My Last Reading Update for August and My Ongoing Look at My Favorite Authors

 I started off the week at the dentist, getting another crown put in. Back Thursday to get the final tune-up on it. I'm noticing it's rubbing against the inside of my bottom lip. And there is this bump at the back. We'll see.

I finished two more books to finish off the month of August. I'll provide my reviews of them as well as provide the synopses of the two books I've started in their place. Then I'll continue with my ongoing look at my Favorite Authors. Tomorrow I'll provide my end-August reading summary.

Just Finished

1. The Searchers by Alan Le May.

"The Searchers by Alan Le May was turned into a movie in 1956 by John Ford, starring John Wayne and Vera Miles. It's a gritty, powerful Western, not a genre I normally read.

The story is set in the Texas frontier where settlers struggle to survive, fearing attacks by Indian warriors. Amos Edwards and Martin Pauley leave Amos' brother's homestead to search for cattle rustlers with other homesteaders. On their return they discover the farm has been attacked by Commanche warriors. All of the people have been killed except two daughters. They have been taken by the Commanche. This is the basis of the story. Amos and Martin will spend the next five years searching for the two.

It's a fascinating, gritty journey as the two scour the unsettle West trying to find the two. It's a barren, hard area, with few people except Indian tribes and the odd fort. It's a tough (to put it mildly) difficult journey as they weather all conditions as they try to find clues to which Indian tribe took them and try to find out where they might have settled. Over time, they periodically return to the old homestead, where they stay with the Mathisons, where resides their daughter Laurie who has feelings for Marty.

But this journey is in their minds. They need to find the Edward girl(s). It's a journey of necessity, their need is under their skin, a deep itch that festers until the end. It's a dark journey, quite powerful. I'm hesitant to watch the movie.... Worth trying (4 stars)"

2. Hag's Nook by John Dixon Carr (Gideon Fell #1).

"I discovered American author John Dickson Carr only a few months ago. Carr lived from 1906 - 1977 and is known for his Gideon Fell & Sir Henry Merivale mystery series. According to his write-up he was influenced by GK Chesterton's Father Brown books and was the master of the closed room scenario. I managed to find his first Gideon Fell book, Hag's Nook and decided to give it a try. Entertaining and I will continue to explore his books.

Dr. Gideon Fell is a renowned lexicographer living in Lincolnshire, England. He's a big man, walks with two canes but has an active, fertile mind and for his size gets around quite well. American graduate, Tad Rampole is visiting with Gideon and his wife. On the train to Chatterham, he meets a lovely young lady, Dorothy Starberth and the two immediately feel an attraction. Dorothy's family owns Chatterham Prison and while it's now closed it has a spooky reputation. They have to keep it in the family or they would lose the money on the property. 

There is a tradition in the family. The first born son of each generation, in this case, Dorothy's brother, Marin, must spend one hour in the Warden's office, at 10 pm on the night that the son attains his 25th birthday. Tad Rampole arrives just at the time when Marin is coming to town (also from America) to perform for his inheritance. Now another factor, which is the spooky part, is that there is also a 'tradition' that this son often dies in mysterious circumstances, often with a broken neck.

Got it now? Well, Gideon Fell and Tad decide they need to keep an eye on the prison on this night. Marin must stay in the room by himself as there are family secrets involved. They can see the window of the room from Gideon's lounge. The worst happens of course and Marin is found dead or a broken neck. This begins the investigation that gets you to know Gideon Fell.

It's an entertaining, often confusing story, with a few suspects. Gideon grows in importance as the story moves along. We get to see his intuition, his skills at observation. At the same time a romance is developing between Dorothy and Tad. All in all, I liked this story very much. I think it's of its time period. I liked the description of the setting, the way the story was presented and of course, I enjoyed the mystery and Fell's description of the solution. It's gentle, for all of the deaths, and made me want to explore his work more. Another series to keep me busy. (4 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. In the Evil Day by Peter Temple.

"The Cold War is long dead but the trade in deceit and lies is still running hot. In Hamburg, John Anselm is hiding from the ghosts he has left behind in foreign war zones. He spends his days working for a surveillance firm. At night he drinks too much, paranoid about the suspicions he glimpses in the eyes of strangers.

In London, Caroline Wishart calls herself an exposé journalist. The story she has stumbled on could make her career or is she playing somebody else's game? Into both their lives comes ex-mercenary Con Niemand, bearing an explosive secret, a secret with the power to topple governments and destroy them all.:

2. The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett (Demon Cycle #1). I've had this for awhile now. I like how it's started.

"As darkness falls after sunset, the corelings rise--demons who possess supernatural powers and burn with a consuming hatred of humanity. For hundreds of years the demons have terrorized the night, slowly culling the human herd that shelters behind magical wards--symbols of power whose origins are lost in myth and whose protection is terrifyingly fragile. It was not always this way. Once, men and women battled the corelings on equal terms, but those days are gone. Night by night the demons grow stronger, while human members dwindle under their relentless assault. Now, with hope for the future fading, three young survivors of vicious demon attacks will dare the impossible, stepping beyond the crumbling safety of the wards to risk everything in a desperate quest to regain the secrets of the past. Together, they will stand against the night."

3. Fear is the Key by Alistair MacLean. MacLean is my September focus author.

"A classic novel of ruthless revenge set in the steel jungle of an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico – and on the sea bed below it. Now reissued in a new cover style.

A sunken DC-3 lying on the Caribbean floor. Its cargo: ten million, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in gold ingots, emeralds and uncut diamonds guarded by the remains of two men, one woman and a very small boy.

The fortune was there for the taking, and ready to grab it were a blue-blooded oilman with his own offshore rig, a gangster so cold and independent that even the Mafia couldn’t do business with him and a psychopathic hired assassin.

Against them stood one man, and those were his people, those skeletons in their watery coffin. His name was Talbot, and he would bury his dead – but only after he had avenged their murders."

My Favorite Authors - Patricia Cornwell

Patricia Cornwell is an American crime writer, born in Miami Florida in 1956. I discovered her Kay Scarpetta forensic crime series when I came to the Valley back in early 2000. I read a number of the books in a quick flurry. I enjoyed the Scarpetta series very much. I will say that for some reason, I've neglected her books in the past few years. I think it might have been because I tried one of her non-Scarpetta books and didn't enjoy it quite as much. I do have to get back in to the series though.

1. Black Notice (#10 Scarpetta / 1999).

"An intriguing Dr Kay Scarpetta novel which will take Kay an ocean's breadth away from home. The case begins when a cargo ship arriving at Richmond, Virginia's Deep Water Terminal from Belgium is discovered to be transporting a locked, sealed container holding the decomposed remains of a stowaway. The post mortem performed by the Chief Medical Examiner, Kay Scarpetta, initially reveals neither a cause of death nor an identification. But the victim's personal effects and an odd tattoo take Scarpetta on a hunt for information that leads to Interpol's headquarters in Lyon, where she receives critical instructions: go to the Paris morgue to receive secret evidence and then return to Virginia to carry out a mission. It is a mission that could ruin her career." (4 stars)

2. The Body Farm (#5 / 1994).

"The Body Farm - a research institute that tests the decomposition of corpses. Black Mountain, North Carolina: a sleepy little town where the local police deal with one homicide a year, if they're unlucky, and where people are still getting used to the idea of locking their doors at night. But violent death is no respecter of venue, and the discovery of the corpse of an 11-year-old girl sends shock waves through the community. Dr Kay Scarpetta, Chief medical Examiner on a similar case in Virginia, is called in to apply her forensic skills to this latest atrocity, but the apparent simplicity of the case proves something of a poisoned chalice - until Scarpetta finds enlightenment through the curious pathologists' playground known as the Body Farm." (4 stars)

3. Body of Evidence (#2 / 1991).

"Someone is after Beryl Madison -- spying on her, making threatening phone calls. Terrified, she flees to Key West. When she comes back home it's not harassment that's waiting...it's murder. Someone kills her, someone she trusted enough to open her door to.

Police work begins with Dr. Kay Scarpetta, Chief Medical Examiner. She finds laboratory clues no one wants to believe. So she follows them herself, putting her professional career -- and her life -- on the line." (4 stars)

4. Cruel and Unusual (#4 / 1993).

"Virginia Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta is called in to autopsy the body of convicted murderer Ronnie Waddell after his execution. Several days after the execution, a young boy is discovered murdered in the fashion of Waddell's earlier killings, with Waddell's prints near the body. Scarpetta, along with FBI Agent Benton Wesley and Detective Pete Marino, try to discover how a dead inmate could have possibly committed another murder after his death. As the story progresses she seeks the assistance of her 17-year-old niece Lucy after she discovers a strange folder on her computer." (4 stars)

5. From Potter's Field (#6 / 1995).

"In From Potter's Field, #1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Cornwell once again enters the chilling world of Dr. Kay Scarpetta, Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia and consulting forensic pathologist for the FBI. Upon examining a dead woman found in snowbound Central Park, Scarpetta immediately recognizes the grisly work of Temple Brooks Gault, a bold, brilliant killer from her past. Soon she realizes that Gault's murders are but a violent chain leading up to one ultimate kill: Scarpetta herself. Now she must stay her own fears and keep step with a psychopath who is always one step ahead, both everywhere and nowhere. But even with the help of her FBI and police comrades, Scarpetta knows the endgame is hers alone to play. Having repeatedly plunged into the madness of Gault's mind, Scarpetta must finally descend into his terrifying home in the subway tunnels beneath New York City. And confront the one killer who would not be caught ..." (4 stars)

6. All that Remains (#3 / 1992).

"In Richmond, Virginia, young lovers are dying. So far, four couples in the area have disappeared, only to be found months later as mutilated corpses. When the daughter of the president's newest drug czar vanishes along with her boyfriend, Dr. Kay Scarpetta knows time is short. Following a macabre trail of evidence that ties the present homicides to a grisly crime in the past, Kay must draw upon her own personal resources to track down a murderer who is as skilled at eliminating clues as Kay is at finding them ..." (4 stars)

7. Point of Origin (#9 / 1998).

"Dr Kay Scarpetta, Chief Medical Examiner and consulting pathologist for the federal law enforcement agency ATF, is called out to a farmhouse in Virginia which has been destroyed by fire. In the ruins of the house she finds a body which tells a story of a violent and grisly murder.

The fire has come at the same time as another even more incendiary horror: Carrie Grethen, a killer who nearly destroyed the lives of Scarpetta and those closest to her, has escaped from a forensic psychiatric hospital. Her whereabouts is unknown, but her ultimate destination is not, for Carrie has begun to communicate with Scarpetta, conveying her deadly - if cryptic - plans for revenge." (4 stars)

As you can see, I didn't really read the books in any sequence. It's a series that got me interested in other similar types of series; Karin Slaughter's Grant County series and Kathy Reichs' Temperance Brennan series. The complete listing of Patricia Cornwell's books can be found at this link.

Enjoy your week. Stay safe and read a good book.

A Mid-week Reading Update and My Favorite Authors

 

Borrowed from Hameedullah

Ah.. So much more comfortable today. Cooler with a hint of rain. Jo actually said it is too cool. Perfect for me. I am totally frustrated with Twitter. Finally decide to get an account and then they suspend me (see a previous post). The problem is that to get back into it, I need a mobile number (being a luddite I have not felt a need to have one. So I'm in a Catch - 22 sit. I either have to wait for Twitter to review the case or delete a post, which I'm willing to do, but can't because I DON'T HAVE A MOBILE PHONE! 

OK, rant over.. *mutter mumble*

Yesterday I got a book in the mail that my lovely wife ordered for me. While I currently have six books on the go, I've started it anyway. That way I'll finish sooner and Jo can send it to a friend of hers. I'll provide synopsis of it and then I'll continue with my ongoing look at my favorite authors.

New Book / Currently Reading

1. Too Much and Never Enough by Mary L. Trump. (2020) I've started reading and it's not cheerful but is interesting.

"In this revelatory, authoritative portrait of Donald J. Trump and the toxic family that made him, Mary L. Trump, a trained clinical psychologist and Donald’s only niece, shines a bright light on the dark history of their family in order to explain how her uncle became the man who now threatens the world’s health, economic security, and social fabric.

Mary Trump spent much of her childhood in her grandparents’ large, imposing house in the heart of Queens, where Donald and his four siblings grew up. She describes a nightmare of traumas, destructive relationships, and a tragic combination of neglect and abuse. She explains how specific events and general family patterns created the damaged man who currently occupies the Oval Office, including the strange and harmful relationship between Fred Trump and his two oldest sons, Fred Jr. and Donald.

A first-hand witness to countless holiday meals and family interactions, Mary brings an incisive wit and unexpected humor to sometimes grim, often confounding family events. She recounts in unsparing detail everything from her uncle Donald’s place in the family spotlight and Ivana’s penchant for re-gifting to her grandmother’s frequent injuries and illnesses and the appalling way Donald, Fred Trump’s favorite son, dismissed and derided him when he began to succumb to Alzheimer’s.

Numerous pundits, armchair psychologists, and journalists have sought to parse Donald J. Trump’s lethal flaws. Mary L. Trump has the education, insight, and intimate familiarity needed to reveal what makes Donald, and the rest of her clan, tick. She alone can recount this fascinating, unnerving saga, not just because of her insider’s perspective but also because she is the only Trump willing to tell the truth about one of the world’s most powerful and dysfunctional families."

My Favorite Authors - W.J. Burley

William John Burley

In my last post on this topic, where I discussed the books of Jan Burke, I mentioned that I discovered her books at a used book store, ABC Books, in Courtenay, that has since closed down. I used to by comics there and order them as well. I kept up with my Sci-Fi reading. But I used to wander up and down the rows of mysteries a lot and during that period discovered many new series, that I've enjoyed ever since.

William John (W.J.) Burley was born and died in Cornwall, UK, living from 1914 - 2002. Over the course of his life, while he did write some other books, his focus was on police detective Charles Wycliffe. From 1968 thru 2003, he wrote 23 books in the series. I've not seen it but the books were the basis for a popular British TV series in the 90's. Since I discovered the series I've read 8 books, not in any particular order at first. But of late I've enjoyed the first book and will continue in sequence until I finish the series. Let's take a look at those I've read.

1. Wycliffe & How To Kill A Cat (#2 / 1970)

"I've read a few of the Superintendent Wycliffe mysteries and enjoyed. This is the second in the series and finds Wycliffe on vacation with his wife, Helen at the coast. While there he gets involved in investigating a murder in a hotel by the waterfront. He's an interesting character, is Superintendent Wycliffe, likes to use his instincts more than criminal analyses of the CSI vein. As we delve into the story and find out more about the woman who was murdered and what she's been involved in and the people around her, the story becomes a nicely complex puzzle. I enjoyed it very much and am glad that I refreshed my acquaintance with Wycliffe. Nice ending too. (4 stars)"

2. Wycliffe and the Scapegoat (#8 / 1978).

"Every year, at Halloween, high on the Cornish cliffs, a life-sized effigy of a man is strapped to a blazing wheel and run into the sea - a re-enactment of a hideous old legend where the figure had been a living sacrifice. And now Jonathan Riddle, well-known and respected local builder and undertaker, has disappeared - and it seems all too likely that his corpse has gone the way of the historic 'scapegoat'. As Chief Superintendent Wycliffe begins to investigate, more and more unpleasant facts emerge until he is left with an incredible, and seemingly impossible, solution . . " (3 stars)

3. Wycliffe and the Guild of Nine (#22 / 2000).

"Wycliffe and the Guild of Nine is the last Wycliffe mystery published from W.J. Burley's work. He died without completing his last work. As all of the books in this series I've read so far, this last one was excellent.

Wycliffe is assigned to investigate the murder of Francine Lemarque, one of a group of artisans who make up the Guild of Nine. Francine appeared originally in The Quiet Virgin, one of Burley's earlier Wycliffe mysteries. In that story, Francine murdered her father. She has obviously served her sentence and now lives in the family home and works with her brother for Frances Bacon Archer, the creator of the Guild. Francine has inherited a large amount of money and wants to buy into the Guild and become one of the directors. She is in the process of arranging this with Archer's wife, Dutch born Lina, when she is found dead.

Returning to Mulfra (west of St Ives) with his investigation team will bring back many memories for Wycliffe. At the same time, he is considering retiring as he has just received a new supervisor and in his crusty way isn't sure he wants to work for her.

I do love the process followed in these mysteries. While Wycliffe often relies on his wits in solving the crimes he investigates, we do also get to see how his team works; from the Forensics to the Coroner, to his investigators, even down to the administrative process. I liked his DS Lucy Lane, who is his sounding board in this story, but even the smallest of his team can play a role. 

As Wycliffe investigates, he must deal with further deaths in the colony and adds a sense of urgency to the investigation. Is there one murderer? Or more? Are the deaths related to Francine's investigation into the dealings of the colony or maybe into her 'love' life, such as it is or isn't or maybe even into her past life and murder of her father.

The story moves along nicely and thoughtfully. There are a few red herrings along the way but the story is enjoyable and a pleasure to read. It's unfortunate that this is the last Wycliffe mystery but I'm lucky that I haven't been reading in order so I still get to enjoy this series. (4 stars)"

4. Wycliffe and the Three-Toed Pussy (#1 / 1968).

"I've read and enjoyed five or six of W.J. Burley's Inspector Wycliffe mysteries and finally got a copy of the 1st book, Wycliffe and the Three-Toed Pussy. Once again, I enjoyed the story and mystery. Wycliffe is working a case in Kergwyns, on the Cornish coast, having been sent from his home base of Essex. A woman, Pussy Welles is dead, murdered by a gunshot to the chest. One of her stockings has been torn off, revealing that her left foot has only three toes (hence the title).

Wycliffe is not your typical police inspector. He lets the forensics crew and other experts do their work, but tends to eschew their results. He prefers to wander about, talking to people, even that seems somewhat grudging, and let his intuition solve the crime. He even finds himself grumpy when forced to listen to theories from his investigators.

Kergwyns is a small coastal town and Pussy held court with a small group of acquaintances. She had relations with all of the men, married or not, and used the power to gain advantage. Basically, she wasn't necessarily a popular person, especially so to the wives of the men affected. Most were not sad to see her gone.

Wycliffe investigates, thinks, talks to suspects and thinks some more. There have been other deaths and close calls related to Pussy's past. Were these related to her murder? 

The story isn't so much about figuring out the crime; the ultimate solution seems somewhat to come of left field (there are clues of course). It's more about Wycliffe's interactions and feelings. I do like the Wycliffe stories. They move along nicely and offer a good perspective on Wycliffe's personality. This was an excellent introduction. (3.5 stars)"

5. Wycliffe and the Quiet Virgin (#13 / 1986).

"Chief Superintendent Wycliffe doubted whether he would enjoy his Christmas. With his wife away, he rashly accepted an invitation to stay with a Penzance lawyer and his family, but when he arrives the weather is awful, the house miles from anywhere, and the family less than welcoming.

Then a young girl goes missing. Wycliffe had seen her playing the part of the Virgin in the local nativity play, but when he asks around he discovers the girl was difficult and unpopular in the neighborhood. Even her parents seem indifferent to their daughter's disappearance. So Wycliffe instigates a search - and soon finds himself caught up in a major criminal investigation" (3 stars)

6. Wycliffe and Death in Stanley Street (#5 / 1974).

"Wycliffe and Death in Stanley Street by W.J. Burley is the 5th book in the Chief Superintendent Wycliffe mystery series. Wycliffe works for CID in a West County town. It's a few days from Xmas and a prostitute is murdered on Stanley Street.

As Wycliffe and his team investigate, the murder is not as simple as it seems; is the prostitute blackmailing people, are drugs involved, is it a spurned lover? Wycliffe is a grumpy fella, adjusting to a new appointment and new location. He has an excellent team, from his assistant, WPC Saxton to crusty Inspector Gill.

The story moves along matter-of-factly. We do get so spend a brief time with wife, Helen and the family. But it's all about the case for Wycliffe and he just seems to fall into the solution. The story is a pleasure to read, almost cozy, with a slight edge. (3 stars)"

7. Wycliffe and Death in a Salubrious Place (#4 / 1973).

"There was no doubt at all that the girl was dead. The front of her skull and her facial bones had been splintered like the cracked shell of an egg. What made it even more shocking was the setting of the murder - an idyllic corner of the Scilly Isles where violent crime was almost unknown.

Angry and distressed, the villagers instinctively turn against the only stranger in their midst, the famous pop star and teenage idol Vince Peters. But Superintendent Wycliffe is not so sure. Slowly, methodically, he begins to dig beneath the calm surface of the community - and soon uncovers a violent undercurrent of fear and guilt..." (3 stars)

8. Wycliffe and the Guilt-Edged Alibi (#3 / 1971).

"Caroline Bryce came from the top of the social register in the tranquil town of Treen. So it was quite a scandal when her body was dragged from the bottom of the river. As Superintendent Wycliffe investigates, he’s faced with a number of questions: Who would want to kill the beautiful Mrs. Bryce? Was it a lover’s quarrel? Or a long-held resentment that had suddenly exploded in a moment of madness? As Wycliffe begins to unravel an intricate tangle of love and hate, he finds himself on the trail of a psychotic killer who feels no remorse." (4 stars)

It's been an enjoyable series and I look forward to continuing it. The complete listing of Burley's books can be found at this link.

Enjoy the rest of your week and enjoy a good book.

A Reading Update

 

Former 1st Lady Michelle Obama - Necklace says Vote! What a powerful speech!

 It's not so hot today, still mid - high 20's though. It's supposed to get much cooler over the next few days and even a chance of rain. It sure was stuffy in the bedroom last night. Neither Jo nor I slept all that well. 

Jo and I enjoyed the DNC convention last night, especially the speech by Michelle Obama. Wow! It was some powerful and uplifting. It definitely got under old donnie's skin today. I guess the truth hurts.

Now... Books. I have finished two books in the past couple of days. I'll provide my reviews for both and also the synopses of the two books I'm starting in their place.

Just Finished

1. Downtime Shift by Robert Holding.

"Downtime Shift is the first novel by Robert  Holding. This story reminded me of a TV series I had previously enjoyed; Travelers starring Eric McCormack. Evelyn Marcin is a Shifty, sent to the Downtime Shift (the present) for some purpose, to affect the time lines. The Eye, an AI, controls the future / Point Time (Evelyn's present). A team is sent years after Evelyn's trip to get rid of her (or for some other purpose). Two survive, Stan, an easy - going big bear is one and the other is a psycho, Krasken. 

Stan and Evelyn are in Seattle, getting comfortable with each other, planning their next move and avoiding Krasken. The story will move around the western states as the two hit the road and end up with friends who watch the portals between Point Time and Down Time. Evelyn must make a vital decision to protect both the future and the past.

The story takes time to get into, to come to better understand Evelyn and Stan and who they actually are. But as you move into the plot, it gets more interesting and different. You will see the conflicting viewpoints in Point Time and find out more about about The Eye and the different peoples in Point Time. It's not a perfect story, but I enjoyed it as I grew more familiar with and got further into the story. Looking forward to seeing what else Holding comes up with. (3.5 stars)"

2. The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch #3).

"The Concrete Blonde is the 3rd Harry Bosch mystery by Michael Connelly. I know it's 'just' a mystery but it was a perfect story; great characters, excellent plot(s) and a twisting,  fascinating mystery with great side lines as well.

Harry is on trial for a shooting in an old case, the Dollmaker. The Dollmaker was a serial killer who preyed on LA prostitutes, posing their bodies with make-up, hence the Dollmaker moniker. Harry worked the night shift on the case and went out to check out a late lead from a woman who had escaped from a man she thought was the Dollmaker. Rather than call in back-up, Harry went on his own and in the initial investigation, he ended up shooting the suspect.

He is now being prosecuted by the victim's family for his actions and the trial is just starting. The lawyer representing the family is a tough defense attorney, Honey Chandler. As the trial begins, Harry is called out by his old partner, Det Edgar, to the scene of a new crime. They are lead there by a note purporting to be from the Dollmaker and the body of a woman is found buried in concrete; hence The Concrete Blonde. There are many similarities to the Dollmaker's previous victims (some differences as well) and since the body was buried after the Dollmaker's death, it throws the initial evidence into suspicion.

Harry is still confident about his initial analysis of the Dollmaker and feels his shooting was valid. So that is the basic case. The cops now open a new investigation. Someone seems to be leaking to Honey Chandler and she has an advantage in the legal battle. As well, Harry is in the midst of a new relationship; dealing with this as well as the court case and the new investigation.

All in all, it's a rich, engaging story. Harry is a fascinating character. He has issues from his past that he's trying to deal with. His relationship with Sylvia is a work in progress and he wants it to succeed. The trial is interesting and the ongoing investigation is also well presented. The story is so well-written and it flows from situation to situation. Who is leaking info? There are various suspects for the new case, labelled the Follower. All in all it was just such an excellent, intriguing, rich story. Quite perfect. (5 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Feed by M.T. Anderson.

"Identity crises, consumerism, and star-crossed teenage love in a futuristic society where people connect to the Internet via feeds implanted in their brains.

For Titus and his friends, it started out like any ordinary trip to the moon - a chance to party during spring break and play with some stupid low-grav at the Ricochet Lounge. But that was before the crazy hacker caused all their feeds to malfunction, sending them to the hospital to lie around with nothing inside their heads for days. And it was before Titus met Violet, a beautiful, brainy teenage girl who has decided to fight the feed and its omnipresent ability to categorize human thoughts and desires."

2. The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny (Inspector Gamache #5).

"In the heart of the forest, two men sit at midnight, haunted by fear of discovery. In a few hours' time, one of them will be dead, his secrets following him to the grave... When C. I. Gamache is called to investigate a murder in a picturesque Three Pines, he finds a village in chaos. A man has been found, bludgeoned to death, and there is no sign of a weapon, a motive or even the dead man's name. Gamache and his colleagues, Inspector Beauvoir and Agent Isabelle Lacoste, start to dig under the skin of this peaceful haven for clues. They slowly uncover a trail of stolen treasure, mysterious codes and a shameful history that begins to shed light on the victim's identity - and point to a terrifying killer..."

So there you go. I'll get back to my look at my favorite authors in one of my next posts. Tomorrow will my Midweek Medley post, then probably the next one after that. Take care. If you're American, make sure you vote early.

A Sunday Reading Update and My Ongoing Look at my Favorite Authors

It's been a very hot Sunday here. 31 - 34 degrees C. It'll start cooling down over the next week, we might even get a bit of rain by mid week. Tomorrow I go to the dentist for the first part of getting a new crown on one of my teeth. Feeling a bit of trepidation but it will be my 2nd trip to the dentist in the last month or so. 

I finished one book this morning, my 5th of August. I'll provide my review for you as well as the synopsis of the next book I'm starting. I'll also continue with my look at my favorite authors. For anybody coming into the Favorite Author thread for the first time, my rationale for the list can be found at my first post on the topic. Go to this link if you're interested. And, on that note, away we go.

Just Finished

1. The Woman Who Married A Bear by John Straley (Cecil Younger #1).

"The Woman Who Married A Bear is the first Cecil Younger mystery by John Straley. It's an excellent introduction to this series. Cecil Younger is a Private Eye working out of Sitka Alaska. He is a bit of a drunk, shares his accommodations with Toby, a man he feels a responsibility towards. Younger is hired by Mrs. Victor, an elderly woman residing in an old folks home in Sitka. 5 years before he son was murdered at Prophet Cove. A man is in prison for the murder but she wants the whole story. She believes there is more to the murder than the police discovered.

Younger starts his investigation on a sour note as an attempt is made to murder him but instead Todd is the victim of the assassination attempt. As Todd fights for his life in hospital, Younger begins a journey that will take him to around Alaska as he tries interview everyone involved in the event and tries to sort out the case and discover a solution that will satisfy Mrs. Victor. There will be threats to his life, someone is trying to get him to stop his investigation.

The story is well - paced and Younger is an interesting character, dealing with issues from his past, with his father, the Judge and also his ex-girlfriend, Hannah. There are so many excellent characters that also people this story, from suspects to people that Younger meets on his journey. We see details from Younger's past that also flesh out his character. All in all, it's a well-crafted story, well-paces and descriptive. It draws you in and you will enjoy the journey with Cecil until a very satisfying ending (5 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Rock Paper Tiger by Lisa Brackman (Ellie McEnroe #1)

"American Iraq War veteran Ellie Cooper is living in Beijing when a chance encounter with a Uighur—a member of a Chinese Muslim minority—at the home of her sort-of boyfriend Lao Zhang turns her life upside down. Lao Zhang disappears, and suddenly multiple security organizations are hounding Ellie for information. They say the Uighur is a terrorist. Ellie doesn’t know what’s going on, but she must decide whom to trust among the artists, dealers, collectors, and operatives claiming to be on her side—in particular, a mysterious organization operating within a popular online role-playing game. As she tries to elude her pursuers, she’s haunted by memories of Iraq. Is what she did and saw there at the root of the mess she’s in now?"

Favorite Authors - Jan Burke

Jan Burke

Jan Burke was born in Houston Texas in 1953 but has lived most of her life in southern California. Burke was one of the authors I discovered when I first came to the Comox Valley back in 2001. I used to frequent a used book store, ABC Books, in Courtenay (I've mentioned many times throughout this BLog), since closed down. I used to order comics (graphic novels for those who refuse the proper designation) and at least once a week would wander up and down the aisles checking out authors I'd not tried before. It rekindled my interest in the mystery novel to say the least. 

Jan Burke's writing career basically ran from 1993 - 2011 and most of her mysteries are set in southern California and for the most part feature her erstwhile crime reporter / detective Irene Kelly and often as well, Kelly's boyfriend / husband, police detective Frank Harriman. The stories are all gritty and excellent. I've read seven of her novels thus far.

1. Bones (Irene Kelly #7 / 1999).

"Killer Nick Parrish says he'll lead authorities to the body of Judith Sayre--they will not demand the death sentence for his heinous crimes. But the criminal has no intention of spending his life behind bars--and he plans some deadly surprises." (4 stars)

2. Goodnight, Irene (Irene Kelly #1 / 1993).

"Goodnight, Irene is the debut novel in an exciting new mystery series featuring Irene Kelly - reporter, intrepid amateur sleuth, and woman of today - who tracks a murderer obsessed with keeping the past from interfering with the future. In Las Piernas, California, a beach community off the coast of Los Angeles, veteran reporter O'Connor is blown to bits by a bomb; his son is buried alive in the sand; and his best friend and former colleague, Irene Kelly, is nearly killed when a stream of bullets whizzes through the window of her home. 

Unwilling to be the next victim in a frightening series of events, and determined to discover who murdered O'Connor, Irene takes it upon herself to track down the killer. She begins investigating by digging through O'Connor's files and deciphering his highly secretive, coded notes. Irene soon discovers that her friend was on the verge of solving a thirty-five-year-old mystery involving a pregnant woman who was brutally murdered and mutilated beyond recognition. And, this old murder mystery is somehow connected with a current political cover-up concocted by a group of local politicians involved in a greedy - and deadly - money-laundering scheme. 

Irene follows a lead that takes her from her California beach community to a desert Arizona town and back, determined to find out who silenced O'Connor before he could reveal the connection between the old murder mystery and the current money-laundering scheme. Ignoring deadly threats, Irene expertly gathers clues, and narrows down a long list of unlikely suspects. There's a money-hungry-politician with more to lose than the local race if the truth is revealed; a high society babe who will do anything to protect her "impeccable" reputation; a manipulative gigolo whose bedside secrets prove lethal; a high-ranking bank official who conveniently disappears when Irene starts nosing around; and many other memorable characters, all of whom had a personal motive for wanting O'Connor dead. " (3 stars)

3. Bloodlines (Irene Kelly #9 / 2005).

"It's been a few years since I delved into Jan Burke's Irene Kelly mysteries. Bloodlines, published in 2005 is the 9th book in the series and I think I can safely say it is Burke's Magnum Opus of the series.

The story covers decades, running from the 1950's to Irene Kelly's present life. It covers a variety of reporters at Las Piernas' Express newspaper, all reporting on an old story, a wealthy purportedly family lost at sea and a baby (same family) kidnapped and her nanny murdered. As well, local reporter, Jack Corrigan is brutally attacked and left for dead in a farmer's field, thinking that he has seen a car buried on the property.

We run through Jack Corrigan, his protégé Conn O'Connor and then are introduced to new reporter, Irene Kelly. It's a long drawn out story with a cast of characters, all interesting and unique. I did find it difficult at times keeping track of the varied family and social relationships so it might be worthwhile, if you read this to maybe make a couple of family trees. :0)

Conn O'Connor is a paper boy as the story is introduced and idolizes reporter Jack Corrigan and his reporting friend / partner Helen Swan. Corrigan takes Conn under his wing and helps him become a reporter as well. Corrigan is a fighter and his often times opponent are the Yeager family, booze smugglers, criminals, violent when the need to be. They are the focus of the disappearances but nothing can be proven until many years later; no bodies, no witnesses, etc.

The story is tracked over the decades and the flame is passed from reporter to reporter. We meet Irene Kelly in the middle chapters as she has moved from Bakersfield back to Las Piernas for a variety of reasons; to care for her ailing father, to try her hand at working at the newspaper and to escape from a relationship. 

It's a very complex story and too difficult to describe in a few words. Suffice it to say that the mystery is fascinating the research conducted by the various reporters is well-crafted. There is sufficient action and intrigue to keep you turning the pages and the development of the various characters is excellent. The ending is somewhat pat but still filled with tension and action. All in all an enjoyable history and mystery and introduction to Irene's past. Read the earlier stories first to prepare for this one but you will enjoy. (3.5 stars)"

4. Flight (Irene Kelly #8 / Frank Harriman #1 / 2001).

"Hot off the publication of "Bones," the winner of the Edgar Award for Best Novel, Jan Burke explodes onto the suspense scene with "Flight," featuring the hard-edged Detective Frank Harriman, husband of Jan's beloved series heroine Irene Kelly. A family is found murdered. In a cruel twist, one of the Las Piernas Police Department's own, Philip Lefebvre, is suspected of killing the only witness. When that detective disappears, a crime boss goes free. And the LPPD is forever changed.

Called in to investigate the wreckage of the missing detective's plane, Frank Harriman is given a set of cold cases that have suddenly become white hot. Detective Harriman's conviction that the LPPD tagged the wrong murder suspect is wildly unpopular. Alone, his instincts and integrity questioned at every turn, Harriman must stop the killer before hundreds of lives, including Harriman's own, are lost." (4 stars)

5. Liar (Irene Kelly #6 / 1998). I wasn't writing reviews back them but I did note that this was probably my favorite Kelly mystery.

"Investigative reporting has its hazards, but trouble hits home for Irene Kelly when her estranged aunt is murdered--and Irene becomes the leading suspect. With the police hot on her trail, Irene sets out to find cousin Travis, her dead aunt's son, convinced he's the next target. But when Irene finds Travis, a camper-driving children's storyteller with suspiciously deep pockets, things blow up--literally. It takes several brushes with death, staying one step ahead of the law, and a few not-so-sweet reunions for Irene to untangle a complex web of family secrets and long-held grudges, and discover just who is killing off the Kelly clan--and why." (5 stars)

6. Hocus (Irene Kelly #5 / 1997).

"For reporter Irene Kelly it's a terrifying investigation - because it's so personal. Her husband, Detective Frank Harriman, has been kidnapped by terrorists who call themselves Hocus - deadly manipulators who give Irene three days to meet their demands before killing their hostage.

But Irene's biggest shock is yet to come - as she uncovers her husband's history, and learns of a horrific crime committed a decade earlier. As seconds slip away, Irene willingly steps into a trap set by two madmen with a score to settle. And when she does, someone is going to pay for the sins of the past." (4 stars)

7. Sweet Dreams, Irene (Irene Kelly #2 / 1994).

"Irene Kelly is a reporter with a fierce integrity. Detective Frank Harriman is her lover and friend. Now they're both about to be plunged into political hellfire when a ruthless politician rocks a race for district attorney with a stunning allegation: his opponent's son is in the clutches of a satanic cult.

The charge takes a fatal turn when a local woman is brutally murdered, and the grisly crime scene bears unholy implications. Tracking the clues takes Irene behind the closed doors of an isolated home for troubled youths, where obscuring the truth is only part of a stranger's diabolic game. To win it, Irene will have the devil to pay." (3 stars)

As you can see, I've not read these books in any particular order. It didn't hurt my enjoyment but if you do read them in order, there are characters and events that make more sense, especially her relationship with Frank Harriman. I'd always recommend reading a series from #1 on. I do have one more of the series on my bookshelf but I need to get the earlier ones before I read it. The complete listing of Jan Burke's books can be found at this link.

Enjoy your upcoming week.