The Maid - A Review

The Maid

by

Nita Prose

A Review

I am your maid. I’m the one who cleans your hotel room, who enters like a phantom when you’re out gallivanting for the day, no care at all about what you’ve left behind, the mess, or what I might see when you’re gone.

I’m the one who empties your trash, tossing out the receipts you don’t want anyone to discover. I’m the one who changes your sheets, who can tell if you slept in them and if you were alone last night or not. I’m the one who straightens your shoes by the door, who puffs up your pillows and finds stray hairs on them. Yours? Not likely. I’m the one who cleans up after you drink too much and soil the toilet seat, or worse.

When I’m done with my work, I leave your room pristine. Your bed is made perfectly, with four plump pillows, as though no one had ever lain there. The dust and grime you left behind has been vacuumed into oblivion. Your polished mirror reflects your face of innocence back at you. It’s as though you were never here. It’s as though all of your filth, all of your lies and deceits, have been erased.

I am your maid. I know so much about you. But when it comes down to it: what is it that you know about me? (The Maid, “Prologue”)

Murder, drug dealing, revenge, and humor, combine to make a readable mystery that ends with a surprising twist. The first person narrator tells the story as she moves in and out of the rooms assigned to her. Cleaning, dusting, mopping, bringing the room once again to the perfection that Mr. Snow, the hotel manager, expects from all his employees. There is much that she knows but will not tell. The result is a story that will hold the reader’s attention from the “Prologue” to the “Epilogue”. The book gets 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 expressed are mine alone.

The Comfort of Distance - A Review

 

The Comfort
of Distance:
A Sebastien Grey
Novel

by

Ryburn Dobbs

A Review

If one could take the three television dramas “Bones”, “Coroner”, and “Blue Sky”; put them into a blender; and pour the result out onto a page, one might get something resembling The Comfort of Distance. Ryburn Dobbs was that blender.

Dobbs has written an easy-to-read mystery using the detective skills of Hank LeGris (LeGris is “the grey” in French) and his colleague Tiffany Reese, both detectives associated with the Custer SD Sheriff’s Department, and the forensic anthropological skills of Hank’s brother, Dr. Sebastien Grey. Together they would explore the identities and the causes of death of the individuals belonging to the jawbone found under a tree and a skull found in the creek behind an RV park. Mix in enough science along with a layman’s description of that science, not only is the book easy-to-read, but also extremely interesting.

Though The Comfort of Distance is the first book from a new author in a new series, the book held this reader’s attention from the first page. The story was at times a bit graphic; however, it was not overly gruesome. It was the perfect blend of police work, science, and relationships, to create a believable story taking place in the Black Hills of South Dakota. This reviewer will look forward to the additional books promised for the Sebastien Grey series. 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 are mine alone.

The Thief of Blackfriars Lane - A Review

 

The Thief of  Blackfriars Lane

by Michelle Griep

A Review

 “Measuring God by how people
—even godly people—
have mistreated you is not a good measuring stick.
Man will always betray, forget, malign, 
misjudge, abandon—but God remains steady and dependable.
Of course that requires you depend upon Him to begin with.
Do you?” (p. 123)

If an author wanted to combine the sleuthing of Sherlock Holmes, the culture of Charles Dickens, and the charity of Robin Hood, the resulting book could very well be The Thief of Blackfriars Lane.

Michelle Griep has written one of the most satisfying faith-based mysteries that I have read. As I finished reading late last night, I was able to lay down knowing that all was right with the world. Kit was a lady of the streets who had spent years building her reputation. Jackson was a newly hired constable that appeared to be a massive failure as he was dismissed from the constabulary and told to never return to London. The book weaves together the story of these two broken people who must work together to find the four very different men who had gone missing from the streets of late 19th century London. The author has done a marvelous job of building a story of grace, mercy, and love, that will speak to the souls of many.

I appreciate the brief appendix that the author includes highlighting the historical context of the book and the bibliography the author used to describe 150-year-old London. The book easily has a place in the church and public library, both for its literary appeal and its historical perspective. I easily give it 5-stars and wish I could give it more.
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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.

In Plain Sight - A Review

Within Plain Sight

by

Bruce Robert Coffin

Portland ME is supposed to be a quiet place, but tonight was going to be the exception. The discovery of a decapitated body of a young woman was upsetting to more than one police officer. Tracking down the person responsible for the crime would mean working with the city’s homeless and poorest as well as it’s most powerful and well-to-do. Portland Police Detective John Byron would have a busy two weeks tracking down clues and suspects - so the right people would end up in jail and the innocent would be free - not an easy task.

Not a cozy mystery, more like Criminal Minds than a Hallmark mystery, the book is a well-written and tightly integrated mystery worth time spent reading. There were nights I really wanted to continue reading, but sleep and other responsibilities called. On the other hand. There were nights I chose to read rather than worry about tomorrow.

It is the fourth in a series of books featuring Detective John Byron, though that was not revealed until reading the “Acknowledgments” at the very rear of the book - though reading previous books in the series may have added to better understanding some characters, this reader felt like nothing was missed by not reading the earlier books. Instead, knowing that there are more books provided an invitation to discover the characters’ earlier history. A great read for the lover of crime mysteries and it would easily find a place on the shelf of most public libraries.
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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.

Stratagem - A Review

Stratagem

by

Robin Caroll

It was a game. It ended up being a deadly game.

This corporate game was requested by Tim DuBois, CEO of Deets PR, in order to help his board work through an upcoming managerial promotion, from Game’s On You. The original request was made to Colton York, though he and Grayson Thibodeaux, the co-owner of Game’s On You, would both need to approve the contract before it was finalized. Grayson would design the game, Colton would administer it. And Grayson’s ex-wife, Anna Belle Thibodeaux would be dead before the game was over.

There were a number of suspects, but the evidence seemed to point to one person. It would take the work of Detective Brandon Gibbons and his partner, Detective Danielle Witz, and Grayson and his assistant, Pam, to independently stumble upon the guilty party. And the discovery came almost too late.

Robin Caroll has managed to weave together a bit of mystery and faith into a captivating story. Though at least one location is shared with previous books from this author, it is unclear whether this story is a sequel to those - and reads well as a standalone book.

Though Robin Caroll is an experienced writer, this was the first book of hers that crossed my path. I was satisfied - and will look forward to reading others. It easily is 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 my own.

The Monastery Murders - A Review

The Monastery Murders

by

E.M. Powell

A Review

A well-written mystery taking place in the middle ages. The protagonist is an agent of the King and his assistant. A group of monks are being systematically killed off and unless Barling and Stanton could discover the culprit, all those residing at the Monastery could be at risk.

I have no problem recommending the book with two exceptions. There is no warning given to the reader that there is one explicit heterosexual scene and a longer (though not explicit) description of a gay romance. If this were apparent in advance, this reader would have chosen to not read the book. If made into a movie (as written), I expect the film would be rated ‘R’ - though, with a bit of gentle editing (of the book or the movie), it could easily receive a ‘PG-13’ rating. Because of the lack of warning and the possibility of these scenes being triggers for some, the book receives a 3-star rather than a 4-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 are mine alone.

Murder In the Oval Library - A Review

Murder In the Oval Library

by

C. M. Gleason

A Review

The year is 1861; Lincoln has been inaugurated, and the South has started to succeed; the country is on the brink of a civil war. Oh, and a body is found in the Oval Office of the Whitehouse.

Abraham Lincoln assigns Adam Speed Quinn the task of digging for the truth. Sophie Gates, an independent reporter writing for the New York Times, appoints herself as his assistant. Together they will need to put together the pieces of a puzzle that will only become more complicated once Washington DC is invaded by the Rebels from the South.

The story was a fun read and held this reader’s attention for the duration of the book. Well worth my time.

A “Note From The Author” does a good job of helping to connect the story to the historical events in the days immediately following the inauguration. What was disappointing was that events discussed in the book could not be verified through Google, etc. As I have said in earlier reviews, the ability to follow up with a bit of independent research is what makes an historical novel particularly interesting. The brief essay at the end ties the book to some of that history, but it also leaves some questions unanswered.

Having said that, I have ordered an earlier title by the same author written with the same characters and similar sitting. I do not expect to be disappointed.

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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.

Formula of Deception - A Review

Formula of Deception

by

Carrie Stuart Parks

A Review

Ms. Parks presents a roller coaster of a story – where determining the good, the evil, and the crazy, becomes almost as important as determining who-done-it. This reader could not put the book down.

Murphy Andersen had a mission to complete, but truth was not part of it. Her sister had disappeared, her friends were dying, and she needed to put the pieces together. Determining who to trust was as difficult for her as it was for this reader, but slowly and surely, the clouds of uncertainty begin to lift. And when they do, she must fight for her own life and the life of those she had learned to trust.

The book had it roots in Alaska’s part in WWII and the United States involvement in chemical and biological weapons in the late 1940’s through the late 1950’s. Sadly, the US government is not as innocent as our history books would have it’s citizens believe. The author has done an excellent job of weaving history and fiction together into a readable tale.

Formula of Deception is a summer or fall thriller that easily earns the reader’s attention. Some church libraries will appreciate it (though the faith component is not as strong as it is for some faith-based books), but the public library could easily find a place for this book in their collection. This book is perfect for the reader looking for a thrill ride along Alaska’s Aleutian Islands.

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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.

Blind Betrayal - A Review

Blind Betrayal

by

Nancy Mehl

A Review

A crime thriller involving the protection of a witness who has more to risk than her own life. Valerie Bennett and E. J. Queen, both part of the US Marshals Service, were frenemies tasked with transporting journalist Casey Sloan from St. Louis to Washington DC to testify before a grand jury. The catch: after completing her own research, her original source has disappeared and is presumed dead.  Mehl moves the story from St. Louis to upstate Ohio to Seattle to Pittsburgh in order to save the life of both the protagonists and the life of the one who they are charged to protect.

The result is a believable story that will hold the reader’s attention from the initial attack in chapter one to the last few pages of the Epilogue. A bit of faith draws the reader allows the reader to get a glimpse of how God works in the life a believer while on the job.

The book certainly belongs on the shelf of the local public library. For some it will be a welcome addition to the church library. For the individual looking for the perfect summer getaway read, this would fill the bill nicely. This reader enjoyed the book greatly — hopefully other readers will as well.

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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.

"Book of Henry" - A Movie Review

Book of Henry

A Movie Review

So I am trying something new - rather than reviewing a book, I am going to review a movie. To be honest, this is not my first attempt at a movie review - though my earlier attempts date back to the early 1990’s. I was part of a CPE Unit being held at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Sioux City, IA. We had been given a writing assignment to evaluate what we learned about death in the books we had read that summer. However, it was not the books that I read that helped me think through this theme that year - the same year that “Mr. Holland’s Opus” and “My Girl II” were released. Those two movies and probably a couple of others became part of my essay for that unit. So now, 25 years later, I will again take a stab at writing a movie review.

Earlier this afternoon, my wife and I walked into our local Cinemark theater wanting to see “Cars 3”,  “Megan Leavey”, or “Book of Henry”. The latter movie won for this afternoon as it fit into our schedule given when we arrived at the theater and when it was playing (i.e. we only had a 1-hour wait, rather than the two-hour wait that the other two would have required).

“The Book of Henry” reminded me, as I mentioned to my wife and confirmed by a second review I read after coming home from the theater, of an Alfred Hitchcock thriller. I and the other review both mentioned “Rear Window” as a comparable Hitchcock film.

Henry’s mom is an immature mother trying to parent a semi-genius son and his rather normal brother. Henry becomes aware that a neighborhood girl is being abused by her stepfather, but because of his role in the community, nobody takes the accusation seriously. While facing his own crisis, Henry devises a way to protect the neighbor’s daughter and prepares a script for his mom to follow to assure the daughter’s safety. The immature mother begins to follow the script - but finally grows up enough to tackle the problem

in other ways. But the mom is not the only one who is going to grow up, Henry’s younger brother challenges mom to not address problems like her genius son would, but like she would.

The movie brings together a number of important themes in the lives of several of the main characters. Though not specifically a Christian film, the movie addresses issues that are important to believers - child abuse, parenting, grace (including a child’s rendition of “Amazing Grace” at an appropriate point in the movie), and maturity.

The PG-13 rating and the selection of previews chosen (ranging from R- to PG-13 rated movies) to run prior to the beginning of our feature film left my wife and I with doubts as the movie began. Occasionally the movie included some inappropriate language. There is a discussion of child abuse, but nothing explicit is shown on the screen. Similarly, a suicide is committed off screen, but even that helps bring the film to a satisfying conclusion. The movie is not appropriate for children or young teens or the Christian that may be offended by foul language, but it does have something of value to teach each of us about the world in which we may find ourselves. I gave the movie 5/5 stars and would recommend it for most adults.

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This review is based on a paid admission to the theater. The opinions expressed are my own.

Skydive - A Review

Skydive

by

Susan O’Brien

A Review

Not quite your normal cozy mystery.  Not even your normal murder mystery. Yet a book worth reading.

Kat (aka Katherine) has disappeared - almost as soon as she grew out of the foster care system, she was lost. Lost to everyone - her jailed mother, her foster parents, her friends, and to the PI “hired” to make she was okay. And, why was she lost, because she was not okay. Caught in the hands of human traffickers and nearly missing the deadline to avail herself of the help available to those leaving foster care, Kat needed help, and she did not yet know just how much help she needed.

It was up to Nicki Valentine, her colleague, Kenna, her boyfriend, Dean, the local police, and various associates and friends made along the way to find Kat before it was too late. The story of how they do so is gripping and tense. So gripping and tense I almost decided to give the book a rather poor review - with its various dark and creepy sittings (including the tattoo shop, a strip club, the basement drug hole, and the sleazy hotels they spent time visiting) and the people they had to deal with (prostitutes and drug dealers). Two things changed my mind. In the midst of this dark story there were glimpses of grace in the lives of the main characters as they found opportunities to pray and put faith into action. Though not a Christian book, faith is still present as the reader moves through the book. The second mind changer was the commitment of the author to responding to the issue of human trafficking - not just in her writing but in her life’s personal commitments as well. Her commitment to the abused was helpful in understanding the darkness that surrounded this story.

Does this book belong in the Church library - probably not; but it certainly would be worth reading by any believer or other person who has a concern for the abused and misused children in our world and in America. Though sexuality is certainly a part of the story, it is not explicit and will most likely not be offensive to most readers. Though fictional, the story opened my eyes to the underside of American culture - a side I wish did not exist.

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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.

Catching Heat - A Review

Catching Heat

by

Janice Cantore

A Review

A well-written mystery that depends too heavily on the previous book in the series, Catching Heat is a mystery in it's own right that also continues the story of the deaths of Detective Abby Hart's parents. A story that began in earlier books in a series starting in May 2015.

That is the biggest problem with these books - the secondary story with each book depends on facts and events disclosed in earlier books. As I suggested in earlier reviews for the books from this series, get all three and read them in sequence.

The primary story is involved and quickly draws the reader into its world. I would not want to be the criminal in Detective Hart's and her cold case team's sight. I could not run fast enough or far enough to escape their grasp. They are great cops when working independently; but when working as a team, they will get their target.

With it's hint of faith, the book will appeal to the Christian reader. Written by a former cop with experience in the field, the story has the realism needed to attract an even broader audience. Though no suggestion is made, it would be fun to find more books in the Cold Case Justice series.

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

Murder in G Major - A Review

Murder in G Major

by

Alexia Gordon

A Review

Gethsemane is a lost soul. She has lost her job, her fiance had a mistress, and the ghost in her current home is convinced that he was not guilty of his wife’s murder or of his own suicide. Too make matters worse, she had six weeks to turn St. Brennan’s all male, middle school, orchestra into a championship team that must win the 75th Annual All-County School Orchestra Competition - an award they had not won since the inaugural competition - if the school was to get the grant they needed to rebuild their music performance hall and Gethsemane Brown was to keep her job.

Though my description of the story above may sound convoluted, the author has done a very competent job of weaving the various threads into an enjoyable story that is neither boring nor simplistic. Additional murders accumulate like a rock collector gathers rocks.  And, like in any well-written cozy mystery, the problems are all resolved.

Except, as the final page is read, the reader is left unsure if Gethsemane Brown will keep her current job, we do not know what has happened to the friendly ghost that occupied her home, and what can we say about Frank, the math teacher, and Inspector O’Reilly, the local cold case squad?   

As a maestra with talent, whose career seemed to about take off, Gethsemane Brown is ready for the big time. When she finds that the boyfriend who recruited her to conduct a major orchestra is already committed to his mistress, she finds herself stuck - stuck in a small, Irish, boys, school - for which she is neither trained or equipped. But with the help of “Irish”, the ghost, she begins to move forward, both as she builds relationships with her students and as she solves the mystery surrounding the deaths of her ghost and his wife.

A great Halloween read, Murder in G Major will fill some the space between labor day and Thanksgiving (USA), which may also introduce the reader some unknown (at least to him or her) classical music that might make a great play list on Pandora. And after reading the current book, the reader will be wanting more and more of Gethsemane Brown and the kooky townspeople of Dunmullach, Ireland.

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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.

Newsmakers - A Review

Newsmakers

by

Lis Wiehl

A Review

“Newsmakers” is a political thriller, stolen from the front pages of a 21st century newspaper - perhaps it opens up a new genre of literature: “journalistic terrorism.”

As in the past, Lis Wiehl has created a carefully paced story that keeps the reader engaged and wanting more. It seems like Erica Sparks is in the right place at the right time for two, too many, news stories. She was there when the ferry crashed; she was there when Kay Barrish, California politician considering a run for the Presidency, dies in Erica’s arms. As a friend says, “It was awful coincidenky (sic) …”

It would take Erica, her co-workers at GNN, the new Global News Network, police working on both the East and West Coasts, and a bit of luck to find the connecting link. A link that could have national and international implications if not discovered.  

Though coming from a Christian publisher, the book is not overtly religious and should appeal to a large number of readers - those who like cozy mysteries, those who like a hint of romance, conspiracy theorists, and news junkies.

The pieces come together in an epilogue. An epilogue that ends with a call from the President of the United States asking for Erica Sparks help ...

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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.

Cold Shot - A Review

Cold Shot

by

Dani Pettrey

A Review

The Civil War battles at Gettysburg had ended a long time ago. And Finley Scott, forensic anthropologist, was present to recover some of its lost history. But what should have been a long buried body was soon understood to have been buried just a few months ago. And it would take Ms. Scott’s team and Chief Ranger Griffin McCray, along with his friends, to discover who put it there.

Sadly, the book is advertised as a “romantic suspense” - not untrue, but that word “romantic” may drive some who would like the book away. Similarly, the cover shot of a lonely Ranger, underwrites the “romantic”. I would argue that the book is a thriller first and foremost. Yes, it has a hint of romance, but placing the book’s focus at this point will, again, drive away some who might enjoy the book.

If I had one word to describe this book, it would be “secrets”: each of the characters carries a load that they would like to hide but that limit their ability to do their work at their best. But the secret would come out and the jobs would get done. And the evidence would lead to the truth.

I appreciated the way the author weaved spiritual truth into the story - not with heavy scripture, but with the characters living out their faith. Faith is not applied in a heavy handed manner, but becomes a natural part of the story as it evolves over the character’s lives.

Recommended for believers of all stripes, the book was well worth the time I spent between its pages.

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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.

Epiphany - A Review

Epiphany

by

Nickolae Gerstner

A Review

The Father Rockcastle is asked to stand up for two teens, one delusional, the other innocent, who have been arrested for murder. His brother is a lawyer. An unknown daughter arrives at his door. And a parishioner with two young sons catches the pastor’s eye. And what could have become a mishmash of disconnected stories arrives as a thoughtful, engaging novel that keeps the reader interested from beginning to end.  

The book revolves around the involvement of the various characters’ attempts to connect with each other and to find the murderer of an unidentified man. Each has a piece of the puzzle. And with the help of a future Supreme Court Justice, it was the daughter and her cousin that complete the puzzle. The question becomes, can they finish the puzzle without losing their lives in the process.

The combination of politics, law, faith, relationships, and justice, will draw many into this book. I hope that the presence of a Catholic Priest will not dissuade the Protestant or non-religious reader from picking up this exciting and readable thriller. Though the book is not religious; it does have a distinct taste of grace - regardless of how hurt one may be. Thus, the book may draw readers from many directions to its pages. The book is worth the five stars I have awarded it.

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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.