Brendan Shea
Thrills from beginning to end
Andy Maslen has cooked up a great story with compelling characters. I purchased a digital copy of The Seventh Girl... about a year ago, and it languished on my Kindle Cloud Reader for some months. I prefer paperbacks to digital books, but was hurting for some decent fiction between the available hard-copy and grabbed my phone to check it out. I read it in short bursts for maybe a few weeks, but the last half, I tore through in an evening. It was that good. The close of the denouement seemed slightly anti-climactic, but it had to end somewhere, and the end was still very good. I also appreciate that some character strands remained, meaning I might enjoy this protagonist and her group again. I look forward to my next book by this author. As the Brits say, “Well done!”
So I rate a lot of books with four to five stars? Why? Am I easy to please? Maybe, but I also tend to put down books that don't move me in some way. But The Street Lawyer is maybe a six or seven star book. What a story. From the hostage episode with DeVon “Mister” Hardy, to the tragic story of Lontae Burton and her children, from Mordecai Green and his team, to the less likeable denizens of Drake & Sweeney, Grisham never lets up. But the story builds and grows at a reasonable pace. How many writers can move slowly and still be gripping and capture a reader's interest? Grisham does here. This is a fantastic book. Many thanks to the writer for giving us this compelling journey of a read.
So there are a lot of books I've given 4-5 Stars to, but this book deserves ten stars. Baldacci has created a story that already existed, likely in many lives, but he unearthed it with great care, as Stephen King might say. The writer gently probed, picked and dusted the tale until our eyes weren't dry, our minds were engaged and our hearts were floored. Do you think that some people are created better than others? Never believe it. Yes, some people do terrible things, but it is not the color of their skin that decides it, but as Dr. King might have said, it is the content of their character. I hope that whoever becomes the next president of these United States, he or she will rule with honor. Did I say rule? That shows a plentiful lack of sense. We are a democracy and a republic, so I hope they will serve and lead with honor. And the Good Lord mend my heart as well as yours.
I really enjoyed Stephen King's book, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, because it's a good primer on becoming a better writer. But I also liked it because the author manages to be straightforward about the odds against a person joining the elite few literary geniuses developing exceptional writing skills. He also simultaneously shows how to elevate one's game.
And I got a lot out of this book because the author makes the entire experience a joy, and concludes with a chilling tale of how he's survived a terrible, real-life accident to persevere and triumph as an author and a human being.
It was also neat to hear about his family and how he has a successful, lifelong marriage, with kids, and imperfections and all.
Finally, his sense of spiritual matters might diverge from mine somewhat, but he seems a fine person and has an admirable grasp of the principals of faith.
Kudos to Stephen King. You were effective, entertaining, and moving in this clever and homey volume. I could have consumed this read in a day or two, but my busy, demanding life expanded my enjoyment over about two weeks' time.
Fundamentals for Men is a great, concise read on how to operate as a Christian. The video series that accompanies it is also available on RightNow Media, where I am fortunate to have a membership. The videos follow the text of the book so closely, and are so well written, that it is easy to follow with the handbook, and learn more about basic Christianity. I am a longtime Christ follower, but the book was super helpful to me. As with any good Bible-based teaching, there is always more to plunge into and learn. Highest recommend and life changing.
Lloyd Alexander created wonderful worlds in his time, and none so enjoyable as that of Prydain. Join Taran in his adventures as he finds his way, with Eilonwy the petulant princess, Gurgi the somewhat gluttinous creature and Fflewdur that tall tale telling bard, as they seek an oracular pig in hope of saving the land of Prydain from the evil Arawn. The author weaves an interesting and entertaining tapestry of intrigue and character growth. I have read the Chronicles of Prydain many times since my youth in the 1980s; most enjoyable and highly recommended.
After reading Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex's book, Spare, I want to reduce the rating of many other reviews to less than five stars, but in fact, Spare deserves greater than 5-Stars. From his childhood, mourning the loss of his mother, unable to accept she was gone well into his adulthood, struggling in school, finding his way somewhat in the military, becoming a pilot, wrestling with PTSD, having difficulty being single, serving his country and the world in royal service to many laudable institutions, traveling the world, meeting and helping all kinds of people, having troubled relationships due to the press evil activity with regard to the royals, and Harry trying to find out who he was. He finally meets the love of his life, when his family, who were to love and accept him, cast him out. He triumphs despite this act, and manages to remain a kind and noble person, remaining steadfast to love them. Prince Harry's Spare is a tour de force; a wonderful book that anyone could benefit from. I look forward to hearing more about Prince Harry, and hope his wife and children prosper, and that God will shine down on them and share his peace with them. In some ways, I think He already has.
So, after reading this page turner, I'm feeling compelled to reduce a lot of my 5 Star reviews to 4 or 4.5 Stars. Connelly has outdone even himself. This is my first Mickey Haller novel, though I've seen plenty of him in the Bosch Universe. Normally when a book shuttles between protagonists and is told in segments, I fail to get absorbed, but in this day and age, I read episodically, both due to other commitments, as well as that stories don't rope me in as much anymore... for the most part. Once this book got its head of steam, I was hooked, and after I got off work today, I sat down and read about the last 100 pages or so til the finish. Highest rating for story, narrative and keeping me tightly buckled and plastered in. Thanks also to the writer for his acknowledgements section.
I may have reviewed the print book The Late Show by Michael Connelly, about police detective Renee Ballard, in the past, but I just listened to the audiobook, and the production was outstanding. There is a lot of foul language and I did not really get into that, but the story was so good, and the narration and production of the audio so well produced, that I stayed with it through the whole thing, and it was definitely worth it. I hope you enjoy it as well.
Michael Connelly has outdone himself again. Most Bosch stories are excellent, but The Last Coyote is among the very best. No spoilers here, but many may have read it by now. I might expand on my brief treatise later, but for now, I hope you enjoy it. Please note, there is explicit sex, violence and language in this book. It is not for those reasons that I love it, but the writer tells his story well, so I am grateful.
Iced is my favorite Felix Francis to date. His intertwining tale of mental anguish, alcoholism and pathos, commingled with horse racing and tobogganing, includes a bit of romance, and succeeds to hold the attention. I'd thought the younger Francis was not going to succeed beyond the mediocre, but he's proven his prowess with Iced, and I hope, in many books to come.
So in 1984 before my 17th birthday, I first read this book, Reflex, by Dick Francis. It was amazing. It was my first mystery, and since then I have read all 40 or 50 by Frances and some of his son Felix Francis books many times over. Not all of them, but most of them I've read multiple times. The Felix Francis books I've only read a few of. Dick Francis is an amazing writer, and Reflex is one of his very best. Philip Nore is basically orphaned. His mother was a drug addict who left him with various people to take care of him when she was on a bender, and his grandmother simply hates him for a reason we learn later in the story. She is dying, and she implores him to find her missing granddaughter, his sister he didn't know he had. He is a jockey, and prefers to stay in his own private world, but over time he agrees to help his grandmother. One of the people who raised him taught him photography, and so in his spare time he moonlights at taking pictures, but doesn't realize how very talented he is. Over the course of the story, he meets certain people and reunites with others, comes to realize he has a new future with more companions and a different career. This review was not intended to be eloquent, just explanatory. If you like Dick Francis, if you like protagonists who are typically capable loners who don't fuss much, if you like mystery, and if you like well written books, I highly recommend Reflex as one of the best Dick Francis books ever written.
I write a lot of 5 Star reviews because I find a lot of good in many disparate titles, but I think with Michael Connelly, there was only one book I didn't find excellent, Fair Warning, and one I put down before I could get into, The Black Ice. While I read all of Fair Warning, and liked the Jack McAvoy character, it was too episodic for me, with the point of view changing too often. The Black Ice was probably just too deep for me, so I'll definitely want to give it another go later. In The Night Fire, there is episodic shuttling back and forth, but only between Bosch and Ballard, who gel perfectly in this tale and others. I think Connelly really hit this one on the head, but again, I've read about ten of his books, and each one seems better than the last. It's rare that a narrative can keep my interest throughout my days and nights of busyness, but Connelly knows how to nab a thread and drive it to the core. The Night fire is a perfect seaming of two great characters. Did it have a few too many F-Bombs? For me, yes, but other than that, I think it scores an A+
There really is no poorly written Dick Francis book, but Enquiry is among the best of the best.
Jockey Kelly Hughes is accused of throwing a race, and is warned-off, but doesn't take it lying down. Instead, he turns over every stubborn rock until he nearly falls off the edge of a vehicular cliff, when he probes too closely.
Snobbish Trainer Dexter Cranfield practically falls apart, as he is also warned off, but Kelly is resourceful, and pushes him to stay the course.
Cranfield's beautiful if stuck up daughter, Roberta, starts to pal around with plebeian Hughes, and things might never be the same.
The person who framed the two men is on the loose, and no one is safe until the mystery is solved. It might sound cheesy, but Francis keeps you glued to the page, relentlessly.
Hats' off to the late great Dick Francis; another of his entries, Enquiry, wins.
The 6:20 Man
Baldacci is back and better than ever...
I recently completed reading David Baldacci's first entry in his Travis Devine series, The 6:20 Man; the new entry is called The Edge; I have not read that one.
There is a significant amount of sexual content in The 6:20 Man, and the book is a thriller, so there is violence, but Baldacci's Amos Decker series was getting a little thin, and the new character is fresh and interesting.
I like the Memory Man books, but wish Baldacci would let Decker age and change more, as Michael Connelly has allowed Bosch to do. Aging, mortal and doing the same detecting, but in different contexts. Maybe that is problematic for Baldacci, as Decker is very different than Bosch.
With The 6:20 Man, Baldacci's writing finds new blood and a captivating character. Yes, he is tall, dark and superhero, like Amos Decker, but Travis Devine's persistence, kindness and exceptional combat training, makes for an likable and exciting character.
The plot twists are good, and the settings and characters fairly distinct. I would have liked a little more depth, but the mystery had to be couched somewhat so as not to be obvious.
So, while I got stymied by the sexual content, as I try to avoid that in my reading and so forth, I kept with the book because of how well Connelly writes and how interesting Bosch is (and Haller). This is one of many of Connelly's strong outings. Some authors get it right now and then, but it is rare that I read a Connelly book I don't like: The Black Ice is one I will try to go back to, because, like a fine wine (I don't like much wine), you have to develop your palate, and Fair Warning (a Jack McEvoy book that I felt was too episodic, one I might not reread). Other than Fair Warning and some heavier content (which has nothing to do with writing skill), Michael Connelly is one of the best mystery writers I've read; in the company of Dick Francis and Robert B. Parker, among others, but probably one of the most skillful writers I've read when it comes to character writing, setting a scene and telling a story.
Black Diamond is a great book. I've had this volume for many years, but never gotten to it. Sports and baseball aren't my hot buttons. I do love basketball, but baseball is a sport I love to view in person, as it really is America's greatest pastime. There's nothing quite like traveling to a ballpark on a nice day, walking into the ballpark, selecting a nice lunch and going to sit in an admittedly cramped seat amongst friends to watch a bunch of guys through, hit and catch balls all day long. It's relaxing, it's all american, it's pleasant, it's family-friendly, sometimes it's a little raucous, but classic, fun entertainment.
Black diamond reveals what it was like for African Americans under segregation, Jim Crow, and other terrible racist practices. It follows these men and a few women, as they navigate the difficult landscape, where a lot of amazing players had to put up with terrible conditions, difficult travel, cruelty, poverty, and other adverse circumstances.
This book is interesting, tragic, uplifting, funny, and I loved every minute of reading it, but it could have had more depth, and told more about the personal stories of these players, not withstanding I don't know that a lot of data is around because these guys want chronicled maybe as much as white players and teams unfortunately.
As such, I have decided to write historical fiction on this subject, and if anyone would like to help contribute to the book, I am a caucasian, so I could use some help in writing faithfully about an experience that I'm not as informed about as I could be.
Randy Singer cultivates his book, The Judge Who Stole Christmas, with a fine tooth comb. We read of a battle for relgious freedoms, expecting a victory or a failure, but Mr. Singer manages to turn our expectations upside down and inside out, as he confounds predictable plot strains with wonderfully original outcomes. I loved his Oliver Finney story, now titled The Judge, and Self-Incrimination is a good read, but The Judge Who Stole Christmas, holds its own, with a warm holiday tale of love and basketball.
So, this is the second Harlan Coben novel I've read. The first one had non-stop suspense, but this one is better; it has suspense, romance, childhood angst, thrills, humor and more. The plot was clever, and while the denouement was a little abrupt, you have to end a book somewhere. I think the finish was extraordinary, and I really enjoyed it.