Beatrice is the daughter of a wealthy family, and has disappeared. Detective Valdemar Hoff takes his orphan friend (Mika) along when he visits the famBeatrice is the daughter of a wealthy family, and has disappeared. Detective Valdemar Hoff takes his orphan friend (Mika) along when he visits the family. Mika manages to speak to Beatrice's friend in school, and her brother as well, deciding that something is very wrong, possibly involving the scary legend of the Dark Angels. When child skeletons are discovered at a construction site in circa. 1880 , there is too much chatter and Valdemar is attacked, saved by Mika's quick thinking, and his is then hidden, where nobody would ever look for him. There are a few satisfying side stories at the orphanage. I am glad there are additional stories to be translated and brought to U.S. readers because this series is very good....more
Babs Dionne is the crime lord in Waterville, Maine, trying to keep order in town, where Canadian immigrants are treated as white trash, when things geBabs Dionne is the crime lord in Waterville, Maine, trying to keep order in town, where Canadian immigrants are treated as white trash, when things get ugly really fast. A classic story of a leather factory polluting the water, maiming people, leading to deaths and drug dependencies. One daughter disappears, a second daughter almost dies of an overdose, and her son died overseas in the military. Her grandson has a black eye, and Babs has to lay a smackdown on her son-in-law. She and the sheriff are in bed together, when an enforcer shows up for a Canadian drug king, who wants to own the local trade. Secrets become known, and the truth is harsh. The only steady hand in town seems to be the parish priest. A bit too heavy on violence and too little differentiation among the players....more
Sami Kierce is on his way to medical school when his college roommate and his lax buddies decide to go to the Sun Coast in Spain, where Sami falls harSami Kierce is on his way to medical school when his college roommate and his lax buddies decide to go to the Sun Coast in Spain, where Sami falls hard for a girl in a disco named Anna. After partying, drinking, drugging, and screwing, he wakes up to find her stabbed multiple times and his hand on the bloody knife. He reports the death, but there is no body, but he runs back to America. Sami has lost his way, and decides to pass on medical school, eventually becoming a cop. Things go badly there, and he is forced to resign in disgrace, but his fiancee is murdered. The killer is found, convicted and sent to prison. As this book starts, Sami is happily married with a one-year old son, and is teaching a class in investigations when the killer is released essentially due to Sami's reputation for being a dirty cop. As he is teaching, a woman looks in on the class and Sami thinks it is Anna, setting in motion, a project for his class as they track her to a fancy estate in tony Connecticut, and comes to learn she is the kidnapped daughter of a wealthy family, who disappeared for 11+ years, returning with no memory of what happened. We then embark on a classic Coben mystery, full of twists and intrigue....more
Solid effort by Brett Battles, who is continuing the Stuart Woods' series. Woodman & Weld win a lawsuit against a seriously wealthy sociopath, who decSolid effort by Brett Battles, who is continuing the Stuart Woods' series. Woodman & Weld win a lawsuit against a seriously wealthy sociopath, who decides to punish Stone by destroying the artwork of his famous mother, Matilda Stone. When his townhouse is attacked, Stone uses lethal force against one of the intruders, further enraging his adversary. Next, they decide to obtain three paintings, with the intention to burn them at an upcoming birthday celebration for Stone, including one painting acquired by producer, Billy Barnett (a/k/a Teddy Fay.) Meanwhile, Stone meets an insurance investigator, who has been looking into a new of arson cases where paintings have turned to ash. These crooks are hired to find three Stone paintings in too short order, and things go badly, especially when the dirty art dealer decides to keep the originals and hire a forger. My only quibble is that I really do not think Battles has been able to mimic the voices of the main characters, mainly his choice of words....more
Brett Battles has picked up where Stuart Woods left off, with Book #7 in the Teddy Fay series. Some of his former colleagues from Operation Golden HouBrett Battles has picked up where Stuart Woods left off, with Book #7 in the Teddy Fay series. Some of his former colleagues from Operation Golden Hour are being systematically assassinated in Europe. With Teddy Fay heading to Europe anyway on a publicity tour for Peter Barrington’s newest movie, Lance Cabot asks Teddy to investigate who is murdering these people and why. As always, Teddy has to avoid entanglements with various women and alter his appearance multiple times, switching between himself, his movie producer persona or his movie stuntman persona. ...more
A new series by Dale Brown, following his successful 20-book series about Patrick McLanahan. Pilot Nick Flynn is marooned in a station Alaska, after aA new series by Dale Brown, following his successful 20-book series about Patrick McLanahan. Pilot Nick Flynn is marooned in a station Alaska, after a mission goes awry. However, when a prototype Russian stealth bomber is commandeered by a decorated senior officer and hidden in Alaska. Despite horrific weather, Nick and his security team are ordered to parachute into the area to reach the crash sites ahead of the Russians, following a dogfight. The Pentagon and CIA are withholding vital information, but Flynn and his team follow their orders, which pit them against Spetsnaz commandos, who have invaded to find and destroy if necessary the bomber, which has been loaded with nuclear-armed stealth cruise missiles for authenticity. Above average thriller, with a Hunt for Red October type plot....more
Porter Beck is a sheriff in rural Nevada, succeeding his father. When a former FBI agent is found murdered, following torture, Beck's skills as a formPorter Beck is a sheriff in rural Nevada, succeeding his father. When a former FBI agent is found murdered, following torture, Beck's skills as a former intelligence officer are needed. He is joined by Special Agent Sana Locke from the FBI’s Las Vegas field office, raising questions for him. The murder seems to tie back to the victim's own investigation of a nuclear test site in the late 1950s, with someone seeking to make sure information remains undiscovered. Meanwhile, there are some strange goings-on, including a disappearance in a nearby commune, which may or may not be related. Beck's father has memory issues, and his sister is a bit odd. They must all work together to solve the mystery of who killed the FBI agent and what was the big secret that led to the murder. 3.5 stars, rounded up....more
Amy Wheeler is a bodyguard who protects VIPs. She is married to Adam, who she barely sees, but is very close to Adam's father, Steve. Steve is a retirAmy Wheeler is a bodyguard who protects VIPs. She is married to Adam, who she barely sees, but is very close to Adam's father, Steve. Steve is a retired cop, living on a small English town, working as a P.I., with mostly small jobs. He is a grieving widower, who speaks with his deceased wife daily and has a stray cat named Trouble for companionship (besides Amy.)
Amy is on a private island in South Carolina, protecting a famous mystery writer, Rosie D'Antonio, who is being threatened by a Russian oligarch named Vasiliy Karpin for something she said in a recent novel. Suddenly, Amy becomes a target and runs off with Rosie in her private jet, after trying to find out about a recent murder nearby, only to find the Sheriff dead too. Someone seems keen on killing her boss as well. Amy and Rosie ask Steve to join them, and they avoid several attempts on Amy's life. Readers are kept in suspense as to who wants her dead, supplied only with the names Francois Loubet and Joe Blow, with Francois being a known money launderer. Too much folly and too slow at the outset for me....more
A call for help from his ex-wife Denise, who is running away from her new mobster husband detours Cliff to the airport, instead of delivering $40,000 A call for help from his ex-wife Denise, who is running away from her new mobster husband detours Cliff to the airport, instead of delivering $40,000 in negotiable bonds. Two thugs hijack them to get Cliff to take them into the forest to find a $100,000 ransom, with the thugs having grabbed the kidnapper/rapist to force him to reveal the hiding place. I usually enjoy a pulp story, but I did not like the characters in this one, who were manipulating or manipulated, and too much convenient things happened, both in the woods and at sea, as the bad guys tried to escape into Canada....more
This story reminded me of "A Beautiful Mind." Thomas Kilbride is a map-obsessed schizophrenic who believes a cataclysmic event will permanently destroThis story reminded me of "A Beautiful Mind." Thomas Kilbride is a map-obsessed schizophrenic who believes a cataclysmic event will permanently destroy electronic maps. Using a computer mapping program, he lives in his bedroom traveling the world's cities, memorizing streets and places, believing he works for the CIA and speaks with President Clinton. When his father dies in a tractor accident mowing a steep hill, his brother Ray, comes to help Thomas and bury their father. While looking around Orchard Street, Thomas sees a woman in an upstairs window being murdered, with a plastic bag over her head. Thomas convinces his brother to investigate since Ray has to meet a prospective client in NY City. The victim was supposed to be a blackmailer, but is someone much more important. The killer and facilitators are desperately trying to cover their error, by eliminating the Kilbrides, the blackmailer, and anyone else who gets in their way....more
The third book in the Eye of Isis series is cleverly titled, with a dual meaning. Alexandria’s most beloved actresses, Herminia, fails to appear for aThe third book in the Eye of Isis series is cleverly titled, with a dual meaning. Alexandria’s most beloved actresses, Herminia, fails to appear for a debut performance, disappointing all, including the Queen of Upper and Lower Egypt herself. Cleopatra sets Tetisheri, her Eye, to investigate. In her search for Herminia, who lives a simple life, Tetisheri finds a rejected lover, a priceless statue, a dead cosmetician, and treachery. Tetisheri's travels take her to the Memphis, the city of temples, where she finds an overt war between two temples: one of the leaders is well-known to Teti, while the other seems to have become leader by virtue of deep, but unexplainable wealth. Once again, Teti finds her life threatened in the pursuit of justice....more
Two Border Patrol agents stumble into something secret, and are killed, but not before reporting what appears to be human trafficking of Europeans. ThTwo Border Patrol agents stumble into something secret, and are killed, but not before reporting what appears to be human trafficking of Europeans. This information finds its way to Senator Steele, who dispatches Ryan Decker, a former special forces soldier, now private consultant and his team, to get to the facts. While on their reconnaissance mission, they discover a cache of U.S. military grade weapons and cutting edge robots as protection. Things get complicated as they are traipsing though a military only zone and into Mexico. The team recruits some "friends" to get them in-country, where they discover not only a potential war brewing among the cartels, but an old adversary seeking to profit immensely. A clever solution is developed on the fly to bring down the hammer of justice....more
Jack Givins, a writer, is a struggling financially when his agent provides a weird lead: the U.S. Marshals are seeking someone to write background stoJack Givins, a writer, is a struggling financially when his agent provides a weird lead: the U.S. Marshals are seeking someone to write background stories for people going into the federal Witness Protection Program (WPP.) Jack himself is the son of a man who to avoid prison for killing someone, turned state's evidence and disappeared into WPP, where his wife and son refused to follow. A reader will really need to suspend belief for this one, as there are too many contrivances. Jack asks to meet the protectee to make the backstory more realistic, the Marshals did not know about his connection to WPP?, his father has seen Jack over the years, etc. Of course, there is an ulterior motive for hiring Jack, which is dragged out too long, at least for my liking....more
Former US Air Force Captain Nick Flynn and his team of former military operatives get caught up in a war scenario where Russians and Iranians have devFormer US Air Force Captain Nick Flynn and his team of former military operatives get caught up in a war scenario where Russians and Iranians have developed a massive new weapon, which they intend to use against the United States, potentially killing hundreds of millions and forever changing the world order. Flynn, super pilot Laura Van Horn, and his team have to locate the doomsday weapon, which is cleverly cloaked, and seemingly impossible to locate in the open seas. They are being challenged by the Raven Syndicate, a group of Russian elite soldiers, all along the way. Good military warfare fiction, reminiscent of Dale Brown's better-known Patrick McLanahan series....more
Another excellent book in this series. Lillian Pentecost’s partner and chief investigator, Willowjean "Will" Parker, comes back from her first-ever vaAnother excellent book in this series. Lillian Pentecost’s partner and chief investigator, Willowjean "Will" Parker, comes back from her first-ever vacation with her girlfriend to find her boss being taken off to jail in handcuffs and their office/home being ransacked. Pentecost is charged with killing a man (Jessup Quincannon) she loathes and has threatened because of his obsession with murder and her family's somewhat sordid history. Denied bail and suffering from multiple sclerosis, Lillian's time in NY's Women's Detention Center is awful, although she befriends her unusual cellmate, whose claim of innocence may actually be true. Sadly, both the press and cops think Pentecost is guilty so the burden of proving her innocence and keeping the office open falls on Will and their intrepid housekeeper. Will starts investigating the others who were present at Quincannon's home, when he was killed, working with his very mysterious bodyguard, and then some of the other attendees start dying too. Clever as she is, Will solves the mystery, which involved some real chicanery....more
Former CIA operative, Ryan Decker, ran an international mercenary force specializing in kidnap rescues. However, when a U.S. Senator hires him to rescFormer CIA operative, Ryan Decker, ran an international mercenary force specializing in kidnap rescues. However, when a U.S. Senator hires him to rescue a kidnapped daughter, things go as wrong as they can: his team and their families, his wife and son are all killed violently, presumably by psychotic criminals. Decker goes to prison. Somehow, phony paperwork allows his early release, and he is targeted for death. With the help of a private investigator, Harlow Mackenzie, who herself was rescued from a child trafficking ring by Decker, he tries to figure out what happened in the failed attempt and who is trying to kill him. The lead candidates are the Russian Mafia and another mercenary group, whose involvement is tied back to U.S. government contracts and dirty politicians. Plenty of action, but insufficient character development made me round down from 3.5 stars....more
The sixth and last installment of the Marcus Ryker series. Marcus has been charged by the President to capture or kill the terrorist responsible for aThe sixth and last installment of the Marcus Ryker series. Marcus has been charged by the President to capture or kill the terrorist responsible for a horrific attack in Chicago (Book #5.) His team is inserted in Pakistan, barely escaping with casualties and a massive explosion is triggered to cover the tracks of the terrorist's work there. Meanwhile, China making cooperative overtures to the U.S. while secretly planning to launch missiles on Taipei and nuclear weapons on their Taiwan's military because the leading candidate is a staunch opponent of "One China." Ryker's prized Russian asset dies, and Ryker realizes the traitor's body has massive political value to the Russian president, and gets him to sell out the Chinese plan, including the terrorist's plan to release a incredibly deadly disease in the U.S. (via aerosols ... think On Her Majesty's Secret Service) to cripple any U.S. response to the attack on Taiwan. Once again, Ryker's team, with supplemented by some Navy Seals go to India to destroy the production plant for the virus. Ryker's mortality and love relationship with the DDO of the CIA are major themes....more
Charlie Hardie seems like a no-good drifter, who basically housesits for people, drinking and watching movies. He flies to L.A. for a job in the hillsCharlie Hardie seems like a no-good drifter, who basically housesits for people, drinking and watching movies. He flies to L.A. for a job in the hills, only to discover the key is gone. He breaks in to the house where he is clobbered by a beautiful but paranoid woman, who is sure he is one of "them" and there to kill her. She's had a very rough day, where she has been run off the road, and stabbed with a needle of poison, barely escaping with her life. Swiercynski rolls out the story of actress Lane Madden, Hardie, and the crazed killers very slowly, and eventually, we learn why Madden is supposed to die and how Hardie survives almost a dozen attempts on his life. Far fetched for sure, but an okay read....more
A clever, but quirky mash-up, with elements of horror, mystery, and crime, where the reader is drawn into the various interconnected stories and charaA clever, but quirky mash-up, with elements of horror, mystery, and crime, where the reader is drawn into the various interconnected stories and characters to help solve the puzzle and identify the guilty. Uketsu is a Japanese manga phenom and mystery, and the translator (Jim Rion) did an amazing job, especially given the various timelines....more
Excellent thriller, with a strong and memorable female protagonist named Slim Parsons, a deep cover agent for MI-5. She has been on the run since a liExcellent thriller, with a strong and memorable female protagonist named Slim Parsons, a deep cover agent for MI-5. She has been on the run since a life-and-death struggle on a private jet with a sociopath, with deep penetration in the British government. MI-5 thinks she is overly violent, but decides to place her into another assignment to penetrate a web-based news site, after she assures them she was saving her own life. In return, she asks them to help locate her missing and presumed dead brother, since her mysterious mother is dying. Slim has to convince the principals that she is a bona fide writer, dangling a story about human trafficking, risking her life to save victims. Turns out, the smuggling operation has loose ties back to the sociopath, who then discovers Slim's death was faked, and wants her dead for real....more
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