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| Hey Dad, why don't you take a break? |
New Books
"When Archibald Hunter comes to Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire for his annual holiday he is looking forward to a tranquil few days by the sea, but he is disturbed by strange visions and portents of doom. Where are these terrible visions taking him? And what is the significance of the pages of cipher?"
"In 1987, Nete Hermansen plans revenge on those who abused her—especially Curt Wad, a surgeon who was part of a movement to sterilize wayward girls in the 1950s. More than twenty years later, Detective Carl Mørck already has plenty on his mind when he is presented with the case of a brothel owner, a woman named Rita, who went missing in the eighties: New evidence has emerged in the case that sent Carl to Department Q.
But when Carl’s assistants, Assad and Rose, learn that numerous other people disappeared around the same weekend as Rita, Carl takes notice. Sifting through the evidence, they inch closer to Curt Wad, who is still committed to his twisted beliefs, and whose treatment of Nete only hints at his capacity for evil."
Just Finished
"Val McDermid is one prolific crime writer. Probably best noted for her Wire in the Blood mystery series, she's also written the Lindsay Gordon and Kate Brannigan series. The Distant Echo is the first book in another of her series, this one featuring Scottish police inspector Karen Pirie.
I will qualify this by saying that Karen Pirie does not play a major role in this particular story, but I presume it is more of a way of introducing her to the other books in the series. Having said that, as with other McDermid books I've read, this was an excellent thriller / murder story. The book is set during two particular time periods. We begin in the past in 1978, in St Andrew's Scotland. This is where we are introduced to the case that will take up both time frames of the story, that being the murder of Rosie Duff. Near Xmas of 1978, four college students, all childhood friends, are out on a jaunt through the pubs prior to heading off to a drunken revelry at another student's accommodation. On their way back to their own residence early in the morning, they take a short cut and discover the body of Rosie. Before they can summon the police, she dies and even though they are at treated as witnesses, there are suspicions from both the police and Rosie's family that they are the one(s) who have raped and murdered the girl.
The first half of the story follows this initial investigation, lead by ACC MacLennan, who is basically unsuccessful in proving they are innocent or guilty, or in discovering the perpetrator. The four boys lives are turned on end. They are assaulted by the press, by the Rosie's brothers who want to take the law into their own hands, and under suspicion by the police. The first part ends in tragedy, with another death (you can find whose for yourselves).
The second half of the story i in the present where the new ACC, James Lawson, has taken over the cold case squad of the Fife police department. Lawson was a uniform constable who was first on the scene after discovery of her body. Karen Pirie is one of the inspectors on his team who is responsible for investigating Rosie's cold case. The four friends have grown apart and are now being stalked by someone (or so it seems). New information turns up, especially the fact that Rosie had a child when she was very young and he wants more information about the investigation and wants justice for her.
The story, for all of its length, moves along very nicely both in the past and present and is a tense thriller. I have to say that once we got into the second half I was pretty sure I knew who the killer was but it didn't take away from the enjoyment of the story. There were a few times where I shook my head at what seemed incongruous actions but they regularly happen in mysteries but sometimes you just have to shrug them off. They weren't wildly out of place anyway. All in all, it's an interesting story, well-written and tensely presented, with an overall satisfying ending. (4 stars)"
"Field Gray, the 7th Bernie Gunther story, by Philip Kerr was my first exposure to this series. It was well-written and interesting but I'm not sure what exactly to make of it. This may have been one of those series that it is necessary to read from the beginning. Having said that there is more than enough information to get a feel for Bernie and you do get a good look at his past.
So, this is the gist of the story. We start in Cuba in 1954 where Bernie, living under an assumed name is warned that he might be safer if he leaves Cuba. He is paid to take a young woman who has killed a corrupt police officer with him. Leaving on his boat, he is picked up by the US Coast Guard and hauled off to Guantanamo for interrogation by the CIA. He is ultimately taken to New York for further interrogation. The CIA is interested in someone Bernie knew back in Germany, a German communist by the name of Mielke. The story now jumps back and forth from the present to the past as Bernie tells the story of his search for Mielke under orders from SS General Heydrich.
This journey leads him to France, newly conquered by Nazi Germany and split in two; German occupied France and Vichy France. An attempt is made on Bernie's life in Paris. He does find Mielke in a French-run concentration camp in southern France but he doesn't turn him over. We move to various other parts of Bernie's life; as a prisoner in the Ukraine and Russia, his escape, etc. It's all a fascinating story, terrifying as well. Just the utter violence of that war and treatment of people is described in chilling detail.
Back in the present, the CIA and then the French - equivalent want Bernie to assist them in the capture of Mielke and other ex-Nazi war criminals. It does get a bit confusing at times as Bernie's stories change and he is skillful at playing one side off against the other. After years in prisons and being used by various organizations; the Nazis, the Communists, the allied spy services, he just wants to get away and maybe take Elizabeth, the woman who crops up periodically throughout the story and for whom Bernie cares deeply.
All in all it's a rich, interesting story. There is definitely a cynical quality to the story, but I'm assuming that during and after WWII, there was a great deal of cynicism as the powers that be tried to gain as much control as possible in a fractured world. (How's that for profound?) I liked the writing and found Bernie to be a fascinating character. Ultimately the story left me feeling somewhat blasé about the whole thing but I do want to further explore Bernie's life story and adventures. (3 stars)"
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| What's next, Dad? |
"Investigating a plane crash in the Smoky Mountains in North Carolina, forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan discovers in a most disturbing way that the evidence doesn't add up. Tripping over a coyote-chewed leg at the crash scene, she performs a little mental arithmetic and realizes that this victim wasn't on the plane. Once again, Brennan's high-tech DMORT snaps into action faster than you can say "Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team."
"A cosy game of darts in a cosy English pub is going well until one of the players dies on the spot. Chief Inspector Alleyn knows it wasn't the dart that killed him, but the prussic acid someone added to the cut."
My Ongoing Look at the Mystery Genre - American Cops Part 13
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| Lisa Gardner |
"Tess was only eighteen when she married Jim Beckett, a decorated police officer. Having grown up in an abusive household, she thought she'd found her savior in Jim. But he quickly showed a dark, controlling side and an explosive rage that, unbeknownst to Tess, resulted in his committing multiple murders. When Tess finally put the pieces together, she helped the police capture Jim. But now two y ears later, he's escaped from prison, and Tess knows he's going after her.Tess isn't about to sit still and be turned into a victim once more. Leaving her daughter in the protective custody of the police, she travels to Arizona where she intends to hire the infamous mercenary J.T. Dillon to teach her how to protect herself. J.T. has had enough of life, having lost too many of his personal battles, and is content is drink himself into oblivion. But Tess refuses to go away, and J.T. realizes that she's his one chance to redeem himself.
Meanwhile, the police are on a manhunt for Jim, who has started killing again. Finally, everyone realizes that the only way to capture the elusive Jim is to set Tess up as a bait, leading to a breath-stealing climax." (3 stars)
"The Third Victim is the 2nd book in the FBI profiler Pierce Quincey thriller by Lisa Gardner. I have read the first book, The Perfect Husband, and while I enjoyed it, it wasn't my favorite thriller of all time. I much preferred The Third Victim.
Considering what has been going on in the US currently with regard to mass shootings, this book, originally published in 2001, dealt with a school shooting. In Bakersville, Oregon, police officer Rainie Quinn is called to a shooting in the local K - 8 school. On the way, her boss advises her that she is the primary on the situation. When she arrives, she finds that the crime scene has already been compromised by EMT paramedics and also by her boss, Shep O'Grady. Surprisingly, it turns out that O'Grady's 13-year old son, Dan, is holding his father at gunpoint. Two young girls have been murdered as well as a young teacher.
FBI profiler, Quincey, who is avoiding a family situation, heads to Bakersville to offer his particular assistance (he being an expert in mass shootings). Also, the Oregon state police send Abe Sanders down to work the case as well. This is the basis of the story. The police work through the case to gather evidence. Shep, even though technically off the case, wants to prove his son's innocence. The O'Grady family must deal with the tragedy, their emotions (already frazzled with a family situation), try to keep younger daughter, Becky safe and secure as well. Rainie, Quincey and Sanders work together, sometimes difficultly, gathering evidence to prove and / or disprove Danny's guilt. And in the mix is the mysterious man who stays in the shadows and may have been involved in the murder.
There are varied suspects and various threats that keep this story humming along nicely. The relationships between the police investigators develop nicely and sometimes antagonistically. I like Quincey very much; smart, dedicated and with his own familial issues. Rainie is an interesting character with a shrouded past and Sanders is sometimes a stick in the mud but his character does flesh out nicely as the story progresses. The tension builds to an excellent climax and resolution. Very good story and one that makes me want to keep reading this series. (4 stars)"
"FBI Agent Pierce Quincy is haunted by his daughter's death in a drunk-driving accident. Pierce knew about his daughter's problem with alcohol, and about her loneliness. And so, he is sure, did the man who killed her. Rainie Conner is an ex-cop with a past overshadowed by violence. She was once involved with Pierce in a harrowing case that brought them together personally and professionally. Then, he came to her rescue. Now it is time for her to help him. This killer is different. He has an insatiable hunger for revenge - and for fear. He isn't satisfied with taking his victims' lives - he wants to get inside their minds and strip them of every defence. And his target is Quincy's surviving daughter. Rainie believes that the only way to stop him is to put herself directly into the killer's murderous path and herself become - the next accident."
The remaining books in this series are -
- The Killing Hour (2003)
- Gone (2006)
- Say Good-bye (2008)
- The Fourth Man (short story) (2017)
- Right Behind You (2017)
So there you go. I've got to head out to get some groceries.. Take care and enjoy the rest of your week.
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