The Printed - A Review

 

The Printed

by

Cameron Fitzgerald

A Review

This book is a dystopian look at a post-democratic America where Christian beliefs have been deemed terroristic. Believers are interrogated and, if found guilty, “Printed”. Their fingerprints are painfully removed, and they are sent to rehabilitation centers.

The book follows the lives of Emmet, a believer who is “printed” and Jasper, partially responsible for determining the innocence or guilt of those undergoing interrogation. Emmett is “printed”, but Jasper is transformed as well as he spends time with Emmett. The first third of the book follow Emmett and Jasper as they attempt to escape the current regime; the middle third focuses on Jasper’s transformation as he better understand and accepts Emmett’s faith as his own; the final third focus on the efforts Emmett and Jasper spend on building a place of respite where believers do not need to fear the government’s repressive behavior toward Christians. The climax comes as the pair begin to rescue believers from the rehab centers to which they have been sent.

The author does a decent job of integrating elements of faith throughout the story - but to this reader it seemed a bit much. I never quite got gripped by the story - this reader felt this dystopian sci-fi was less than satisfying. I give the book 3-½ stars.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

The Barrister and the Letter of Marque - A Review

The Barrister and

the Letter of Marque

by

Todd M. Johnson

A Review

Todd M. Johnson has written a fun piece of historical fiction. Based in the early 19th century, Lady Madeleine Jameson has gone into great debt to purchase and support the first voyage of the brig Padget after its service in the earlier war with France. Captain Harold Tuttle had received a Letter of Marque, allowing him, his crew, and the ship to capture smugglers and claim their cargo as its own. But when the ship returns to London full of tea captured from pirateers in the Indian Ocean, the Letter has disappeared and the Captain and his crew are arrested for piracy.

At that point, Lady Jameson contacts William Snopes, barrister, to defend Captain Tuttle, her cousin, at trial. It becomes immediately clear that something is amiss. Rather than allowing the defendant months to prepare for trial, he is given days. At the same time Captain Tuttle has disappeared - not to be found in any of the city’s jails. Potential witnesses have also fled town. It would be a difficult case.

The result is an exciting story that takes the reader throughout the streets of London and into the English countryside. The author mixes the best and worst of smugglers, politicians, and lawyers, to create an attention holding story for this reader. The plot involves some well known historical figures (i.e. the dandy Beau Brummell), though with some non-historical settings and events. We become familiar with the infamous Newgate Prison, the Old Bailey courthouse, etc. I can only hope that the author has enough imagination to continue the story into future volumes; alas, it does not appear likely.

The plot, characters, and setting, easily make for a five-star book.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

Under the Bayou Moon - A Review

 

Under the Bayou Moon  

by

Valerie Fraser Luesse

A Review

I would not have chosen this book if I had a full understanding of what I was getting myself into. Having finished the book, I am glad I read it.

The author introduces the reader to the home of the Cajun and Creole cultures along the bayous of Southern Louisiana. She brings a mixture of adventure, culture, and romance, into a land many of us will never visit. At the same time dirty politics, greed, and family, bring our hearts on a journey that we will not want to miss.

It is not often that a book will leave me with tears in my eyes as I finish it - but this one did both because I really did not want it to end and because I fell in love with the characters (most of them anyways). The book gets five stars.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

Hostile Intent - A Review

 

Hostile Intent

by

Lynette Eason

A Review

Families begin to disappear across the US - lined up on their sofa, shot one-by-one. FBI Special Agent Caden Denning and his group of talented friends (FBI Agents, Private Investigators, retired Navy personnel, and the CIA) will be tasked with finding those responsible for the deaths.  

It is a story that has its roots in events that occurred 17+ years earlier in Russia prior to implosion and the dismantling of the KGB. Today it was affecting the lives of men and women that Special Agent Denning knew and loved. It was not only a matter of National Security; it was also personal.  

Though written as a faith-based story, Faith plays a less significant role than the characters and plot in making this a worthwhile story. The story is intense and could not be put down even for TV and dinner. This reader wanted to know what would come next. And for that reason, the book receives four-stars.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

 

The Cryptographer's Dilemma - A Review

 

The Cryptographer's
Dilemma   

by

Johnnie Alexander

A Review

Barbour Publishing presents another book in its series of mysteries based on true events that can be further researched on-line or using the references mentioned in the epilogue. . This plot surrounds a Doll Collector whose Boston store served as the focal point for a spy that sought to provide Japan critical information following the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941.

The story centers on one of the Code Girls, whose primary task was to decrypt messages intercepted from the German and Japanese. Eloise Marshall was “drafted” by the FBI to work alongside Phillip Clayton, a colorblind FBI agent who was not qualified to serve in the Air Corp. Together they were assigned the job of identifying the source of several letters that alluded to troop movements within the US Armed Services. The work would take them across the country - from Washington DC to Seattle WA and several places in between.

This reader was intrigued - not only by the story, but by the events that served as the catalyst for the book. More than once on-line sources were consulted providing more depth to the story as additional details of this WWII traitor were revealed. The author has provided an attention-keeping story rooted in history. I give the book five stars.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

Woman In Shadow - A Review

 

Woman In Shadow

by

Carrie Stuart Parks

A Review

Joshua 1:9
"This is my command—
be strong and courageous!
Do not be afraid or discouraged.
For the Lord your God is with you
wherever you go.”

PTSD is not just a consequence of military service. It can also evolve from the dangers and trauma faced by First Responders. Such was Darby Graham’s circumstances. She had been part of a recovery program, but now had arrived at Targhee Falls,ID, to put her new found recovery to a test. The Mule Shoe Dude Ranch had experienced a number of mysterious events - accidents, deaths, and missing staff. Darby’s recovery program had asked her to look into the events and report back. She had not been asked to risk her life. 

But life at the dude ranch continued to go downhill. Dead animals showed up in unexpected places, more staff were found dead, windows were shot out. With the exception of a local sheriff deputy, she was not sure who to trust - even the sheriff herself seemed implicated.

I do wish that the author and/or publishers had included references to the help available to those struggling with PTSD whatever the source. A website or phone number would have been a great way to begin or conclude the book. This was an Advanced Reader's Copy, so the possibility of such appearing in the final version of the book exists.

Written with a mixture of first-person and third-person narratives. this faith-based story follows Darby and other characters as they seek to discover the source of the events that sought to destroy the well-deserved reputation of Mule Shoe. The book deserves a sequel, I would like to hope it is possible. I give the book five-stars.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

Murder at the Lakeside Library - A Review

 

Murder at the
Lakeside Library

by

Holly Danvers

A Review

Thirty-two year old Rain Danvers had the un-expected task of opening the Lakeside Library from Memorial Day to Labor Day that year - a task she did not need. She had come to her family’s retreat house to do just that after her husband had passed away. A task that was only made more difficult when the body had been discovered behind the outhouse the very day she arrived at Lofty Pines Lake.

This book appears to be the beginning of a cozy mystery series that is set in the colorful Northwoods of Wisconsin. As expected, along with the library, there is a nice three-season lake, eccentric characters, and a great many intelligent people who are more than willing to help the police solve crimes. The result is a great cozy that should lead to a great series.

My only concern is the constant need to serve beer (or other alcoholic beverages) at every event - social, work related, or otherwise. Yes, this is Wisconsin, one of the beer capitals of the world; but, having lived there, I know that even Wisconsinites have events that do not include beer. The author needs to find a better balance. I give the book four stars.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.