LATEST REVIEWSTHE COOKBOOK COLLECTOR by Allegra Goodman: I tend to think of Goodman as a writer of Jewish family stories, mostly because of Kaaterskill Falls, and while this book certainly touches on that subject, it is not its main focus. Instead, we meet two sisters; Emily, the founder of Veritech, a data storage high tech start up on the eve of going public, and Jess, her younger, flightier sister, a vegan philosophy student who works part time in an antiquarian bookshop and fights to save trees. Emily's boyfriend Jonathan is the founder of another high tech startup on the opposite coast; theirs is a bi-coastal relationship. Jess's boss, George, is a retired Microsoft millionaire who is familiar with the process of going public and getting rich. The cookbooks of the title are really just a small part of the story; instead this is a story about relationships, money, values and secrets. An interesting read but not especially compelling or memorable. 09/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch SAVAGES by Don Winslow: It’s not Cheech and Chong, but Ben and Chon who are running a lucrative marijuana operation out of ritzy Laguna Beach, California. Both are peace loving dudes - Ben, a charitable, environmentally conscious Berkeley grad, and Chon, a former Navy Seal, who only want to run their business and smoke primo weed. So when members of the Mexican Baja Cartel decide they want a piece of the action, they ignite a fuse that eventually leads to bullets, blood, and violence, not to mention Letterman, Leno and Gerald Ford masks, as the two businessmen concoct various schemes and plots involving improvised explosive devices, kidnapping, etc. as they try to win back their close confidante and frequent bedroom playmate who has been kidnapped by the Mexicans to bring pressure on our heroes (?). Its Winslow at his best, not for the squeamish, but probably an uncanny insight into the realities of today’s drug culture. 09/10 Jack Quick SHIFT by Tim Kring & Dale Peck: Wow, fasten those seat belts and pull the straps up tight for this collision of '60s counterculture and the rise of dark forces in world government. FBI. CIA. LSD. JFK. USSR, LSD – this one has it all. Your inner conspiracy theorist will overdose. Melchior, one of three “wise men” recruited by a CIA operative known as The Wiz, claws his way out of a newly sanctioned 1963 Cuba only to find that he has been quietly swept under the rug and forgotten. In other CIA action a Persian prostitute giving various government targets covert doses of LSD finds that her latest mark—a career student with family ties in high places—holds the key to vast mental powers unlocked by the mind-altering properties of LSD. Add to this a freshly minted FBI agent blindly seeking an answer to a question he doesn’t understand and you have the recipe for a massive, out-of-control conspiracy so unreal it almost sounds credible. Set in the crucible of the 1960s, Shift is primarily the story of Chandler Forrestal, a man whose life is changed forever when he is unwittingly dragged into a CIA mind-control experiment. After being given a massive dose of LSD, Chandler develops a frightening array of mental powers. He uncovers a plot to assassinate President Kennedy. and becomes a target for rogue CIA agents, Cuban killers, Mafia madmen, and ex-Nazi scientists. With cameos from Lee Harvey Oswald to Timothy Leary to J. Edgar Hoover, Shift makes you re-think the unbelievable. 09/10 Jack Quick REAPERS by Frederick Ramsey: The World Cup competition in South Africa earlier this year is the background for this somewhat rambling effort, in which Sanderson, the Game Ranger in the Chobe National Park, finds a body. She and Inspector Kgabo Modise find evidence of local bribery, then smuggling, and finally what could well provoke an international incident. With Americans, North Koreans, Arabs, French, Chinese, and Russians all scattered among the various lodges and hotels in the country before, during and after the games, the potential for disaster is enormous. Included at no extra charge are various side excursions into the lives of silverback mountain gorillas, peace organizations that believe they will purify the continent, rid it of drought, poverty, and HIV/AIDs, as well as bloody war lords fighting the seemingly endless civil wars that plague the region. Can someone use their vuvuzela to summon an editor? 09/10 Jack Quick PRETTY LITTLE THINGS by Jilliane Hoffman: When thirteen-year-old Lainey Emerson meets Zach online, she thinks he’s the perfect guy. Nevermind the fact that he’s a senior in high school, he’s hot and he seems interested in her. Lainey’s only worry when Zach suggests they meet in person is that the high schooler will discover her real age. Two days later, Lainey’s mother reports her missing. Bobby Dees, an officer with the Crimes Against Children Squad, is called in to investigate. Though most are sure Lainey is just another teen runaway, Dees is not convinced. Turns out he’s right and the case is much more complicated than anyone imagined. Soon a killer begins sending personal messages to Dees, messages that include gruesome clues linking more missing girls in the area to Lainey’s case. This latest from Hoffman is an intense thriller about a very timely subject. I don’t know if there are any plans for more Bobby Dees stories, but I could easily see this developing into an intense series with lots of possibilities. A definite recommended read for thriller fans. 09/10 Becky Lejeune WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE by Sally Koslow: While some people are lucky enough to hang onto friends for a lifetime, others find that life can sometimes lead friends in different directions. Talia, Chloe, Quincy, and Jules are all facing big life changes. And when two of the friends betray each other in ways that seem unforgivable, it starts to look unlikely that the group will make it through and remain close. Quincy is house hunting for the perfect home when luck finally comes her way in the form of a fantastic apartment that’s an even more fantastic deal. Problem is, Jules’s boyfriend lives in the same building and wants the place for himself. Meanwhile, Talia is finding it hard to make ends meet when she accidentally intercepts a call for Chloe from one of New York’s best headhunters. Sally Koslow’s story is one concerning the tricky balance of true friendship, something that many women can and will relate to. A bit snarkier than Leah Stewart’s The Myth of You and Me, With Friends Like These touches on the same issues in a much lighter way. 09/10 Becky Lejeune MARRIED WITH ZOMBIES by Jesse Petersen: Looking for a zombielicious read? Married With Zombies is the latest and greatest addition to the walking dead trend. Husband and wife Sarah and Dave have been trying to hold their marriage together, but their efforts are pretty much failing. With each independently seeking out divorce attorneys, their weekly couples’ counseling sessions seem to have been a waste of time and limited money. Until they walk in on their therapist snacking on her previous clients. Now Dave and Sarah are on the run from the living dead and will have to work together if they want to survive. If Shaun of the Dead is a favorite in your zombie collection, you won’t want to miss Jesse Petersen. This first in the new Living With the Dead series is seriously hilarious stuff. Books two and three are due out in January and June of next year and I can honestly say that you’re going to love the direction this post-outbreak zombie series is headed in. 09/10 Becky Lejeune THE ASCENT by Ronald Malfi: Tim Overleigh has been spiraling downward since the tragic death of his wife. Once a promising artist—an up-and-coming sculptor who was the talk of the art community—Tim has found his inspiration has left him. His new efforts have gone into drinking and extreme sports, activities that have nearly cost him his life. When an old friend approaches Tim with a proposal, he initially brushes it off. It would be the chance of a lifetime, a trek through the mountains of Nepal to reach the never-before-explored Canyon of Souls, an area steeped in mystical legend and lore. Tim finally decides to go for it, understanding that the trip will be harrowing and may even cost him his life. He and his fellow adventurers have no idea what they are really in for, though. I enjoyed the adrenaline-fueled action and am an admitted sucker for this kind of setting. Overall, for a quick and fun read, The Ascent delivered. My one complaint is that while there is some useful character development, it’s really just enough to get the story by. If you’re looking for a deep read, this is not it. If you’re looking for a book in the vein of Vertical Limit (guilty pleasure of mine), then you’ll enjoy Malfi’s latest. 09/10 Becky Lejeune
"The whole family is a bunch of dangerous freaks...Most are ex-cons or junkies or deranged from inbreeding. Five have died violently, three are back in prison, two have gone insane from untreated venereal disease, and one writes book reviews." Triggerfish Twist by Tim Dorsey
LAST MONTH'S REVIEWS:THE ANNIVERSARY MAN by R.J. Ellory: No sophomore slump here, as Ellroy’s second is, IMHO, a much better outing than 2009’s A Quiet Belief in Angels. This is an excellent story with much tighter writing and a tremendous plot. NYPD Detective Ray Irving risks his code of ethics and, ultimately, his life to track down a serial killer who is imitating the crimes of some of the worst monsters our society has spawned. Newspaper researcher John Costello, a psychologically damaged survivor of the “Hammer of God” killer, becomes a prime source of information even though twenty years have passed since his traumatic event. Costello inevitably becomes Irving’s number-one resource as well as his number-one suspect. The resolution is breath-taking. Definitely recommended. 08/10 Jack Quick BLIND MAN'S ALLEY by Justin Peacock: Duncan Riley is a young lawyer on the fast track to partnership at a top law firm in New York City; that is, if he does what he's told. That becomes difficult when his pro bono eviction case turns into a murder rap and the managing partner wants him to plead it out. Rafael Nazario is accused of murdering the security guard who turned him in for smoking pot, the basis of his housing project eviction. Duncan's firm's biggest client is behind the conversion of the housing project to a mixed-use property, but that doesn't seem to cause any conflict of interest. Duncan is convinced his client is innocent, and a reporter feeds him information that will help his case, if he is allowed to try it. It starts looking like the firm's biggest client is more involved than Duncan originally realized, creating additional pressure and some interesting twists. Verdict: While not as strong as Peacock's Edgar Award–nominated debut, A Cure for Night, nonetheless this is good legal fiction with carefully crafted characters and deliberate pacing. Should appeal to fans of John Grisham or John Lescroart. 08/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch. Copyright © 2010 Library Journal, a division of Media Source Inc. Reprinted with permission. BLUE EYED DEVIL by Robert B. Parker: This will probably be the last western from the hand of Parker who died earlier this year and it is a good one. Wisecracking gun slinging saddle pals Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch are back in Appaloosa where there is literally, a new sheriff in town. Amos Callico is as crooked as Cole and Hitch are straight and with 12 rifle-toting cops of dubious background, he thinks he has the wherewithal to handle Cole and Hitch. Time proves how wrong he is. Meanwhile, Cole kills the son of a prominent rancher in a fair fight, renegade Apaches plan an attack on the town, and a mysterious dandy arrives in town with a sinister agenda. As usual, Cole and Hitch are smart and resourceful and survive the trickery, gunplay, throat-cutting and general mayhem, still standing at the end. This one is leaner than a steer being grazed on sparse grass but as pleasing as an ice cold beer after a dusty day on the trail. Adios’ brother Parker, we will miss you and the boys. 08/10 Jack Quick THE BURNING WIRE by Jeffery Deaver: My hot water heater failed and I was dissatisfied with the new one even after the technician came back twice to adjust it. On the third visit the supervisor came along, and advised this was a new “low energy” hot water heater and we would just have to make do with it. That night lying in bed, I had a thought. I got up, went to the breaker box, and as I suspected the breakers for the hot water heater were OFF. Next morning I had a nice warm shower. All leading up to the plot of this book, which revolves around the use of electricity as a weapon – in ingenious and heretofore unused methods. While Lincoln Rhyme, et al, are dealing with the threat to Algonquin Consolidated Power, Rhyme is also staying in close touch with Mexican army and police commander Rodolfo Luna, who's tracking dangerous assassin Richard Logan (aka the Watchmaker) in Mexico City. The twin investigations take an increasingly dangerous toll on quadriplegic Rhyme's precarious physical health. Truly, an electrically charged thriller. 08/10 Jack Quick CAPER by Parnell Hall: Parnell Hall’s latest features his hapless, cut-rate private detective Stanley Hastings. Stanley ’s sleuthing is normally limited to client-getting for a voracious personal injury trial attorney, Richard Rosenberg. Stanley knows his limits and is generally content with the cards that have been dealt him. Until the day Fate draws a card from the bottom of the deck and causes a beautiful woman to came into his office for help. Because this is a detective story, the woman is trouble and things are not what they seem. Stanley knows that he is in over his head from the get-go, but feels compelled to play the hand out. Naturally, the result is a humorous disaster, with bodies appearing whenever Stanley goes to any apartment other than his own. I am pleased to report that Stanley is ultimately able to muddle his way through with help from his sarcastic, but supportive wife, Alice; his sarcastic, but supportive, contact in the police department, Sergeant MacAullif; and his sarcastic, but supportive boss, Richard. Mr. Hall writes well and his Stanley Hastings stories are always enjoyable. This time out, it seemed to me that maybe his boss, Richard, was acquiring more of a voice and a place in the story. It would not surprise me to one day see that Mr. Hall has managed to sandwich a Richard Rosenberg novel in between his Stanley Hastings and his Puzzle Lady works. And when he does, I will buy it. 08/10 Geoffrey R. Hamlin
CITY OF VEILS by Zoë Ferraris: When the brutally disfigured body of a young woman is discovered on the beach in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the local police know that they’re in for a challenge. In a country where religion dictates law and women’s rights are questionable, the murder of an unidentified woman could be the product of any number of motivations. Katya, one of the few female employees in law enforcement, a lab worker at the coroner’s office, becomes involved in the case and is able to make the surprising discovery of the woman’s identity. This clue would seem to narrow the list of suspects, but sadly this is not true. The woman, a filmmaker who shot B-roll for a local station, stepped on more than a few toes with her controversial side projects. What’s worse, evidence starts to point to the involvement of an American living in Jeddah. With the help of her friend Nayir, Katya will play a pivotal role in the solving of the case. But Katya and Nayir’s friendship has often been at odds with the beliefs of their country and their partnership in the case pushes those boundaries even further. This sequel to Finding Nouf is a well-plotted mystery and a fascinating glimpse inside Saudi culture. Readers would perhaps be better prepared by reading Nouf first, however. 08/10 Becky Lejeune
DEAD LINE by Stella Rimington: Spy vs. Spy. MI6 has picked up some disturbing intelligence from Syria. A Lebanese businessman living in London and a freelance journalist are suspected of planning to disrupt an upcoming Middle East peace conference at Gleneagles resort in Scotland, and lay the blame for the projected attack on Syria. It falls on the shoulders of Liz Carlyle (perhaps a younger and more naïve Rimington) to determine whether the threat is real or if this is disinformation, and if so, to what end. Liz's intuition proves correct when she uncovers an ingenious conspiracy that, if successful, could throw the entire Middle East into chaos. Rimington, the former director general of MI5, has borrowed a plot from Ludlum and pulls it off quite nicely. 08/10 Jack Quick
DOG TAGS by David Rosenfelt: Rosenfelt is now alternating stand alone thrillers with his Andy Carpenter series, and doing a fantastic job with both. This one, if you couldn't tell from the title, is Andy Carpenter doing what he loves best; protecting the innocent, in this case a German Shepherd named Milo. Milo is a retired police dog, whose owner, Billy Zimmerman, is a former Iraqi war veteran and police officer whose war injuries forced him to retire. Billy trains Milo to become a thief, and the two manage to pay the bills that way until one of their victims gets killed during the robbery. Billy and Milo are put under lock and key, and Andy first takes on Milo's case. This is another fast paced, funny, yet touching, legal thriller with the full cast of regulars. If you're a fan of the series run out and buy this latest entry; if you're not familiar, Dog Tags is a terrific place to start. 08/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch
DON’T TELL A SOUL by David Rosenfelt: Another stand alone from the author of the Andy Carpenter series, and a good one. Tim Wallace is a thirty-something co-owner of a small construction company whose new wife is killed in a boating accident. The incident is investigated by Jonathon Novack, a bulldog like New Jersey State Police detective whose every cop “instinct” tells him that Tim murdered his new wife. Tim is also targeted for destruction by an unknown enemy who will go to any length to succeed. Quirky, funny and ironic, this one moves fast with a delightfully twisty plot and more misdirection than a spread option football offense. As you plow through it, keep in mind that even Homeland Security knows “there is no Afghanistan exit on the New Jersey Turnpike.” So there has to be something else going on when things go “boom” in the night. 08/10 Jack Quick
DOWN TO THE WIRE by David Rosenfelt: Bergen News reporter Chris Turley goes from reporting the news to being the news. Moments before he is to meet an anonymous informant, there is an explosion across the street, and Chris becomes an instant hero by rescuing five people from a shattered building. The explosion is assumed to be terrorism, and Chris appears on the Today Show 18 hours later. Soon other random blasts kill people, and Chris realizes that his informant is also the brilliant and demented bomber. But who is he, and why is he doing these things? Not at all like Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter series, this stand alone is gritty and features a most memorable plot. I still like the Andy Carpenter’s but this guy has plenty of talent for anything he wants to do. 08/10 Jack Quick
FURY by Robert K. Tanenbaum: The central theme of this 17th entry in the Butch Karp/Marlene Ciampi series is rape. Karp is defending the city in a $250 million lawsuit filed by four young men, originally convicted for a vicious rape and then late released. They are now represented by race-baiting lawyer Hugh Louis, so Karp has his hands full. In the meantime Karp's wife, Ciampi, is simultaneously working to exonerate a college professor accused of rape as well as helping Butch with the Coney Island Four case. If that is not enough, a terrorist cell led by a brutal Iraqi takes over an abandoned subway tunnel and takes a member of Karp's family hostage as part of its plan to blow up Times Square on New Year's Eve. There is never a dull moment in New York when you are hangin’ with Tanenbaum and his cast of characters. 08/10 Jack Quick A KISS BEFORE MIDNIGHT by Eloisa James: My quest to find a romance novel I can read and enjoy continues, with a fun stop with this fairytale. If the title didn't clue you in, allow me - this is a retelling of Cinderella. This is not a modern, Enchanted type tale; the author states in her note at the end that it is set probably around 1813, so a historical Cinderella, if you will. The rats are small, yipping dogs, there is no pumpkin, and the glass slippers are made of spun tapestry silk that looks like glass. The godmother is no fairy but a practical, sensual, funny woman, and yes, there is a prince. He's probably darker than Disney ever envisioned, but totally hot - a real fairytale prince. This was a fun read and I'm looking forward to the next book, a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. 08/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch THE LAST STRIPTEASE by Michael Wiley: Ex-husband, ex-alcoholic, ex-Cop Joe Kozmarski is barely making it as a Chicago private investigator when he witnesses a murder while on routine surveillance. His old police colleague, Bill Gubman, takes the 911 call, but is soon shot by the suspect, who remains unnamed and at large. Meanwhile, Kazomarkski gets a call from retired judge Peter Rifkin offering him $15,000 to take on a case. Joe and the judge have a history but $15,000 is what Joe gets for 10 cases, if he is lucky, so he reluctantly takes it. It turns out that Rickin’s employee Bob Piedras is suspected of killing his girlfriend, Le Thi Hanh, after a lover's tiff. When starts to investigate, Le's violent brothers begin to dog his every move. With all this going on, Joe's mother surprises him with an ill-timed request to take in his rebellious 11-year-old nephew, who insists on helping with the investigations. A very auspicious debut from an author I look forward to reading again. 08/10 Jack Quick LOSER’S TOWN by Daniel Depp: If you enjoyed Stuart Kaminsky’s Toby Peters series, you will likely enjoy this debut featuring David Spandau, a former movie stuntman now working as a private detective, primarily for clients in the movie business. Rising Hollywood star Bobby Dye is being blackmailed by the Mob-connected owner of Hollywood’s hottest nightspot for the rich and beautiful. As a mystery the plot is pretty thin, but hey, when you have Southern California, the movie business, and quirky characters, who needs an intricate plot. Hopefully this will turn into a series and give Depp the opportunity to flesh out his main character and develop others in the supporting cast. This could be a good one. 08/10 Jack Quick MIRROR IMAGE by Dennis Palumbo: Dr. Daniel Rinaldi is a psychologist who consults with the Pittsburgh Police. His specialty is treating victims of violent crime, something with which he himself is familiar. Kevin Merrick is a college student and victim of an armed assault. Desperate for a role model and a sense of identity, Kevin has begun dressing like Rinaldi, acting like him, even mirroring his appearance. Before Daniel has a chance to work this through with his patient, he finds Kevin brutally murdered outside Rinaldi’s office. He and the police question whether the intended victim was Merrick or Rinaldi. Death threats made against Rinaldi make them think that, in fact, the Doctor was the intended victim but then it turns out that Merrick is the son of a Bill Gates-like biotech giant. This turns the murder into a national story which may or may not help solve the crime. Rinaldi, an ex-fighter who has himself lead a very interesting life, is a great main character but there are other strong characters as well in this nicely done debut likened to the efforts of Jonathon Kellerman. Lets hope the mean streets of Pittsburgh hold further adventures for Dr. Rinaldi. 08/10 Jack Quick OVERKILL by Joseph Teller: If you are a criminal lawyer like Harrison J. Walker – Jaywalker, then you can expect to spend a certain amount of time in court. That’s where Jaywalker was, minding his own business, when he was picked by a judge to take on the defense of seventeen year old Jeremy Estrada. Estrada had killed another boy after a fight over a girl – shot him point-blank between the eyes. Right off the bat, Jaywalker knows the SODDI defense won’t work. The SODDI defense – Some Other Dude Did It. So if Jaywalker is going to preserve his ninety-percent acquittal rate, he needs to cut a deal. It’s the first homicide trial for the prosecuting attorney and she says no deal – at least no reasonable deal. So all Jaywalker has left is the "yesbut" defense, as in: "Did you kill him?" "Yes, but...." Jaywalker is accustomed to bending the rules - this time he must stretch the law to the breaking point and beyond. I am so glad Teller quit lawyering and starting writing. His books are awesome. 08/10 Jack Quick PACKING FOR MARS: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach: This book is for everyone who ever dreamed of becoming an astronaut, or even if you didn't, those who are curious about what really goes on in space. Roach takes a complex subject and makes it easy, breezy reading, with a twist; you learn tons about the space program without even trying. If only schools could use this approach to teaching science, we'd have a lot more interest, not to mention well educated students. But I digress. Roach looks at the history of the space program, where it began, how those chimps were sent into space, and more, then answers questions that were always in the back of my mind but never even fully realized, like how smelly does it get in that space shuttle after a week? Science writing has never been so fun. Check it out and learn enough incredibly interesting yet truly useless facts to impress your friends. 08/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch PRESUMED DEAD by Shirley Wells: “Dylan (Scott) wondered if life could get any worse. He was thirty eight years old, he had no job and little hope of getting one, his wife had thrown him out, his mother had moved in, and he’d had to hunt through a pile of laundry currently lying in front of his as-yet-unused washing machine for the shirt he was wearing.” So begins the saga of an ex-cop thrown off the police force for assaulting a suspect and all his resulting troubles. So when Holly Champion begs him to investigate the disappearance of her mother thirteen years ago, he could hardly refuse, could he? The local police still believe Anita Champion took off for a better life, but Dylan's inquiries turn up plenty of potential suspects: the drug-dealing, muscle-bound bouncer at the club where Anita was last seen; the missing woman's four girlfriends, out for revenge; the local landowner with rumored mob connections, among others. Who knows what other secrets this one sleepy little town holds and will Dylan survive the inquiry. Interesting ex-police procedural from the author of the Jill Kennedy and DCI Max Trentham series. 08/10 Jack Quick A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS by R.J. Ellory: Whenever a grandchild is misbehaving, sweet wife also asks – Where is the parent? With this American debut from British author Ellory, the question is where is the editor? The plot is fairly straightforward. . In 1939, in rural Augusta Falls, Ga., someone brutally rapes and murders a classmate of 12-year-old Joseph Vaughn, the first in what will become more than 30 similar crimes over decades. Vaughan gathers together a group of local boys and forms the Guardians in the hope of preventing more attacks, but the failure of the group eventually drives Vaughan to Brooklyn, where he gets caught up in another murder linked to the killings back home. The problem is the basic story tends get lost in the subplots and among the huge cast of characters Ellroy has included. Bottom line – well written, but poorly edited. 08/10 Jack Quick THE SCORPION’S BITE by Aileen Baron: Third outing for Baron’s World War II era archaeologist Lily Sampson. She has been sent to Trans-Jordan, by the OSS, along with Gideon Weil, the famous director of the American School of Archeology in Jerusalem. When they become stranded in the Wadi Rum and their Bedouin guide is murdered Gideon is accused of the crime. In trying to clear him, Lily discovers that two oil pipelines run from Iraq through the desert to the ports on Mediterranean, one through Trans-Jordan that supplies the Allies, the other through Syria that supplies the Nazis. Syrians and Vichy French are raiding across the border, threatening to destroy the Trans-Jordan pipeline. At the same time Lily learns of a Nazi plot to kidnap and kill the eight-year old King Faisal of Iraq and take over Iraq. Now, Lily and Gideon must act to protect the Trans-Jordan pipeline, sabotage the Syrian line, rescue Faisal to prevent the Nazi takeover of Iraq, and return safely for further adventures. Its all in a days work for this female incarnation of Indiana Jones/James Bond, with sensible shoes and [probably a bit more stamina than her octogenarian creator. 08/10 Jack Quick SHE'S GONE COUNTRY by Jane Porter: Shey Darcy had an idyllic life; supermodel, mom, and happily married until the day her husband revealed he was leaving her for another man. Shey packs up her three teenage boys and hightails it home to the Texas ranch she grew up on, only to find that her high school love, Dane Kelly, is a retired national bull riding champion who is divorced and living nearby. Shey’s heart was broken when her parents sent her away to boarding school, effectively breaking them up, and when she came home Dane was married and had a child. But that doesn’t seem to matter anymore and Shey finds herself drawn to him all over again. Trouble arises when her city boys have a tough time adjusting to life on the ranch, her ex starts making custody threats, and Dane isn’t sure dating a still married woman is a good idea. VERDICT: Porter started off writing romances, dabbled in women’s fiction and chick lit, but here returns to her roots in this formulaic romance with the requisite happy ending. Sure to appeal to fans of Susan Elizabeth Phillips or Linda Howard. 08/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch. Copyright © 2010 Library Journal, a division of Media Source Inc. Reprinted with permission. SH*T MY DAD SAYS by Justin Halpern: To my knowledge, this book is the first book based on tweets - a Twitter micro-blog. Julie & Julia was the first blog book, and it did pretty well, movie and all. Sh*t is being made into a television show with the more family friendly title, "Stuff My Dad Says" (subject to change,) starring William Shatner. But read the book first so you get the full flavor of the language; after all, a quote should be quoted. The thing is that often the profanities are shocking or jarring, but they make this book sing. Some of my favorites:
But lest you get the idea that this book is just a series of 140 character zingers, it is not. Halpern provides the backstory on many of the posts, and puts things into perspective. It's still a very short, very funny book. Follow Halpern on Twitter to keep laughing. 08/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch
SLICKER by Lucy Jackson: Desiree Christian-Cohen is in desperate need of a change of scenery. Her life is in flux, she and her boyfriend have broken up, and she’s not prepared for the responsibilities that come with being a grown up. This is why she’s in Honey Creek, Kansas, a town chosen simply by placing her finger randomly on a map. Honey Creek is a new world of sorts for Desiree and the more she’s exposed to the people and the ways of this tiny town, the more she realizes that she herself is changing as a person. At the same time, Desiree’s mother, Nina, feels as though her own world is falling apart. Abandoned by her husband and now her daughter, Nina must face her own challenges as well as care for her ailing father. As both women discover more about themselves, they each grow in the most unexpected ways. Slicker is a heartfelt and entertaining story although I did find that certain points in the novel become a bit rambling and off track around the middle. It does manage to pick up again and becomes a bit of a literary chick lit that is both thoughtful and funny. 08/10 Becky Lejeune
STAR ISLAND by Carl Hiaasen: It's been a long wait for a new book but apparently Hiaasen has spent the time reading the tabloids and keeping his pen rapier sharp. He takes on Hollywood, the music business, and the paparazzi in this fresh, funny tale of a teenage superstar who is used and abused. The former Cheryl Gail Bunterman, known as Cherry Pye to her fans, was a good looking 14 year old girl when she was discovered by the degenerate running Jailbait Records. She had her first hit, and her parents figured out that she could support the whole lazy family. She couldn't sing worth a damn, but learned to lip sync, drink, do drugs and have one messy affair after another, all by the time she was 16. Her pervert producer hired publicists (fraternal twins turned identical via plastic surgery) but despite their combined efforts, one cancelled concert due to "gastritis", AKA a drug overdose, made Cherry's career careen into a downward spiral. Her parents hire Ann DeLuisa, a look alike actress, to help divert attention from Cherry's misdeeds, but in the process Ann gets kidnapped by a paparazzo who is obsessed with the star and determined to get photos before she overdoses and dies. Throw in a bodyguard with a missing hand and a weed-wacker for a prosthesis, a one-eyed ex-governor of Florida turned vigilante, a Florida real estate scammer, and the whole South Beach scene and then you have Star Island in all its incredible, ridiculously excessive glory. I loved it. 08/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch
STILL MISSING by Chevy Stevens: Annie O’Sullivan’s day began as any normal day would. A real estate agent, she had an open house with a somewhat disappointing turnout. As she is packing to leave, a last minute viewer turns up. Unfortunately for Annie, this man has been watching her and planning her abduction for quite some time. She is held in captivity for a year and forced to endure a truly horrendous ordeal. But that’s not where Annie’s story begins. From the outset, the reader is well aware that Annie has escaped. Annie’s tale is told through sessions with her therapist as she recounts the events that led to where she is today. It also becomes awfully clear that Annie’s nightmare is far from over. This much-talked about debut is a surprising and shocking read. That being said, Stevens is a hugely talented author with an ability to spin a story that will enthrall readers from beginning to end. Still Missing is a thriller comparable in caliber with the best in the genre: Thomas Harris and Chelsea Cain to name a few. 08/10 Becky Lejeune
THINK OF A NUMBER by John Verdon: Quite an auspicious debut by John Verdon. Dave Gurney is a retired NYPD detective having difficulty in restoring the “oomph” to his marriage. (There is a reason for the tension between Dave and wife Madeleine). So he views the intrusion into his life from a former college acquaintance as being a mixed blessing. On the one hand, he is intrigued by the taunting letters that end with a simple declaration, "Think of any number...picture it...now see how well I know your secrets." On the other hand, he knows the police are much better prepared to deal with the completely baffling killer who is fond of rhymes filled with threats and warnings, whose attention to detail is unprecedented, and who has an uncanny knack for disappearing into thin air. This is one of those works that are bigger than the “genre’”, reminiscent in some ways of the best of James Lee Burke, although totally different in style. 08/10 Jack Quick
THE VANISHING OF KATHARINA LINDEN by Helen Grant: The disappearance of Katharina Linden is the beginning of an adventure young Pia has craved for ages. Her small town of Bad Münstereifel is nice, but boring, until Pia’s own grandmother combusts in a terrible holiday accident. All eyes have been on Pia since and she’s been fodder for horrible school jokes and gossip. But when fellow classmate Katharina Linden vanishes, seemingly into thin air, Pia is convinced that there are strange forces behind it. And as a distraction from the everyday, Pia and her friend Stefan begin their own investigation. A teen mystery in the UK, The Vanishing of Katharina Linden is really a wonderful read for all ages. Pia is a charming and intelligent lead that allows the reader to see the happenings through her young eyes, while still getting insight into the views and fears of the adults around her. Grant’s debut release includes elements of mystery and folklore, a fabulous combination that makes for an atmospheric and entrancing read. 08/10 Becky Lejeune
WAKING THE WITCH by Kelley Armstrong: Savannah Levine has been technically working for her adoptive parents’ PI agency for five years. And she’s been waiting all that time for the opportunity to run her own investigation. With Paige and Lucas out of town on vacation, now is finally Savannah’s chance. A fellow PI has been hired by the family of a murdered girl and wants Savannah’s help on the case. In all, three women have been found dead and the small town PD in charge is pretty much stretched to its limit. Though the cops have a suspect in mind, the link between the three girls is questionable, making the case even more difficult to solve. Savannah is definitely up for the job, but soon finds that no one can every truly be prepared for the unexpected. Waking the Witch is first and foremost a fantastic mystery. This is the latest in the Women of the Otherworld series, and although there are hints of Savannah’s past—and a twist that ties that in even more—readers new to the series will have no trouble jumping right in. I loved Armstrong’s characters and will definitely be seeking out more titles in the series. 08/10 Becky Lejeune WHILE DROWNING IN THE DESERT by Don Winslow: Another “Don Winslow Lite” outing for Neal Carey. Cary is a reluctant operative for the Friends of the Family, a private investigation firm owned by “The Bank” in Providence, R.I. for the benefit of their wealthier clients. This time Neal is sent to Las Vegas to pick up one 86 year old Nathan Silverstein and return him to his California home. Turns out Silverstein is actually the aging, legendary vaudeville comedian Natty Silver. Neal thinks the most dangerous part of the assignment is being forced to listen to Silver’s shtick nonstop. (Says Silver, I was the one who taught Costello the Who’s on First? Routine). Turns out there are some bad guys after Silver - Heinz, a German money-launderer, and his Lebanese sidekick, Sami, who's dumber than wood. Meanwhile, Neal's girl, Karen, is in a raging hurry for marriage and motherhood; and Hope White (billed as "The Great Hope White"), a Vegas performer no longer as young as she once was, is rekindling an old torch for Natty. Neal isn't a tough guy, but he's pretty lucky. Lucky enough to find water in the sand and ferry the irascible Natty to safety. 08/10 Jack Quick
Additional lists include my lists of favorite books, along with brief reviews: 2009 Favorites, 2008 Favorites, 2007 Favorites, 2006 Favorites, 2005 Favorites, 2004 Favorites, 2003 Favorites, 2002 Favorites, 2001 Favorites, 2000 Favorites, 1999 Favorites and 1998 Favorites. The visitors to this site have chosen their favorites for 2001 and 2002 as well. For information about reading group titles & events, including a list of favorite book group selections, see the Book Groups page. Back to Top
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