STATE OF TERROR, a taut, tense, whiplash-inducing thriller, is so up to the minute in world events it seems like the authors, Hillary Clinton and crime fiction author, Louise Penny, had a crystal ball to look into scrying possible scenarios … no, wait … they did. In the form of Ms. Clintons and her years as Secretary of State. Her experience and skill, among other things, provide the backdrop to this immensely addictive thriller.
This is a solid outing from Matthew Palmer, an author that knows his stuff. SECRETS OF STATE, is a thriller with all the right ingredients, that hit all the right notes. The characters are nothing new, but familiar territory is okay as long as there is enough elsewhere to make up for it. And while the plot is nothing new either—terrorists stealing a nuclear weapon to blow up a city—again, that was okay, as the author came at this from a slightly different angle, with a new view while covering old ground, which freshened up a doomsday scenario with likeable enough characters that were engaging.
THE ROMANOV PROPHECY is another fast-paced thriller that is pure popcorn entertainment from the first page, till the last. A rip-roaring romp through the streets, and politics, of Moscow, in a possible near-future where Russia, looking for it’s roots, is set on the restoration of the Monarchy. And looking for the next in line, and most direct heir to the murdered house of Romanov, a Commission is assembled. Straight out of the gate, Miles Lord—a black American lawyer and part of the firm looking into the background of the hot favourite to ascend the throne, Stefan Baklanov—is running for his life, as gunmen open fire on him in the middle of a lunchtime crowd.
I spent a day reading this fast paced, fun read, that takes you on another Dan Brown whirlwind ride. This time around it’s the US Capital, Washington DC, as opposed to some European City. But whatever the city, you know to suspend your sense of disbelief on the the first page, and just jump in. The author packs in the right ingredients with just the right amount of action and intrigue to keep you flipping the pages in fast succession.
Barry Eisler just keeps getting better and better with each book he writes. INSIDE OUT is the second Ben Treven story, sadly I haven’t read the previous outing but that didn’t spoil this one in anyway. Thankfully, Eisler doesn’t waste time playing catch up in his opening chapters but writes thought-provoking, stand-alone thrillers that deliver on every level, whether or not they feature characters who’ll become part of a series.
COLD STORAGE is an incredibly fast read, not just because it’s only 308 pages long, but because it’s that kind of a story. A book you simply cannot put down. I read this in a day. Yes, seven hours on a Sunday, from beginning to end. I really didn’t want to stop as there was too much at stake. Yes, I know, it’s not real, but the science in Cold Storage, along with the excellently researched background to the alphabet soup government departments and processes, were spot on.
SAWBONES is raw, gritty and, at times, violently graphic. The characters themselves could have been ripped out of a Dime novel of the day back in the late 1800s—with a woman on the run after being accused of murder she didn’t commit, Indians on the warpath, and a saddle-weary Army Captain with a dire secret of his. Each adds their own story to the narrative as seen through the eyes of Lenhardt’s heroine, Catherine Bennett.
This novel is something of a misrepresentation. It might be titled Finding Nouf, but Nouf is found quite dead, about ten pages into the story. And, from there on in, this flimsy excuse for a murder mystery takes on a plodding pace. While two of the most unlikeliest characters ever conceived are thrown together by circumstances, in finding out the truth of Nouf’s death and, more to the point, who did it. I found I cared very little for either of them, let alone for poor dead Nouf.
This was one long, hard, struggle to maintain any interest in any character, or what was going on, because of the somewhat glacial pacing. This is not a taut, psychological suspense novel, as the publicity would have you believe, neither is there any real suspense as the two unlikely sleuths plod there way through finding, gathering and analysing hearsay, evidence, and facts. Seemingly unable to tell the difference between the three.
I don’t normally read contemporary or literary fiction, in the same way I like to avoid getting a nasty skin rash — through avoidance. But after reading a couple of reviews, and seeing it listed on a couple of blogs as a book to read I found myself staring at the cover in my local bookstore and thinking, okay, maybe this won’t be so bad. Maybe I won’t get a skin rash, vomit, swoon or faint from cracking open its pages.
The Woo-Woo by Lindsay Wong is a darkly humorous memoir that talks about her parents, her childhood upbringing—or, lack thereof—and just what the hell the Woo-Woo are—Ghosts and demons that her parents are convinced are trying to take over their bodies and possess them at any sign of weakness. As a result, Lindsay’s upbringing is one long nightmare. Not that she’s fully aware of that, at the time, as she acts out just as her parents do.
Joe Lansdale’s western, THE THICKET, is wickedly smart, funny, vulgar, violent, philosophical and yes, even at times, a little whimsical. All in part due to the wonderful, quirky cast of characters and, of course, Lansdale’s own voluble prose. Prose prickling with acute observations, jibes, laconic wit, and snappy dialogue that reflect the era and characters, perfectly. Lansdale also manages to sketch out an opening scene that’s akin to free-crack to a drug-addict: irresistible.
Watched: Bandits (Netflix)
This English-dubbed Mexican show about a group of desperate friends and frenemies coming together to find lost Spanish treasure, turned out to be a comedy gem. Full of action and fun, this one had me laughing at the group’s antics as they try to outwit the bad guys and get to the treasure first.
All-in-all, a thoroughly enjoyable romp through the Mexican countryside.
Watched: Remarkably Bright Creatures (Netflix)
Sweet, sad, funny and very poignant, Sally Fields bonds with one smart octopus in a movie that had me smiling from ear to ear one minute, and almost sobbing the next. Remarkably touching.
Watched: Altered Carbon (Netflix)
Scifi at it’s worst, we’re presented with yet another dreary dystopian, futuristic, ultra-violent show where everyone feels like a video-game character. The A.I. hotel character, Edgar Alan Poe, was the best part and that’s saying something.
“Tiny is fun, you can put tiny in your pocket and carry it everywhere with you.”
“Some days I feel like we’re all furiously running on the hamster wheel of life, getting nowhere fast.”