Airborne - A Review

 

Airborne

by

DiAnn Mills

FBI Special Agent Heather Lawrence’s marriage is on the rocks. She is not quite ready to admit it, to herself or to those around her. Deciding to take a vacation to the Salzburg Music Festival and to visit the community in which it is held - giving her time to sort out her life - she boards the plane that will take from Houston to Frankfurt Germany. But two hours into the flight she is required to shift from vacationer to FBI agent when people throughout the flight begin to get sick - headaches, fevers, vomiting, bleeding noses, all contribute to what quickly becomes a crisis.

Working with the FBI, FAA, CDC, and her husband on the ground, Heather will need to narrow down the source of the illness that attacks more than half of those onboard the flight.

DiAnn Mills has written another great faith-based thriller that holds the reader’s attention from page 1 to page 385. As Heather involves herself in the lives of those in isolation after the plane lands in New York City, brushing shoulders with the four or five potential suspects. As a trained FBI Agent and a Behavior Analyst, she is in a unique position to watch and observes the suspects - she is also in a unique position to put life on the line.

The book will find a welcome place on the reading lists of Christians who enjoy suspense and thrillers. It also has a welcome place on the shelves of public and church libraries.
______________ 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.

A Killer’s Guide to Good Works - A Review

A Killer’s Guide
to Good Works

by

Shelley Costa

A Review

This is the second book that I have had the privilege of reviewing by Shelley Costa. As I said earlier, it is obvious that Ms. Costa is an experienced and talented writer.  The story is compelling and holds the reader’s interest from the first page to the end. Though there is little to tie this story to the earlier book, the story does continue right where the earlier work finished.

The book begins on the  coast of Spain in the late 16th century; but moves quickly into the 21st century England and New York. The characters have their roots in the religious (Bale) and literary (Val) worlds of their preferred professions. The third main character is an historian, alas, a deceased historian. However, it is Arian’s death, the brother and best friend of the other key characters, that holds the story together.

The writing is superb, among the best I have seen from those writing cozy mysteries. The history, the details, and the well defined plot all contribute to an excellent tale. With most of the story taking place in mid-spring, the reader begins to feel as he or she is truly visiting New York City with its crowded streets, taxi cabs, and ethnic restaurants on every street corner. The reader gets to share the Jewish, Italian, and Asian fare that defines this modern metropolitan city. And like most cozy mysteries there is a hint of romance, a hint that leaves the reader wondering if it will grow into something more in future iterations of these characters.

It is easy to give the book a 5-star review without hesitation.

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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.

Practical Sins For Cold Climates - A Review

Practical Sins For
Cold Climates

by

Shelly Costa

A Review

“Practical Sins For Cold Climates” is not a cozy mystery - but it is well-written and held this reader’s interest, forcing more than one sleepless night as he tried to get to the end of the who-done-it.  The author is a skilled practitioner of the writer’s art, experienced both as a short story author and a novelist - this is the first book in a new series.

The story has its roots in New York City, but the action takes place in the northern hills of eastern Canada on the shores of Lake Wendaban - among the camps, villages, and homes that line the edge of the lake. Valjean Cameron was not built for that climate, but that is where her job had taken her. It doesn’t take long for her to stumble on the two year old unsolved murder of Leslie Decker (nee Selkirk). Just as the action is scattered along the shores of Lake Wendaban, so are the suspects. It would take Val a little less than two weeks to move through the personal history of the various suspects to discover who to believe and who to lead the local constabulary to arrest.

Disappointingly, this book, if made into a movie, as written, would warrant an “R” rating. However, since most of the sexuality and language that would force this rating onto the movie is unnecessary, it very well could end up with a “PG-13” rating.  Having said that, the sexuality and language is not so blatant that most readers would be offended, just be aware that it is present.  

If the reader is looking for a good - though not quite cozy - mystery, “Practical Sins For Cold Climates” may just be what the doctored ordered. Given its late summer setting, the book may be a perfect read for any time of the year as it warms the heart on a cold winter’s ever or as the reader settles down for their own written feast this next summer.

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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.