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.

Reserved For Murder - A Review

 

Reserved For Murder

by

Victoria Gilbert

A Review

What happens when you combine a Bed and Breakfast with retired spies, a well-known author, and murder - you get “Reserved For Murder”.

I enjoyed Victoria Gilbert’s latest cozy mystery. Set in Beaufort NC, the Chapters Bed and Breakfast is hosting Amanda Nobel, noted romance writer, and a few of her fans for a weeklong getaway. It should be a lovely week - at least until the body of Lisette Bradford is discovered on the pier, at which time almost everyone, resident or visitor, becomes a suspect. Charlotte Reed, owner of Chapters, and her neighbor, Ellen Montgomery, a retired spy, will find themselves assisting the town’s law enforcement in tracking down the suspect.

The book held my attention and had me wanting to know more and more about the suspects and the crime as I read. The B and B, the quaint community, and the characters, 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.

The Paris Betrayal - A Review

 

The Paris Betrayal

by

James R. Hannibal

A Review

An intriguing espionage thriller that reaches from Rome, to Paris, to Washington DC, the story follows Ben Calix as he travels the world trying to save America from a bioweapon attached to the equivalent of a 60-kiloton nuke to assist with disbursement. The catch is that no one will believe him based on his slim evidence.

The author has written a book that he claims is intended to parallel the Old Testament book of Job. Though the parallel is less than perfect, the book is attention grabbing in its own right and kept this reader up more than one late-night before coming to the end.

I felt as if I was reading the plot for the latest Liam Neeson or James Bond thriller. Set in well-known and more obscure spots around the world, this reader gained some new knowledge of world geography. This alone made the book a worthwhile read. 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.

The Wayward Spy - A Review

 

The Wayward Spy

by

Susan Quellette

A Review

Nicely done book by a new author.

Maggie Jenkns’, CIA Analyst, fiancee was stationed in Tbilisi Georgia, south of Russia and North of Turkey. He had died in the explosion in the restaurant that morning and now he was being accused of selling national secrets. Maggie made it her task to prove them wrong, whoever “them” was.

On a journey that will take the reader from the top of the US Capitol’s dome to the countryside of Tbilisi Georgia and back, Maggie is one step ahead of the CIA agents charged with discovering the truth behind Steve’s death.

The plot is well written and attention holding. And the conclusion leaves room for more story - as we the readers know the true story, but the protagonists are being charged with murder and espionage. And a major terrorist is still on the loose.

As this reviewer said earlier, “Nicely done book by a new author.” This reader will be looking for more to come.
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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 are mine alone.

Treacherous Legacy - A Review

 

Treacherous Legacy

by

Kathi Oram Peterson

A Review

Ms. Peterson has created historical fiction at its best. With roots in the middle of WW II, Treacherous Legacy explores the life of two people who seek to discover the true story behind a man who had long been labeled a German spy. The story takes them from Iceland to Denmark and back to Iceland - including opportunities to meet the Queen of Denmark in her palace and to visit the relatively famous Hallgrimskirkja Church in Reykjavík, Iceland. The story is both tense and sad at times, but was well worth the time I spent reading it.

At times the writing seemed a bit awkward - as if written by an inexperienced writer writing in the first person. That was balanced by three characteristics that made the book stand out.

First was the inclusion of historical and geographical references that forced me to turn to Google for additional information - a feature that I appreciate when reading historical fiction.

The second characteristic that I appreciated was the use of brief Icelandic, German, and Danish, phrases by the story’s characters. These were easily translated using Kindle’s built-in translator. I discovered that the author had also included interpretations for many (all?) of these in the back of the book, though I did not discover this until I finished reading the book. It might have been more useful to include this “dictionary” near the front allowing the reader to use it as the book is being read.

Finally, the book includes a three-page essay in which she discusses the historicity of the book. She discusses a wide range of topics including the use of wireless technology by the Danish Resistance during WW II and the presence of eighty-nine-year-old women who are actively going to sea and traveling between Iceland and Denmark even today. Not only is each question clearly answered with a “yes” or “no”, but she also includes sources for her conclusions. This final essay is interesting in its own right.

I give the book 4-½ 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 are mine alone.

Special Access - A Review

Special Access

v

by

Mark A Hewitt

Originally published in 2013, this book is partly political thriller and partly historical fiction. Yet it reads as if it were aimed at a contemporary 2019 American public.

The plot is intriguing and draws the reader into the story which takes place over a twelve-year period from 1999 to 2011. The reader is walked through the trauma of September 11, 2001, and the taking of Osama bin Laden on May 1, 2011. The story assumes that bin Laden was not disposed of in the Indian Ocean as was announced publically, but instead was taken alive and interrogated by a team of independent ex-Seals and other special ops personnel before dying. The author’s background is ideal for imagining a story wrapped in the world of espionage and the special ops military troops which are the highlight of the story. The author’s knowledge of aircraft history and the use of quiet aircraft during the Vietnam War added an additional sense of realism to the story.

Though having a unique and intensive plot, the book does have its flaws. The timeline is not linear and dates each chapter. Other times it arises as the author introduces the characters’ recall of their own backstories. This non-linear flow of events makes the story difficult to follow at times. The book is very political - Democrats are consistently equated to communists. The Democratic President toward the end of the book is not named, but is described as having “large ears”. At times the story seemed to drag - as if the reader were required to carry a heavy load as he or she moved through the book. It should be noted that a movie based upon the book would be rated “R” as there seemed to be an abundance of unnecessary violence and sexuality. Personally, if I had known the extremes these elements pervaded the story, I would have avoided the book and chosen to spend my time reviewing another book.

It is this combination of a good story and the book’s limitations which force me into writing a 2½ star review.
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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 my own.

State of Lies - A Review

State of Lies 

by

Siri Mitchell

Georgia Ann Brennan’s husband had died in a horrendous hit-and-run car wreck six months ago, now her father had been nominated for the position of Secretary of Defense by the President - he only had to be approved by the Senate. And then her world turned upside down.

This political thriller held this reader’s attention from page one to the very end. Though we meet no politicians in this 350+ page book, the events described have the potential of disrupting the very core of the American government. In the course of telling the story, we examine the nature of grief, the cost of integrity, and the result of honesty. Georgie, as she was known to her friends, would experience a very difficult ride as she interacted with the CIA, FBI, and other government agencies. Into the midst of this mess stepped a Russian spy network that had roots into the deepest parts of the US government. Georgia Ann, her son Sam, and Alice, the family dog, would have to dig themselves out of the hole in which they found themselves.

Though published by Thomas Nelson, “a registered trademark of HarperCollins Christian Publishing”, I would have a difficult time calling this a faith-based book. There is nothing offensive within the story, but also little about faith. Would it appeal to Christian readers? Definitely, but because it is a well-written thriller with a story that, sadly, could be torn from the pages of today’s newspaper. For the same reason, it would appeal to any reader interested in finding a captivating thriller rooted in the world of 21st-century politics.
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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 my own.

The Persian Gamble - A Review

The Persian Gamble

by

Joel Rosenberg

I have enjoyed the three books I have read, The Persian Gamble being the latest. Markus Ryker is again the star protagonist in this international thriller that moves between Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Washington DC, along with some minor players. The book is an immediate successor to Rosenberg’s previous novel, The Kremlin Conspiracy, which concludes with Marcus and two conspirators leaving a small private jet over Northeastern Russia with unopened parachutes. And that is where we find Marcus and the others as this newest book opens. The author uses the first third of the book enough of the previous history to help the current reader find his place in the current story.

The middle third of the book describes a gripping and intriguing novel of espionage, tracking from the various countries mentioned earlier. The last part of the book focus on the attempt to capture the nuclear weapons purchased secretly and being transported for installation into a set of fully capable missiles aimed at western capitals around the world. A movie based on this third part of the book would surely be rated R — not suitable for children under the age of 18 - because of the level of violence.

The author does a good job of weaving Marcus’ faith into the story — both as it relates to himself and how it relates to those around him. It is not a simple faith, but it is real (well, as real as it can be in a novel).

For fans of Tom Clancy and Nick Thacker, Joel Rosenberg’s The Persian Gamble will be satisfying. Church libraries may or may not want to add this book to their collection — depending on their willingness include the violence found in the last third of the book on their shelves. As a pastor, I would be bothered; but I know several readers who would be less bothered than I.
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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 my own.

Need To Know - A Review

Need To Know

by

Karen Cleveland

A Review

A great plot has to also be told by a great writer. I think the writing of the book distracts from the plot’s telling. I found too much repetition, too many simple sentences, and too little character development. I expect that there may be a second outing from this author in which I hope she addresses some of these flaws.

As others have said, it very well could make a better movie than book. In the meantime, perhaps the reader willing to experiment with the work of a new author will be sufficiently drawn into the story to find it of interest and be able to hold their interest - I was some of the time, but just not enough of the time.

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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 are mine alone.

The Cairo Code - A Review

Cairo Code

by

Glenn Meade

A Review

A reprint of an older book by Glenn Meade, The Cairo Code is a spy thriller worth reading. The majority of the book takes place in the final months of WW II, as Roosevelt and Churchill prepare to meet outside Cairo to discuss a strategy that is hoped to bring an end to the war.  The Nazis have gotten wind of the meeting and have set in motion an operation to make the meeting meaningless, it will be up to three friends from before the war to stop the unthinkable from happening.

Loosely based on actual historical events, the book is non-stop action as the good and bad get pushed together in unexpected ways with more than one twist. We meet many of the major players of the European theater of WW II - along with those already mentioned, we meet Hitler, Himmler, and other, lesser known, characters in the war. There is enough historical drama to keep the reader making regular dashes into Google in order to verify facts, people, and events. Google maps were, at times, a wonderful tool to understand the sites in Northeastern Egypt that played a role in both the history of WW II and in this tale.

My one surprise is that it presents itself as a Christian book - both by its publisher and by the stores that sell it.  Though it is certainly not an embarrassment to the church, I find little in the book to allow the label “Christian” to be added to its description. A couple of misused Bible quotes do not make a Christian book.

As many know, I am not a great lover of military history - fictionalized or factual - but I could not put this book down. It is a long book, longer than most that I review; but it was well worth the time I spent in its pages. The book comes with a strong recommendation; it will make a good summer or fall read. Whether the reader enjoys war, espionage, or mystery, the book will his or her attention for several hours of excellent reading.

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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 my own.