Jeff Abbott: Adrenaline

Posted by J-9, 6 weeks ago

This is the first book that I have read by Jeff Abbott and he explores how far a man will go to get his family back when they have been kidnapped by a terrorist.

It started out as a normal day for Sam Capra, he kissed his pregnant wife goodbye before he leaves to give a presentation to the Company (aka CIA) but he receives a disturbing phone call before he can even start. His wife, Lucy is in trouble and needs to see Sam NOW! As Sam races after Lucy his life is turned upside down when the building he is working in explodes and Sam sees Lucy being taken away by a Scared Man. Sam and Lucy are branded a traitors and while Sam is in the hold of the company who try to break him to admit he and Lucy are a traitors, all he can think of is finding Lucy and the bundle, and this is what drives him to keep going to survive. He is willing to do anything, kill anyone and work for anyone if it mean getting his family back and away from the Scared Man and what ever this man stand for.

This book was great, and the title really fits the name, as Sam Capra is living off non stop Adrenaline through the entire book. It had some great interesting and unexpected twists and turns as Sam fight through everything to find his wife and "the bundle". At the core basis of this book, it is really about Love and Sam willing to do anything to find his family and this includes "taking care" of the people who are trying to get in his way. Abbott really has a bit of everything in this book, but he does not overwhelm himself which is hard to achieve. This book has some great mysteries and surprises throughout that it really keeps you guessing.

I liked Sam as a character, he questions himself when he has to do something bad, and he wonders how his wife and child would see him as if they knew the terrible things that he had done to find him. Sam is an interesting character as he has had field experience but then became an intelligence analyst when he was no longer needed in the field. I think the addition of the analyst role, allows Sam to see things differently and pay more attention to small details and makes him a more well rounded character instead of just a shooting machine. I liked the introduction of Sam using his parkour (the building jumping people, for a video reference watch the first scene in Casino Royale or check out youtube) training through out the novel. It was interesting to see how this training shaped his thought process in difficult situations.

I really like Milia as a character, she is mysterious, deadly and has no problem with hurting those that she deems has done something wrong and she has learned in her past not to trust the justice system. Though her own thoughts of justice, are what hinder in times when she needs to be focusing more on the mission at hand.

I think that Abbott did a good job in his creation of Simon's organization and character. Simon is a true form of evil human, someone who is charismatic enough to get people to follow what he wants done, and if that is not enough he has other ways of persuasion in order to brain wash those he has either taken in or kidnapped. You never really know what Simon's true plan, motivation or what he will do next, which makes him very unpredictable.

The on aspect I question within the books is realism in of some of the action scenes. This may be due to my lack of knowledge of what is achievable in parkour, though watching some of the videos on youtube, there seems to be some crazy things that can be achieved, I just do not know enough about it to determine if what Sam was doing was even plausible. Something that also hindered the realism of the actions scenes if often Sam finds himself bringing only his fists to a gun fight. This is not to say that Sam does not get hurt, actually Abbott does a good job of allowing his character to get hurt both mentally and physically (on that note look up water boarding), but Sam seems to get out of gun fights relatively unscathed and seems to be able to incapacitate or kill others, while all this shooting is going on.

From start to finish you will not want to put this book down. You will get attached to Sam Capra as you will feel his need to find his wife and child and his willingness to do anything to achieve this. I am looking forward to my next Abbott read. If you are looking for an action adventure thriller novel that has more substance to it than just nonstop action, then this book is for you.

Enjoy!!!

You can find this review and other at my book review blog j9books.blogspot.ca/

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Angela Gerst: A Crack In Everything

Posted by J-9, 2 months ago

In her debut novel Angela Gerst looks at what happens when you combine love, politics and murder.

Susan Callisto is a real estate lawyer but also a small time political campaign consultant and she should have known better when Charles "Chaz" Renfro walked into her office, offering her 20, 000 dollars in order to be part of his campaign, as the election was only a few days away. But charmed by his smooth talking Susan agrees to offer him advice if he can only get the voter signatures needed to run. If Chaz getting the signature was Susan's only issue thing would have been great. However, in a span of a few days she discovers a dead body, is under investigation for murder (which is being investigated by her ex that she doesn't really know how she feels about him) plus working on for all the other campaigns and her lawyer office none of which seems to be going right as well. The more that Susan is able to uncover, the more she becomes the target and the killer is dead set on her not making it out to vote.

This was an interesting read for me. Gerst was able to keep me entertained. Gerst showed a great ability for story telling and plot execution for her debut novel. Everything within the book stems, naturally, from money and the ever searching cure to something that all humans suffer from mortality. No this is not a paranormal novel, it is a mystery novel with some politics thrown in.

This book is a little bit slow in parts as Susun tries to put everything together, plus she has other events in her life that need to be taken care of, both personal and business. I like that Gerst was able to mix real life and the investigation together in the book and still hold my attention. I like the web of lies, maniputation and deceptions that occur throughout the book that Suzy never really knows who she can trust and whether to trust her gut or not. I think that this is where Gerst excels in her manipulation of the plot and the people that you never really know what is going to happen next and where the next lie, manipulation or deception is going to occur or be uncovered.

I liked Susan as a character, she has a witty and fairly dry sense of humor that had me smiling as I read. I liked Susan's ability to just be what people needed her to be for the most part. I think that she got this from being a lawyer and knew how to play up her strengths and down play her weaknesses. Although Susan may appear strong to those around, she is a very depressed woman, who is often living in the past; past events, past mistakes, they all haunt her. It was interesting being in Susan's mind throughout the novel and seeing how she looked at the world, the case and her life.

THANK YOU Angela Gerst for not falling into the ever so common trend these days of page after page of sex scenes. Gerst did it right in this book, some sexual innuendos and scenes that are leading up to sex, but not expanding past that. This is one of the first books i have read in a long time (by a female author) that has done this. I applaud Gerst from moving away from this norm.

The one part I did not really understand was her relationship with Michael. They had pushed each other away and really blamed the other person for it. I just felt very Hot and Cold feelings flowing between them (i'm sure some people would say this could have been helped by having some sex scenes...lol....but that is not the point). I just thought that there was a lack of connection between the characters, maybe they just needed to work through more of their own personal and relationship issues.

This book keeps going right to the end with it overwhelming web of lies that surround everything Susan knows. This book was a constant puzzle (but in a good way), so those looking for something that will have you thinking a little bit harder trying to figure everything out right till the end, will want to pick up this book. This was a good read and I liked the mixture of mystery, politics, money and real life drama. I look forward to Gerst's next book.

Enjoy!!!

You can find this review and others on my book review website j9books.blogspot.com/

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Sherlock Holmes

Posted by Weepunter, 3 months ago

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I just read all Sherlock Holmes books. I actually found them for free on the Gutenburg project website. I had never read these mysteries before. The mind of Holmes is just amazing! Thank you Sir Doyle!

They really do set the example that all other really good mysteries follow. It has enspired me to read some classic mysteries. I am going to start with some of Gaston Leroux's lesser know books and eventually on to Agatha Christy.

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Leslie Tentler: Edge of Midnight

Posted by J-9, 3 months ago

This is the third book in Tentler's Midnight series, however, each book has been written as a stand alone and I did not find that I was confused or missing anything that occurred in previous books as this is the first Leslie Tentler book that I have read. In this novel Tenlter explores what happens when one of a serial killer's victim is able to escape and his obsession of continuing to complete his collection.

Mia Hale is a crime reporter for the Jacksonville Courier but Mia is about to experience the abductions she has been reporting on first hand. She is kidnapped by the serial killer known as the Collector. But somehow Mia is able to escape out of his realm alive, however, she has no idea how her memory after the initial kidnapping is blank. FBI agent Eric MacFarlane has been pursuing the Collector for a very long time and he has a personal vendetta against him as well. He believes that Mia is the key to finding the Collector but by using Mia he is once again putting her in danger. But as far as the Collector has is concerned Mia has always been his and he will stop at nothing the get her back.

This book was a pretty good read and was able to hold my attention from the beginning. I enjoyed Tentler's serial killer and Tentler's depiction of his family and life. The reader is able to see the factors that helped create Allen into the Collector. I see the Collector as an individual very similar to Casanova from Jame's Patterson's Kiss the Girls, though I appreciated that Tentler's Collector was more about about power, control, and not about sex. I think that Tentler did a great job of allowing the reader to see glimpses into the torture that the Collector inflicted on his victims but not too much that people would be disturbed. The main form of description comes through Mia as well as the state of the bodies when they are discovered.

The main interesting topic within this novel is the use of drugs in order to induce hypnotherapy to recover lost memories. I think that this is unique in books that I have read and the could very well be something that the military is trying to accomplish. I liked that Tentler was not afraid of adding something new to the genre and trying a new way of using a victim to uncover clues that could lead to the killer.

There was a little bit too much romance/sex scenes for my taste in books, but those who enjoy the combination of some thrills and romance will enjoy this book. I also found the interaction between the two main characters a little bit of a cliche now of days, FBI agent and victim falling in love is nothing new in these novels. There was also nothing very original about the main characters themselves that drew me in or get me emotionally invested as to what happens to them and this may be the flaw of writing a stand alone story. But for me the characters were just there interacting with the plot. I often find that authors will shelter their main characters too much and it leaves the story feeling flat. However, this is one aspect of Tentler's characters that I did enjoy was that she was not afraid of letting them suffer or get hurt.

Although there was a bit too much romance in this book for me and I was not able to connect to the characters as mush as I would like, I did enjoy the overall story of the book (and really it is easy to skim or skip over the sex scenes). I think that Tentler has a create mind and it shows in her ideas throughout the story. I think those who like their Thrills and Romance mixed together in a book will have a winner with Tentler. I would read another book by Tentler, probably from her Midnight series as I want to see what other type of serial killers that she has come up with as I think this is where she excelled the most within her novel.

Enjoy!!!!

You can find this review and other on my book review website j9books.blogspot.com/

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Even better that the 1st one!

Posted by Shanie [Raksha], 3 months ago

Amazing!

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Sleight of Paw - Sofie Kelly - 5+++ / 5
Okay, yes, this IS a murder mystery, but Ms. Kelly manages to inject some very comedic sequences into her stories. She really 'hooks' you by doing this in the most unexpected places. I gave this 2nd in the Magical Cat series a 5+++ because of the 'kick-boxing grandmother' character. This is a prize-winner of a scene & [if in a film would only be] should be played by Jane Fonda! I don't see an audio book available, so I will submitting her 2 titles to the CNIB to see if they will add them to their books for the blind. I tried to read it aloud to my husband, but I just can't keep from laughing - this book & the first one are really, really good. Unfortunately, while this one includes a "taste" of book 3, there doesn't seem to be a publication date available as yet. If you like murders, small towns, & are [perhaps, in danger of being..] a crazy cat lady...you will definitely have fun with this story.

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Fab & Funny - Rating 5 / 5

Posted by Shanie [Raksha], 3 months ago

Great new series

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The 1st in a new mystery series: The Magical Cats Series. Really a fun mystery with a plot based upon friendships & murder, plus two v-e-r-y special cats. Kelly gives us a very well-written plot with great characters & a definitely engrossing plot. Thoroughly enjoyed it, & can hardly wait to finish the 2nd in the series [Sleight of Paw]..

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Some mysteries for 2012...

Posted by Shanie [Raksha], 3 months ago

The Skeleton in the Closet by M. C. Beaton - 5 / 5
This one was a bit hard to get into, at first. It is quite different in 'flow' from my Agatha Raisin favourites, but long before you are halfway through, you will definitely be hooked! And, if this was ever made into a film [which it assuredly should be!], the perfect cast would include Peter Ustinov as Redfern, Sandra Bullock as Maggie, and Ben Stiller as Fell! While this is definitely a murder mystery...it is also a 'comedy of errors' regarding human relationships. Definitely a treat to read!

Our Lady Of Pain: An Edwardian Murder Mystery by Marion Chesney
[a.k.a. M. C. Beaton] 5 / 5
A really fab read, from the author who writes as M. C. Beaton, comes a light, but intriguing Edwardian mystery featuring murder & deception amidst the upper classes in England. I found this a very hard to put down read! Just when I tho't I had it figured out...opps! Another twist. If you enjoy Agatha Raisin or Hamish MacBeth, then you will definitely get pleasure from reading Our Lady of Pain. A 'keeper' undeniably.

Mind Over Murder by Allison Kingsley [a.k.a. Kate Kingsbury] 4 / 5
A delight to read!
This is the first in a new series from the author who brought you the Pennyfoot Hotel mysteries & the Bellhaven House mysteries [both set in England]. This new series is set in the USA and centres on The Raven's Nest Bookstore. Clara Quinn & Stephanie Quinn Dowd are the main characters. Clara returns to her hometown to help out her cousin w/her new venture: a bookstore. Murder & mayhem ensue with a smidgen of the paranormal. "Mind..." is definitely an intriguing opening to her new series. Can hardly wait for the second in the series!

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