Larry Bond's Red Dragon Rising: Shadows of War
Larry Bond and Jim DeFelice
Forge, Nov 10 2009, $25.99
ISBN: 9780765321374
In 2014, the world is in deep trouble as the global economy spins out of control and the environment has gotten worse. The superpowers keep kicking the can saying the time is not right for needed change. In that environs, China faces a horrific drought that has left masses starving and out of control rioting and looting abound. In Europe, a deep recession made worse by inflation has crippled the continent while many economists proclaim a second Greater Depression has occurred. In the United States, the recession has deepened exponentially and inflation has gotten out of control; both fueled by environmental issues and inertia in DC.
The rulers in China go back to pre Communist roots whenever the country is in economic peril; they invade their small neighbor to the south Vietnam in order to feed their starving masses. America, worried by what the invasion will do to the balance of power, comes to the aid of the Vietnamese.
This is a terrific military thriller that extrapolates current trends into the near future. Although the big global stage pulls the exiting story line, the ensemble cast is solid and brings the big theatre to life especially in Southeast Asia. Fans will relish this thrilling cautionary tale but also be concerned, as Larry Bond and Jim DeFelice make a strong case that time is running out after years of neglect.
Harriet Klausner
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Christmas Promise- Anne Perry
Christmas Promise
Anne Perry
Ballantine, Oct 27 2009, $18.00
ISBN: 9780345510662
In 1883 in London's dangerous East End, thirteen years old Gracie Phipps on an errand for Gran one week before Christmas meets a much younger urchin Minnie Maude Mudway, who says she is not lost. The child says Uncle Alf died and Charlie is missing and probably hungry, cold and frightened. Gracie keeps to herself the description probably applies to the emaciated Minnie.
Gracie decides to help Minnie find Charlie the donkey and learn how her uncle, a bone-and-rag dealer, died. The unlikely youthful sleuths investigate with the guidance of shopkeeper Mr. Balthasar. They learn Uncle Alf diverted form his normal path and his cart held a mysterious gold box that Mr. Balthasar warns them to be cautious as every fool loses their senses when it comes to gold; let alone what might be inside.
The seventh Christmas Victorian thriller is a terrific tale that brings to life the era and place through the two children, whose street smarts belie their age. The mystery mostly is used to enhance a look through the kids of life in the slums of late Victorian London during the holiday season. Fans of the author will enjoy what has become a Christmas tradition; an entreating Anne Perry historical.
Harriet Klausner
Anne Perry
Ballantine, Oct 27 2009, $18.00
ISBN: 9780345510662
In 1883 in London's dangerous East End, thirteen years old Gracie Phipps on an errand for Gran one week before Christmas meets a much younger urchin Minnie Maude Mudway, who says she is not lost. The child says Uncle Alf died and Charlie is missing and probably hungry, cold and frightened. Gracie keeps to herself the description probably applies to the emaciated Minnie.
Gracie decides to help Minnie find Charlie the donkey and learn how her uncle, a bone-and-rag dealer, died. The unlikely youthful sleuths investigate with the guidance of shopkeeper Mr. Balthasar. They learn Uncle Alf diverted form his normal path and his cart held a mysterious gold box that Mr. Balthasar warns them to be cautious as every fool loses their senses when it comes to gold; let alone what might be inside.
The seventh Christmas Victorian thriller is a terrific tale that brings to life the era and place through the two children, whose street smarts belie their age. The mystery mostly is used to enhance a look through the kids of life in the slums of late Victorian London during the holiday season. Fans of the author will enjoy what has become a Christmas tradition; an entreating Anne Perry historical.
Harriet Klausner
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Gone-Karen Fenech
Gone
Karen Fenech
Five Star, Oct 2009, $25.95
ISBN: 9781594148118
Over twenty-four years ago, Jolene Marie Marshall killed her seven year old son and attempted to murder her daughters, five years old Clare and baby Katie. She shot Clare in the head before the cops broke in and arrested her. Clare survived, but was separated from two years old Katie. Now Clare is an FBI Agent stationed in New York still looking for Kate with no success and the state of Texas has just executed her mom. Clare goes to a convenience store where she runs into a hold-up in which the storeowner is dead and a man has a gun pointed at a woman’s head. Clare kills him.
The grateful woman, Mrs. Sands works at Protective Services; feeling she owes Clare so gives to her a lead to Katie; AKA Beth Linney living in Farley, South Carolina. Taking a leave of absence, Clare heads to Farley where she learns Beth ran away with a trucker. She is unwelcome by the townsfolk because of her resemblance to her sibling, who was married but Beth Ryder dumped the local hero. Finally, in town is her former lover, FBI Agent Jake Sutton who left her when she rejected his efforts for a more permanent relationship; he is the local agent raising his young orphaned niece. Clare’s life has converged in Farley as she makes waves seeking clues to where her sister went, but finds something much more lethal and sinister.
Although the convergence in South Carolina is a credulous coincidence over the top of Sassafras Mountain, GONE is a super thriller. Clare is terrific as a courageous person risking her career and her life to find a sister she has not seen in almost a quarter of a century. Jake is frustrated with her as Clare feels women with her genetics don’t marry and especially do not have kids. Readers will enjoy this exciting tale as the heroine makes tsunami like waves to Farley.
Harriet Klausner
Karen Fenech
Five Star, Oct 2009, $25.95
ISBN: 9781594148118
Over twenty-four years ago, Jolene Marie Marshall killed her seven year old son and attempted to murder her daughters, five years old Clare and baby Katie. She shot Clare in the head before the cops broke in and arrested her. Clare survived, but was separated from two years old Katie. Now Clare is an FBI Agent stationed in New York still looking for Kate with no success and the state of Texas has just executed her mom. Clare goes to a convenience store where she runs into a hold-up in which the storeowner is dead and a man has a gun pointed at a woman’s head. Clare kills him.
The grateful woman, Mrs. Sands works at Protective Services; feeling she owes Clare so gives to her a lead to Katie; AKA Beth Linney living in Farley, South Carolina. Taking a leave of absence, Clare heads to Farley where she learns Beth ran away with a trucker. She is unwelcome by the townsfolk because of her resemblance to her sibling, who was married but Beth Ryder dumped the local hero. Finally, in town is her former lover, FBI Agent Jake Sutton who left her when she rejected his efforts for a more permanent relationship; he is the local agent raising his young orphaned niece. Clare’s life has converged in Farley as she makes waves seeking clues to where her sister went, but finds something much more lethal and sinister.
Although the convergence in South Carolina is a credulous coincidence over the top of Sassafras Mountain, GONE is a super thriller. Clare is terrific as a courageous person risking her career and her life to find a sister she has not seen in almost a quarter of a century. Jake is frustrated with her as Clare feels women with her genetics don’t marry and especially do not have kids. Readers will enjoy this exciting tale as the heroine makes tsunami like waves to Farley.
Harriet Klausner
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Bad Karma-Dave Zeltserman
Bad Karma
Dave Zeltserman
Five Star, Oct 16 2009, $25.95
ISBN: 9781594147944
In Boulder, two University of Colorado students, twenty-three year old Taylor Carver and nineteenth years old Linda Gibson, are battered to death in the bedroom of the condo they share. Carver’s mom sues the condo owner Chris Jackson for the lack of proper security measures.
The owner’s lawyer Paul Devens hires former Cambridge, Massachusetts cop turned Boulder private investigator Bill Shannon to investigate the homicides in order to uncover who and why; specifically emphasizing not to find dirt on the victims. At about the same time, a distraught mom Pauline Cousins of Portland Oregon also hires Shannon to learn if her daughter Melissa is okay since she joined the True Light cult Shannon prefers the cult case as he had an out of body experience when he killed Bill Winters back in New England after the psychopath skinned alive his partner and broke off with a nutcracker two of Bill’s fingers in front of his wife.
The second Bill Shannon investigative mystery (see Bad Thoughts) is an interesting mystery as the sleuth works his two cases and struggles with his nightmares re the Winter serial killer fiasco seeing a shrink Eli to help him. Shannon’s back history is macabre but fascinating as is his relationship with his ex wife Susan, as both still suffer from the Cambridge trauma; however the session with Eli and Susan also detract from the inquiries. With an interesting final DNA like twist fans will enjoy his Boulder caseload.
Harriet Klausner
Dave Zeltserman
Five Star, Oct 16 2009, $25.95
ISBN: 9781594147944
In Boulder, two University of Colorado students, twenty-three year old Taylor Carver and nineteenth years old Linda Gibson, are battered to death in the bedroom of the condo they share. Carver’s mom sues the condo owner Chris Jackson for the lack of proper security measures.
The owner’s lawyer Paul Devens hires former Cambridge, Massachusetts cop turned Boulder private investigator Bill Shannon to investigate the homicides in order to uncover who and why; specifically emphasizing not to find dirt on the victims. At about the same time, a distraught mom Pauline Cousins of Portland Oregon also hires Shannon to learn if her daughter Melissa is okay since she joined the True Light cult Shannon prefers the cult case as he had an out of body experience when he killed Bill Winters back in New England after the psychopath skinned alive his partner and broke off with a nutcracker two of Bill’s fingers in front of his wife.
The second Bill Shannon investigative mystery (see Bad Thoughts) is an interesting mystery as the sleuth works his two cases and struggles with his nightmares re the Winter serial killer fiasco seeing a shrink Eli to help him. Shannon’s back history is macabre but fascinating as is his relationship with his ex wife Susan, as both still suffer from the Cambridge trauma; however the session with Eli and Susan also detract from the inquiries. With an interesting final DNA like twist fans will enjoy his Boulder caseload.
Harriet Klausner
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder-Jeff Markowitz
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder
Jeff Markowitz
Five Star, Oct 16 2009, $25.95
ISBN: 9781594147296
Jersey Knews Magazine reporter Cassie O'Malley has been totally unproductive since her former mentor and boss Morris sold the tabloid to Jack Cambrian. Her new employer is tired of her attitude and lack of articles so he warns her to change her attitude and produce some articles. He assigns her to the Mall of Jersey to cover the Christmas shopping. Totally bored, Cassie watches Santa with the kids, but has no articles worth writing.
Security guard Oliver Berryhill finds loan shark Big Mack dead in the men’s room. He claims he killed the man during a knife fight when he confronted the loan shark over stolen merchandise. Police Detective Eddie "Eggs" Bebedict thinks the guard is lying; as the knife lacked fingerprints while Big Mack’s only surviving son Little Mack vows to kill Berryhill. Meanwhile a pawnbroker related to the case unbeknownst to the cop and the reporter also is found dead.
This is an engaging investigative tale starring a strong cast and climaxing with a great twist. Cassie and Eggs make an interesting combination while the support cast adds eccentricity and crime to the mix. Humor is found in nearby Woodbine where accidents also occur. Still fans will celebrate Cassie’s Christmas caper (see WHO IS KILLING DOAH’S DEER for her first case).
Harriet Klausner
Jeff Markowitz
Five Star, Oct 16 2009, $25.95
ISBN: 9781594147296
Jersey Knews Magazine reporter Cassie O'Malley has been totally unproductive since her former mentor and boss Morris sold the tabloid to Jack Cambrian. Her new employer is tired of her attitude and lack of articles so he warns her to change her attitude and produce some articles. He assigns her to the Mall of Jersey to cover the Christmas shopping. Totally bored, Cassie watches Santa with the kids, but has no articles worth writing.
Security guard Oliver Berryhill finds loan shark Big Mack dead in the men’s room. He claims he killed the man during a knife fight when he confronted the loan shark over stolen merchandise. Police Detective Eddie "Eggs" Bebedict thinks the guard is lying; as the knife lacked fingerprints while Big Mack’s only surviving son Little Mack vows to kill Berryhill. Meanwhile a pawnbroker related to the case unbeknownst to the cop and the reporter also is found dead.
This is an engaging investigative tale starring a strong cast and climaxing with a great twist. Cassie and Eggs make an interesting combination while the support cast adds eccentricity and crime to the mix. Humor is found in nearby Woodbine where accidents also occur. Still fans will celebrate Cassie’s Christmas caper (see WHO IS KILLING DOAH’S DEER for her first case).
Harriet Klausner
Locked In-Marcia Muller
Locked In
Marcia Muller
Grand Central, Oct 2009, $24.99
ISBN: 9780446581059
In San Francisco private investigator Sharon McCone is returning to her office late at night when she interrupts a burglary in progress. The thief shoots her.
When she regains consciousness, McCone finds herself totally paralyzed in a bed at San Francisco General where she realizes she can only move her eyelids by blinking. The staff at her workplace McCone Investigations worries about their boss who is diagnosed with Locked-In Syndrome and taken to specialized Brandt Neurological Institute. Her crew and her spouse Hy Ripinsky look at the recent caseload and communicate with McCone through her use of her eyelids answering yes and no questions even as she is about to undergo emergency surgery.
Although the ending is fully expected, this is one of the best McCone thrillers that Marcia Muller has ever written as the sleuth is LOCKED IN her body while trying to help her spouse and her employees solve the cases she was working on which includes the assault. The story line is fast-paced and filled with action, which affirms Marcia Muller’s skills as much occurs in the hospital room with the paralyzed heroine. Fans will be spellbound by a frustrated McCone who can only blink her way to help solving the mysteries.
Harriet Klausner
Marcia Muller
Grand Central, Oct 2009, $24.99
ISBN: 9780446581059
In San Francisco private investigator Sharon McCone is returning to her office late at night when she interrupts a burglary in progress. The thief shoots her.
When she regains consciousness, McCone finds herself totally paralyzed in a bed at San Francisco General where she realizes she can only move her eyelids by blinking. The staff at her workplace McCone Investigations worries about their boss who is diagnosed with Locked-In Syndrome and taken to specialized Brandt Neurological Institute. Her crew and her spouse Hy Ripinsky look at the recent caseload and communicate with McCone through her use of her eyelids answering yes and no questions even as she is about to undergo emergency surgery.
Although the ending is fully expected, this is one of the best McCone thrillers that Marcia Muller has ever written as the sleuth is LOCKED IN her body while trying to help her spouse and her employees solve the cases she was working on which includes the assault. The story line is fast-paced and filled with action, which affirms Marcia Muller’s skills as much occurs in the hospital room with the paralyzed heroine. Fans will be spellbound by a frustrated McCone who can only blink her way to help solving the mysteries.
Harriet Klausner
A Catered Birthday Party-Isis Crawford
A Catered Birthday Party
Isis Crawford
Kensington, Dec 2009, $22.00
ISBN: 9780758221940
Annabel and Richard Colbert are the richest couple in town thanks to the hot seller of theirt toy company’s Puggables based on their pet Trudy. Annabel is throwing a birthday party for Trudy and she hires the catering service of A Little Taste of Heaven run by sisters Bernie and Libby Simmons. Annabel toasts the attendees saying she knows no one there is her friend, but instead are leeches before dinking the wine. She starts choking claming she has been poisoned; before falling into a coma she begs the siblings to find her killer and bring that rat to justice. Two days later she is dead.
As soon as the body is released for burial, her husband Richard has her cremated and demands the sisters drop the idea of investigating Annabel’s death. Everyone at the gala depended on Annabel but also loathed her as she screwed all of them at one time or another thus everyone has a motive to kill her. With help from their father, a retired police chief, Bernie and Libby uncover the identity of the culprit, but lack solid proof.
The rich and powerful cast of suspects are amusing and lampooned as unlikable amoral A-holes. Isis Crawford delightfully mocks the affluent inside of a fascinating amateur sleuth mystery. Readers will root for the sisters to bake a perfect case so the killer receives his or hers just desserts. Unlike the odious affluent characters, the siblings are nice and caring as they are always there for one another and their family. With an amusing satirical spin, A CATERED BIRTHDAY PARTY is a delightful Creative Culinary mystery.
Harriet Klausner
Isis Crawford
Kensington, Dec 2009, $22.00
ISBN: 9780758221940
Annabel and Richard Colbert are the richest couple in town thanks to the hot seller of theirt toy company’s Puggables based on their pet Trudy. Annabel is throwing a birthday party for Trudy and she hires the catering service of A Little Taste of Heaven run by sisters Bernie and Libby Simmons. Annabel toasts the attendees saying she knows no one there is her friend, but instead are leeches before dinking the wine. She starts choking claming she has been poisoned; before falling into a coma she begs the siblings to find her killer and bring that rat to justice. Two days later she is dead.
As soon as the body is released for burial, her husband Richard has her cremated and demands the sisters drop the idea of investigating Annabel’s death. Everyone at the gala depended on Annabel but also loathed her as she screwed all of them at one time or another thus everyone has a motive to kill her. With help from their father, a retired police chief, Bernie and Libby uncover the identity of the culprit, but lack solid proof.
The rich and powerful cast of suspects are amusing and lampooned as unlikable amoral A-holes. Isis Crawford delightfully mocks the affluent inside of a fascinating amateur sleuth mystery. Readers will root for the sisters to bake a perfect case so the killer receives his or hers just desserts. Unlike the odious affluent characters, the siblings are nice and caring as they are always there for one another and their family. With an amusing satirical spin, A CATERED BIRTHDAY PARTY is a delightful Creative Culinary mystery.
Harriet Klausner
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)