:57.728-05:00North of Nowhere by Allison Brennan<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimURJLWJhGhsR9D0z0iCjYJyxIpUywBVzYPHGoGKZhz0l0xNVCJhoF_5F3oCKRbMjDvTzMvOMsGdA-jnMA_l2PspusT-rYY1pof5C9-G7tJ8v9AMwwP806IdfUXIuu7JTS-VDy_wg8ENRzb7cRtM_RNozi6XPugiMlT3qfphIwZceyZ34MsJxrRBArlCRD/s456/north%20of%20nowhere%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimURJLWJhGhsR9D0z0iCjYJyxIpUywBVzYPHGoGKZhz0l0xNVCJhoF_5F3oCKRbMjDvTzMvOMsGdA-jnMA_l2PspusT-rYY1pof5C9-G7tJ8v9AMwwP806IdfUXIuu7JTS-VDy_wg8ENRzb7cRtM_RNozi6XPugiMlT3qfphIwZceyZ34MsJxrRBArlCRD/s320/north%20of%20nowhere%20cover.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>Kristen and Ryan McIntyre have been on the run, hiding from their murderous father for the past 5 years. Now, the day the young kids have dreaded has arrived. Boyd McIntyre has found them. The kids barely get away in a plane flown by the man who helped them escape five years ago. The plane is hit by gunfire and crashes in the middle of the Montana wilderness. Now the race is on to reach the kids before an incoming blizzard makes their situation hopeless. <p></p><p>Boyd's sister Ruby left the criminal McIntyre clan and joined the Army years ago. She helped engineer Kristen and Ryan's escape but cut off contact with them to avoid them being discovered. Now she drops everything to go and try to rescue them. Also looking for them is rancher Nick Lorenzo, who only knows them as a couple of sweet kids and can't figure out why they are running.</p><p>The race is on between Boyd, Ruby, and Nick to find the kids before the blizzard hits. But unknown to all of them, an even more dangerous threat is lurking. Life and death hang in the balance.</p><p>Allison Brennan throws all the balls she can find in the air and keeps you mesmerized as she juggles them from start to finish. The action starts on page one and doesn't let up until she leaves you breathless on the last page. The Montana wilderness comes to life, showing off its beauty and its danger. The threat comes from all sides as these kids are lost and scared in the wilderness, not knowing who to trust. </p><p>What makes this thriller really sing is the strong characters. Each of them has a connection to family which drives them. Brennan gives us flashbacks of these family lives and how it has shaped each of the characters. It doesn't matter if it's a criminal family or a salt-of-the-earth ranch family. There are bonds created that shape how these characters view each other and that have influenced their life choices.</p><p>This is a read-in-one-sitting type of book with relentless action and a sense of impending danger on every page. A must-read for thriller fans.</p><p>I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.</p>Tad Ottmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425336356743320971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388969504261255702.post-34906726817480874852023-08-07T21:17:00.001-05:002023-08-07T21:23:01.770-05:00The Bitter Past by Bruce Borgos<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtn8nEzTSWzP6kEMSSi52giCjyEnomGzpQyOdMzH4CuWhDLog155zhSCt4HwnZb1P-HAwz0r8cLYGBK0bINmOzZJ_5Jh3Zi8aw6OdkxUSDtS85nRQqPRKEyQSjicMY5D0aqz2j46nzMcIpcOsXN1WBNaqm-WOs6UiJG6tSx_dIu179X0sbkJ7ExJQuYHTC/s2850/bitter%20past%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2850" data-original-width="1875" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtn8nEzTSWzP6kEMSSi52giCjyEnomGzpQyOdMzH4CuWhDLog155zhSCt4HwnZb1P-HAwz0r8cLYGBK0bINmOzZJ_5Jh3Zi8aw6OdkxUSDtS85nRQqPRKEyQSjicMY5D0aqz2j46nzMcIpcOsXN1WBNaqm-WOs6UiJG6tSx_dIu179X0sbkJ7ExJQuYHTC/s320/bitter%20past%20cover.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>I love a good mystery/thriller, especially one set in a location I don't know a lot about. <i>The Bitter Past</i> fits the bill with its setting in Lincoln County, Nevada, which is north of Las Vegas. It is also extremely large with neighbors miles apart from each other. <p></p><p></p><p>Porter Beck left the Army and took over as sheriff from his father. Beck is called to the home of retired FBI agent Ralph Atterbury, who has been brutally tortured and murdered. This, of course, necessitates the involvement of the FBI, but the agent assigned comes not from the nearby Vegas field office, but from Washington, D.C. in the form of special agent Sana Locke. It turns out that Atterbury was involved in the search for a Soviet agent in the 1950's with ties to the nearby testing of nuclear bombs. </p><p>This kicks off a story told in two timelines. Beck takes up the hunt for the still missing KGB agent in the present in order to solve Atterbury's murder. In the past, we follow the foreign agent and learn about a near catastrophe involving a dirty bomb. </p><p>The story in the 1950's is fascinating, told through the eyes of a spy trying to blend in while discovering America's nuclear secrets to share with the Soviet Union. The tension is inherent in his story as he fears discovery by Americans if he is successful and punishment by the Soviets if he fails. Meanwhile, he is falling in love with the woman he is using to advance his mission in Nevada. </p><p>In the present, more bodies are starting to pile up as Beck searches for a killer. His job is further complicated and resources stretched thin when a young woman goes missing. </p><p>The 1950's timeline is fascinating and tense throughout. The timeline in the present is somewhat more muddled, as it is complicated by an improbable and distracting relationship between Beck and Agent Locke. It doesn't help that Locke's professionalism is dubious at best.</p><p>Porter Beck is a solid character with an interesting background. There is potential for further development of some interesting side characters among his deputies, particularly Tuffy, and Beck's sister, Brin. Brin, especially, has a set of skills that are very intriguing. I'm hopeful that these characters can be further developed and given more to do in future books.</p><p>The two plotlines come together with some shocking twists along the way. Some skillful sleuthing and a large helping of action bring the story to an exciting conclusion. </p><p>This is a story that really makes use of its setting to tell an exciting tale in two timelines.</p><p>I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.</p><p><br /></p>Tad Ottmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425336356743320971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388969504261255702.post-35900861051615776912023-08-07T15:14:00.000-05:002023-08-07T15:14:22.288-05:00Deadlock by James Byrne<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjs59eKIwUCF4mRmZkL-0i9oR2rCSfnGe3a-8L6bogI0u7bZLamFlaEyt67F0jem7n7ENiUlZSSxkwVamUwLcz5QhEpayWWuQUnvOmYFNOMZtKAJZI56LPTyZGF4o_VnzwLjGS0IdysS0GZY2LQbYJIDRY6yREb-vBS_wIQ_gu4Jc--aldUXGxINAjhNJ2/s2850/deadlock%20cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2850" data-original-width="1875" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjs59eKIwUCF4mRmZkL-0i9oR2rCSfnGe3a-8L6bogI0u7bZLamFlaEyt67F0jem7n7ENiUlZSSxkwVamUwLcz5QhEpayWWuQUnvOmYFNOMZtKAJZI56LPTyZGF4o_VnzwLjGS0IdysS0GZY2LQbYJIDRY6yREb-vBS_wIQ_gu4Jc--aldUXGxINAjhNJ2/s320/deadlock%20cover.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>Last year's best new character, Dez Limerick, is back in <i>Deadlock. </i>Dez is relaxing in L.A. when he gets a call from Raziah Swann, a beautiful young singer Dez befriended and occasionally plays bass guitar for. Raziah is in Portland where her sister Laleh is in the hospital after being attacked. Raziah fears her sister's life is still in danger so she turns to the most capable man she knows. Because Dez isn't just good with guitars. He's also good with locks. Any kind of locks. And he's good with his fists, which happen to be the size of sledgehammers.<p></p><div>When Dez arrives at the hospital in Portland, he discovers some thugs there looking to finish the job they started with Laleh. Dez dispatches them with his unique skills and is surprised to find that he's drawn the attention of both the U.S. Marshalls and the DEA. Dez discovers that he's also drawn the attention of one of Oregon's biggest tech companies, Clockjack. A company that can afford to hire some very bad people to protect its secrets. Dez is mostly a let bygones be bygones sort of man, but not when his mates are in danger. If Clockjack is a threat to them, then Dez is a threat to Clockjack.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Deadlock</i> is as much mystery as it is thriller. Dez knows who the threat is, but if he's going to neutralize it, he must discover why. And the mystery here runs deep. From Portland to high up in the federal government and even internationally. Clockjack is as high-tech as they come and its campus is heavily guarded, both physically and electronically. There are only a handful of people in the world capable of breaking in. Bad luck for them that Dez is one of them. </div><div><br /></div><div>Everything that was great about James Byrne's first Dez Limerick book is even better here. The mystery is more intricate, the humor is even sharper, and the adversary is both smarter and more dangerous. Dez is one cool cucumber. His hacking skills, his planning skills, and his fighting skills are all put to the test. This book will have you glued to it from start to finish. There is excitement and intrigue all along the way and a conclusion that does not disappoint.</div><div><br /></div><div>John Keating narrates the audiobook and adds another dimension to the enjoyment. His vocalizations, particularly of Dez, perfectly capture the humor, confidence, and heart of the character. His voice will forever be the voice I hear in my head for Dez in what I hope to be many, many books in this series. One of my favorite books of the year. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.</div>Tad Ottmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425336356743320971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388969504261255702.post-71878234589803247092023-08-06T21:20:00.000-05:002023-08-06T21:20:02.425-05:00Birder She Wrote by Donna Andrews<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjciS0U6js5I4R9GoibBlOuXXK4KuZsEb_3e8MGK7t88nwDbUAXoO3f60nWnpuchFkTK5py4ra9TtFRKeGDHxRvRlEsBAQct53GmupMpUl80LCVdVVRzkGVzp2oiy78vE6fbfF_Rf7vKaKpa3Rc0okNzPhyxseIxUw-G5ghBKy0kctjppsB10FmvJztRfI/s5000/birder%20she%20wrote%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5000" data-original-width="3247" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjciS0U6js5I4R9GoibBlOuXXK4KuZsEb_3e8MGK7t88nwDbUAXoO3f60nWnpuchFkTK5py4ra9TtFRKeGDHxRvRlEsBAQct53GmupMpUl80LCVdVVRzkGVzp2oiy78vE6fbfF_Rf7vKaKpa3Rc0okNzPhyxseIxUw-G5ghBKy0kctjppsB10FmvJztRfI/s320/birder%20she%20wrote%20cover.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>Nothing beats a visit to Caerphilly to check in with Meg Langslow and friends. In <i>Birder She Wrote</i>, Meg is just trying to find a little time to relax in the new hammock she bought and maybe enjoy watching the hummingbirds and reading a book. For once, the house isn't crammed to the gills with visiting relatives or out-of-towners who need a place to stay. Still, relaxation never really seems to be in the cards for Meg. <p></p><p>While Meg's dad recruits her to help install new bees into a hive in her backyard, the Mayor calls her to smooth feathers with the NIMBYs who find living next door to working farms not in accordance with their idyllic vision of how country life should be. Meg's grandmother, Cordelia, also arrives to enlist her in searching for a long-lost African-American cemetery. Cordelia has in tow a reporter from <i>Sweet Tea and Sassafras </i>magazine, who is profiling Meg's grandmother. The reporter seems not to be enjoying anything about the task and Meg takes an instant and uncharacteristic dislike to her. </p><p>While searching for the graveyard, the group also discovers a dead body. One of the most vocal NIMBYs and also one of the least liked. Now it's up to Meg to help figure out who could have done this, and more importantly, why. Just one more thing to add to her to-do list!</p><p>This is another impressive entry in a great cozy series. Donna Andrew's endless inventiveness expands your knowledge of Caerphilly and its surroundings as well as the people who live and visit there. New details, new people, and new mysteries are always on tap. Add in some adorable Pomeranians, some hummingbirds, and a bunch of bees and you've got another great story!</p><p>I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.</p>Tad Ottmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425336356743320971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388969504261255702.post-88864696786329543922023-08-06T20:02:00.004-05:002023-08-06T20:02:54.901-05:00Witch King by Martha Wells<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeR8JZMMHBAZzaT-kxd7kxIhMVn1Lh7YmYae6bjo4qqOjBV-moORdx9ddZwSqkTXbHmpYr6_gMZm1CxPtfstb-ZYsqodqZm4a2YkxQy0nX8yXw0Z4-eqRu8kYtTISrk4jmk2RlSZWQ66DUzXb1iNiS3M3lMvjmacS2htMyxwvGfUntIdRqWAPYBFfQFJn/s2475/witch%20king%20cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1613" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeR8JZMMHBAZzaT-kxd7kxIhMVn1Lh7YmYae6bjo4qqOjBV-moORdx9ddZwSqkTXbHmpYr6_gMZm1CxPtfstb-ZYsqodqZm4a2YkxQy0nX8yXw0Z4-eqRu8kYtTISrk4jmk2RlSZWQ66DUzXb1iNiS3M3lMvjmacS2htMyxwvGfUntIdRqWAPYBFfQFJn/s320/witch%20king%20cover.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>Before Martha Wells created the amazing Murderbot stories, she wrote great fantasy stories, including <i>The Death of the Necromancer.</i> Her first fantasy novel in more than 10 years is <i>Witch King</i>. Kaiisteron, or Kai, is a demon in human form and a witch. Kai's story is told in two timelines. The past, where he first took human form and played a crucial role in overthrowing the invading Hierarchs. In the present, Kai's consciousness becomes aware sometime after his body is entombed in a watery prison. Finding a new body to inhabit, Kai frees his companion Ziede, herself a witch, and sets out to discover who murdered him and what has happened in his absence.<p></p><p>Wells does such an excellent job with characters, plot, and world-building. The world-building occurs in the background as you get to know the characters and follow them on their journey. In the past, Kai learns his powers and weaknesses as he is caught up in a war and captured by the Hierarchs. Prince Bashasa rescues him and uses him in his plans to free the lands from the Hierarchs. In the present, Kai searches for his murderer as well as the plot that he is certain is working to undermine the new rule. Wells uses both of these timelines to sketch a complex world with a diverse cast that have different powers, politics, motivations, and cultures. The complexity of this world is part of its charm. The alternating timelines also highlight what has changed and what has been lost. </p><p>This is a fascinating world to visit. Fans of Wells' fantasy are in for a treat!</p><p>I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.</p>Tad Ottmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425336356743320971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388969504261255702.post-76389717006880034222023-07-26T12:25:00.000-05:002023-07-26T12:25:56.655-05:00The Ferryman by Justin Cronin<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyiqNOMUYLO4VZkJncdS51nKLPmtWXLzCgPs1e0gexZYZb8gKFv3sDgOwQ5ygEoFQN5S8M0wIwKg_w5Zmj6mw_covb59k-7id_SpclzfBZOR8wGbxC1cEugeOUnOaZ4Kou9Rrw1k5bIPc15s5Tcb-TWaGzl1TsepP5ft9tbx-k2Se2XqPfCDfdZnO8w/s2560/ferryman%20cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1684" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyiqNOMUYLO4VZkJncdS51nKLPmtWXLzCgPs1e0gexZYZb8gKFv3sDgOwQ5ygEoFQN5S8M0wIwKg_w5Zmj6mw_covb59k-7id_SpclzfBZOR8wGbxC1cEugeOUnOaZ4Kou9Rrw1k5bIPc15s5Tcb-TWaGzl1TsepP5ft9tbx-k2Se2XqPfCDfdZnO8w/s320/ferryman%20cover.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>Justin Cronin plays with your expectations in <i>The Ferryman</i> at every step of the way. Proctor Bennett works as a ferryman on the utopian island of Prospero. He guides older Prosperans across the water to the facility where they are reconstituted into younger bodies. On the day that Proctor is assigned to ferry his own father, with whom he has a difficult relationship, things go very wrong. The cracks in the idyllic society are widening and soon Proctor finds himself on the run and finding allies in the Annex, home to the working class people who keep Prospero running smoothly. <div><br /></div><div>No utopian society is ever truly utopian. That is expected. But just when you think you have things figured out, Cronin throws you a curveball. And then another. Until you are breathlessly following along in a story that defies all expectations. Every twist is earned and Cronin's construction of the plot is magnificent. </div><div><br /></div><div>The story moves steadily through the first part of the book, carried by strong characters who feel real in their emotions, motivations, and actions. Then when the curtain is pulled back, the pace correspondingly increases to match the new revelations that follow. Cronin maintains this increased pacing all the way to the end, with new revelations and character decisions that will have your jaw dropping. </div><div><br /></div><div>An incredible plot, fantastic, complex characters, and peerless writing. This is not only one of the best books of the year, but a story that will stick with you for a long, long time. You're going to want to talk to people about this book!</div><div><br /></div><div>I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Tad Ottmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425336356743320971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388969504261255702.post-16294682544416372652023-07-24T00:42:00.000-05:002023-07-24T00:42:21.282-05:00The Traitor by Anthony Ryan<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NTq_-lwALFIow7uznyMujhvWvuysej5p-tcXuYPJXnfTJMGcA0HEzzrxLYfOzC0KSLvmvR8u_tOzeFAsEWb0UVbLqIA2ohjJ8mAjAn4Wh7o8B9O76zQbNK6GCjGV0ZW47BCyW0CsZk66PlUIvdtnjAQMwVAXcw68yD-4XuYJePST-TXKReNeX6vIbnyp/s1080/traitor%20cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NTq_-lwALFIow7uznyMujhvWvuysej5p-tcXuYPJXnfTJMGcA0HEzzrxLYfOzC0KSLvmvR8u_tOzeFAsEWb0UVbLqIA2ohjJ8mAjAn4Wh7o8B9O76zQbNK6GCjGV0ZW47BCyW0CsZk66PlUIvdtnjAQMwVAXcw68yD-4XuYJePST-TXKReNeX6vIbnyp/s320/traitor%20cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>In the dedication to <i>The Traitor</i>, Anthony Ryan credits David Gemmel with imparting the lesson that the hero's journey is always more tragedy than triumph. Anthony Ryan has learned that well and the journey that Alwyn Scribe takes not only in this book but across this series is testament to that fact. Alwyn has risen from bastard outlaw to knight and trusted advisor to Lady Evadine Courlain, the risen martyr. He has played no small part in leading thousands to her cause and offering stratagems that have led to her success. <p></p><p>Alwyn has never been a fanatic but he has believed in Evadine. Now, though, he begins to question her motives and her cause. A kingdom weary of war prepares itself for one more battle and Alwyn's head and his heart are also at war. It's time to decide whose side he's really on.</p><p>I love complicated heroes and Alwyn Scribe is one of the best. He is clever and calculating and has become skilled in battle. His strength is in knowing his limitations and coming up with a plan that accounts for them. As the novel suggests, his relating of this tale paints him in a favorable light. Still, he is all too aware of the death and tragedy he has left in his wake.</p><p>As Evadine's puritanical zeal grows and her benevolence fades, Alwyn realizes that she is not the same woman he once admired, even if he still loves her. He further realizes that if evil is to be stopped, he will have to rally the forces to stop it, and he remains uncertain if he will be able to do what it takes, especially in a confrontation with Evadine.</p><p><i>The Traitor</i> works because its skillfully plotted course of events leads through incredible battles on a path that brings both sides to an inevitable fight whose outcome remains uncertain until the very end. The fact that Ryan is able to make you care so much for all of the characters lends impact to the peril they find themselves in. Because Alwyn's tale is more tragedy than triumph, the air of anticipation mixes with apprehension as the two sides approach the final battle. The world created here feels real and the peoples that inhabit it work from all too recognizable motivations. Ryan delivers on the promise created in the first two books of this series with a conclusion that will satisfy fans of epic fantasy. </p><p>This is one of the best books of the year and one of the best series of the last ten. </p><p>I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.</p><p><br /></p>Tad Ottmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425336356743320971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388969504261255702.post-32298714119105564392023-06-21T16:17:00.000-05:002023-06-21T16:17:16.872-05:00In A Hard Wind by David Housewright<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4EZQwTqda_ZZPAL30p80H3ltR221fvAGGw7bwcj1Gjxe-7Jt3sUhDvwQCICkDMj81rLaiMDrMF1lGnnQugbEGT3X5q321KteFZTjQxydT-w-IHyXaLDVy2-7diePEwQwCuBkU8OPhspgXGVQAc-RI31KIPeqnzmiuEVXhFaBEgvjGT7I7oNOT7hsdNTw/s2554/hard%20wind%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2554" data-original-width="1672" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4EZQwTqda_ZZPAL30p80H3ltR221fvAGGw7bwcj1Gjxe-7Jt3sUhDvwQCICkDMj81rLaiMDrMF1lGnnQugbEGT3X5q321KteFZTjQxydT-w-IHyXaLDVy2-7diePEwQwCuBkU8OPhspgXGVQAc-RI31KIPeqnzmiuEVXhFaBEgvjGT7I7oNOT7hsdNTw/s320/hard%20wind%20cover.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>Retired policeman and sometimes detective McKenzie is back in David Housewright's new book, <i>In A Hard Wind</i>. Having only discovered the McKenzie books last year, I was blown away by how good this book is!<p></p><p>Doing a favor for a friend of a friend of a friend, McKenzie agrees to look into the case of J. C. Carrell, accused of killing developer Charles Sainsbury and burying him in her backyard. Charle's company had apparently purchased neighborhood land from J. C.'s close friend and neighbor, Carson Vaneps who is suffering from Alzheimer's. The land is affectionately known as "The Circle" complete with a gazebo and firepit where a book club of neighborhood women, "The Plot Whores", regularly gather. J. C. was witnessed threatening to kill Charles and was spotted late on the night of his disappearance coming down the hill with a shovel. </p><p>McKenzie talks to a local police sergeant he is acquainted with as well as questioning all the neighbors. Solving the mystery of whether or not the mostly beloved J. C. committed the crime turns out to be just the beginning of the real mystery. It's at this point that the book takes a real twist and leads McKenzie down some truly unexpected roads!</p><p>McKenzie is a charming and intelligent character, but it's truly J.C. and the neighborhood women who are the stars of this show. Fascinating and complicated characters and relationships that range from sisterly to maternal to mentoring. McKenzie's intuition and detecting skills lead him on a wide chase and every stone he kicks over leads to another jaw-dropping mystery. Readers will follow along in amazement all the way to a powerful and unanticipated conclusion. This will certainly wind up as one of the best books of the year and deservedly so. </p><p>I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.</p><p> </p>Tad Ottmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425336356743320971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388969504261255702.post-37664965347050715472023-06-08T15:14:00.000-05:002023-06-08T15:14:21.220-05:00Drowning by T. J. Newman<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqvaX-XrXXC1gpzq67qjSr0S0gyvat2PusXVj9-X8QFw8cr3dbqG43ngM4qn-OiN6-pnJoR4qDSvVQqBeSYsZljSM2bsJAIFquzsxriuBPPpDdIiNAVgaFZnv2kFa79tf9L1SHhjXEKIu9A-zWllOk1Tn9q0h1IwYzLlytLvWxG7141pLNydIqNdqHw/s604/drowning%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqvaX-XrXXC1gpzq67qjSr0S0gyvat2PusXVj9-X8QFw8cr3dbqG43ngM4qn-OiN6-pnJoR4qDSvVQqBeSYsZljSM2bsJAIFquzsxriuBPPpDdIiNAVgaFZnv2kFa79tf9L1SHhjXEKIu9A-zWllOk1Tn9q0h1IwYzLlytLvWxG7141pLNydIqNdqHw/s320/drowning%20cover.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>What Steven Spielberg did for the summer movie blockbuster with <i>Jaws</i>, T. J. Newman has done for the summer book blockbuster. First with <i>Falling</i> and now with her latest book, <i>Drowning</i>.<p></p><p><i>Drowning</i> starts in the middle of the action as an engine explodes on a flight just after takeoff from Hawaii. With dead controls, the plane crashes into the water. The surviving passengers and crew are faced with the choice of escaping into an ocean full of burning jet fuel or staying on board and facing drowning if rescue can't reach them in time. Will Kent is traveling with his 11-year-old daughter and convinces a few of the remaining passengers and crew to stay on board and await rescue. His estranged wife Chris lives nearby and inserts herself into the rescue efforts. </p><p>The damage done to the plane, its precarious position submerged in the water, a limited supply of oxygen, and challenging weather conditions all add to the ticking-clock elements of this thriller. A massive rescue effort is quickly launched, but there is really no manual for this particular type of accident. The personal tragedy in the lives of Will and Chris that led to their divorce adds even more human pathos to an already gripping story. </p><p>Pick any superlative you want to use and it will apply to <i>Drowning</i>. Your heart will be in your throat the entire time you are reading this. Newman expertly keeps the action charging forward as she switches between scenes on the crashed plane and with the rescue crew above. Glimpses into the past of Chris and Will manage to squeeze your hearts even further as you learn what brought them each to this point in their lives. The characters sing with authenticity as they race to save as many people as they can. The danger crackles and you will find yourself holding your breath every time you turn a page. </p><p>From the first line to the last, you will be in thrall to this incredible story. </p><p>Sign me up for whatever T. J. Newman has up her sleeve next. She's just getting started.</p><p>I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.</p>Tad Ottmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00425336356743320971noreply@blogger.com0