Mystery Crime Books

The second book in the Scot Harvath series was no letdown after "The Lions of Lucerne". With imaginative plot twists, exotic locations, and a new unlikely heroine, this second effort by Brad Thor is every bit as engaging as his first was. And as far as the cold-hearted assassin is concerned, the identity is surprising. Against the backdrop of current events, Brad Thor recognizes that politically incorrect fact, that we are at war with elements of a group of religious extremists; radical Islam. As fantastic as the action in this book was, I found it to be plausible, if not realistic.

I like the political/military thriller genre and this book did not disappoint. It was a quick read, but also required some thinking. The book was well-written and the dry sense of humor from the author that surfaces from time to time is also refreshing. I look forward to reading the rest of Mr. Harvath's adventures.

This is the third or fourth book in the series that I have read. This may have been the best one. The entire book is exciting. It is well-written and keeps you enganged the entire time. You know Scott Horvath is going to make it somehow (It is part of a series, after all) but you never know how.

The twists in this book are startling. You won't see the big one coming.

Brad has another bestseller in this novel! Full of page turning action with Scot Harvath. A must read!

This was an amazing book. I picked it up and read it almost non-stop for a couple of days. If you like spy thrillers, this is it. I hope they make it into a movie. I believe this was the first in the series.

One of my favorites heroes, besides Jack Ryan, in Tom Clancy's books is John Clark. He is a dark figure with a mysterious past. He's a man admired for his action and his word. He works in black ops but has his own moral code. Clark is a man of action. This book essentially covers Clark's past. His girlfriend was murdered by Baltimore drug dealers who raped her while slowly asphyxiating her with a plastic bag. A horrific death that profoundly affects Clark. But he doesn't mope nor sit idly by. This ex-SEAL sets out upon a course of justice. He dispenses justice in the only way these murderous scum understand - by executing the drug dealers who peddle their death and addiction to adults and children. Clancy uses the story to give us greater backstory on Jack Ryan. His father, Emmet Ryan, is a detective trying to track down the killer of these drug dealers. But Clark keeps moving forward `Without Remorse'.

For this review let me first start off by thanking the positive reviewers of Without Remorse here on Amazon! This was quite a find. I am usually more prone to enjoy science fiction and some of the classics in my reading habits, but decided to branch out and try some of the more popular mainstream authors I've seen on the bestseller lists over the years. Knowing what a force Clancy is through movies and video games, plus seeing all the positive accolades here on Amazon, led me to find this book and it really hit the mark. Very engaging and entertaining read from start to finish. This one is personal and will put you into the shoes of someone facing some of the most horrific scenarios a human could ever imagine on multiple levels. From the tragic deaths of loved ones to Vietnam P.O.W.s and Cold War espionage, this book has a lot to offer. I liked that it showed how a good man confronts the harsh realities of the seedier, dare I say evil, elements of society and world events that most average people won't ever have to (or want to) face head-on. Clancy creates a sympathetic hero in John Kelly that I think most people would like to be like if faced with the same situations where corrupt, crime-infiltrated law enforcement won't cut it. It is truly sad that the situations presented in this book exist but it is good to know there are people like John Kelly out there willing to do something about them, if not as individuals then as the organizations and other institutions that protect our country and communities. Thomas Harris' book Hannibal Rising is quite similar in many ways. In real life justifying murder out of revenge isn't something I want to attempt, but it makes for great entertainment and catharsis. It's just like watching or reading about the good Jedis chopping the enemy down with lightsabers; symbolic of what most people would want to do to the evil or injustice in themselves or the outside world. Can't wait for the movie and won't forget reading the compression chamber scene in my tent while camping on a rainy surf trip to Baja last winter. My book is still bloated from soaking up the rain!

One star for a Clancy book?? Yes, but I'll get to that later.

I've been reading Clancy for 20 years and read all his first half dozen or so novels as they were published. He is an amazingly talented writer. I think he is at times a genius in characterization. I've used him as an example of good writing in some of my classes; how he can completely round out a character on one side of a single page of paper. Clancy deserves the success he has achieved.

But with this book I began a personal boycott of his books; guiltily I'd still check them out from the local library, but I wouldn't pay real money for them any more.

It's the morality of the thing. Being a vigilante, being judge, jury and executioner . . . is not only a good thing, but an honorable and laudable thing; a thing to be strived for; a heroic thing . . . and wouldn't it be great if America was filled top-full of Clarks killing their way through our days and nights? Certainly there are real predatory criminals out there, and Clancy has made sure that the bad guys in this book have that character. But when it comes to making us root for a murderer (albeit a good and just murderer), I'm sorry but I just can't get on that boat with you.

And a major illustration of this is one of the climactic points of the book; using decompression equipment to torture and kill. Here's how it reads: first the omniscient voice of the author describes the equipment and its effect on the human body; then Clark captures the bad buy and explains to him in detail (once again) the equipment and its effects; then Clark actually does the deed and the equipment and its effects are laid before us (in detail) for a third time. I'm sorry but here's what I saw in my mind's eye: a naked sweaty man sitting at a keyboard typing out this description of gruesome torture over and over, breathing hard. Breathing very hard. I thought it was one of the most disgusting pieces of fiction, really pornographic, ever published.

All that said, it's still a skillfull and wonderfully crafted book. Although Clark's escape at the end is borderline supernatural, or at least invests him with the powers of Superman . . . a bit of jumping-the-shark there.

MS

If you have never read any of Clancy's books before, this is not a bad place to start. I have not read many of his works myself, but it appears to me that this is chronologically the first to take place in the series on John Clark and Jack Ryan. This book for me was one of those rare effortless reads where the pages turned on their own and I did not want to put it down. I found the story to be completely plausible - if you have ever wondered what would have to happen in the life of a normal, non-psychopathic person that would turn them into a highly-skilled, cold-blooded killer, this is the answer. I won't give away too many details of the plot, but it is basically a revenge motif - a decent guy seeking justice against some pretty bad people and the inner struggles he endures while doing this and trying to remain one of the "good guys." It kind of reminded me of Batman (without the cape and mask, and with Batman being an executioner). This is definitely a guys book, and if that's what you are in the mood for, you will not waste any time or money with this one. Truly satisfying.

This was the fifth Clancy book I have read but my first in many years. Without giving much away it is mainly a story of revenge. In this book you get to see how some of the regular characters in other Clancy novels come to be. I thought the book was fine & if you are just starting out the book does pick up the pace once you get one or two hundred pages in. I didn't rate this book higher because I feel the story could have been done with less than 750 pages, that's two pretty good sized books. Also much of the book takes place in Vietnam & details some Navy Seal / SOG action. I have recently read the book "SOG" by John Plaster & I have to say the action in that book is hard to beat - & it was hard for me not to compare the two. Without Remorse does finish with a bang just for me it took a little long to get there.

James Patterson's works are certainly not classics of American literature. Most of his books are designed to be read on a beach, under the sun, when you want something fluffy that moves quickly and provides quick diversion. Generally, he hits the mark in this regard. "London Bridges" is an exception though. This one is not long by any means, but it moves terribly slowly. Oh, there is a lot of action and turmoil, but it comes so quickly and superficially that the reader cannot possibly care. Characters are introduced and disposed of quickly and without fanfare. Alex Cross' personal relationships come across as contrived filler material and little more. And Cross himself seems so helpless and lost for most of the book that he is merely floating along as is the reader. If Patterson's main character has no plan, is merely waiting to see what happens next, then what is the reader supposed to do? The inept plotline reduces Cross to an observer just like the rest of us, which destroys any tension or real intrigue. I found myself skimming the book quickly just to get done with it, which I never do when reading a novel. I would pass this offering from Patterson by in favor of one of his earlier works, which will certainly be more compelling than this one.

London Bridges was ordered, paid for, but never received. So I cannot review a book that I did not received

It looks as if the scope of Patterson's Alex Cross books widened considerably when the protagonist made the switch from the Washington PD to the FBI .Cross is now no longer dealing with the national and local psycho but is a player on the global scale .Here the villains are returnees from previous novels -the Wolf (The Big Bad Wolf )and Geoffrey Shafer ,aka the Weasel (Pop Goes the Weasel).Shafer is definitely the junior partner in the alliance however and the overarching intelligence behind the terror plot to destroy London ,Tel Aviv ,Paris and New York is that of the former KCB and Red Mafia man The Wolf .The Wolf wants an enormous sum of money and the release of political prisoners are else -kapow!
The action moves between the major cities involved and the action comes thick and fast .There are false leads galore and lots of chases and shootings to keep action fans briskly turning the pages .It is never remotely plausible but most readers will willingly suspend disbelief as the thrill of the chase makes for an engrossing read.

This is a good thrilller and will be enjoyed by devotees of the genre

Well, I can't say I wasn't warned: "Big Bad Wolf" exhibited all of the warning signs of a once-fascinating fiction franchise going down the toilet. I should have stopped after BBW. More importantly, James Patterson should have, too. Instead, he takes the mess that was BBW, adds a stray random villain and some other leavings from previous books, stirs in a partnership between that random villain and the Big Bad Wolf that makes no sense based on what we know of either, throws in an "Alex Cross, This Is Your Life" parade of characters, adds a dash of Al Quaeda (?!), and voila! the crap casserole that is "London Bridge." Patterson can't tie up his current plot threads and he has an annoying tendency to keep re-introducing characters (such as Christine) who once served a narrative purpose but now just add pointless drama and stretch the book another 10 pages. This book is just a mess; I was really disappointed because I'd been hoping for something to redeem BBW. Also, there apparently has never been a book in history that the Publisher's Weekly reviewers haven't loved, so posting their reviews is a waste of space.

This book is very boring and out of focus. I was wondering if this book is written by James Patterson.

I really like Joanne Fluke, but this book is one of the best yet. I actually made the peach bread recipie from it.

And that is the setting for this eighth entry in the Hannah Swenson series. Hannah is involved in a big way in the Tri-County summer fair, and she and her friends also get involved in a murder. One of her fellow judges in the Baked Goods section is murdered right at the fair, and Hannah stumbles on the body. These people (Hannah and her family and friends) are starting to really feel like friends of mine. I love the interplay between the characters, and the various personalities. And the stories are quite funny too. Hannah's ride on the Tilt-A-Whirl at the end of the book is hilarious! Sometimes the mysteries are a little easy to figure out, like this one is, but that does not detract from the sheer fun of reading these books. It is a delight, and I'm sorry that I'm almost up-to-date on this series, and will be left waiting each year for the next one.

I have been a long time reader of the Hannah series. I actually did not rush right out and get this book because I had been so disappointed in the last one. This book was better than the last entry, but I do feel that the author needs to take heed of her reader's requests to wrap up the whole Mike/Norman/Hannah storyline.

This entry, Hannah's overly precocious niece Tracy was only mentioned in passing, and that greatly improved the book, in my opinion. Also, the mystery was given more of a foreground, unlike the last book where the murder took place in the last third of the book. These were the things that made the book more enjoyable. Some have commented that Hannah sounds condescending in her tone or that she is unlikable. I don't feel this way about Hannah. I do, however, feel that for a woman of her age who makes it known that she is independent, owns her own home, her own business, etc., it is a bit unrealistic that she would not have a computer or cell phone. Most businessowners today, even of a bakery, have a computer for billing, ordering, etc.

I will continue to read this series as it seems that the mystery is improving by being the main part of the book, and will just have to look past the whole marriage proposal storyline. Actual rating would probably be a 3 1/2.

I always enjoy the Hannah Swenson mysteries. The recipes are great in this one, but the story is not her best. Very good, but not her best.

I'm not sure if it's boredom or morbid fascination that has kept me reading this series. The mysteries are good, I have to admit, but Hannah and her perpetual (and really too obvious) see-sawing between men is getting on my nerves. It doesn't work the way that Evanovich's Plum series does, because... because Hannah is a 'good girl'. It's all so uptight and... sweet. And annoying. Sure, Hannah has some imperfections because she's not as good looking as her sisters and has impossible red hair, but she's still too idyllic to make a good main character. Give me the screwed-up world of Plum or the unexpected world of Polifax any day! Character issues aside (and really only Hannah is annoying, several of the minor characters are quite well done) they're good little cozies and do have amazing recipes!

After months of "patiently" waiting for this title to come out in paperback, my almost 10 year old was thrilled to see its delivery from the UPS man. He LOVED this book, as he has the previous books and thinks they should all be made into movies and/or tv shows. He reads every night before bed, but usually only for about 20 minutes before falling fast asleep. With this book, he was up 2 hours after "lights-out" not wanting to put it down. Now he begins the wait for the next installment to be available in paperback.

I absolutely love this series. I have read them all but book 6, and can't wait for it to be released. I can see this series becoming very popular.

The 5th book is wonderful, but the end bit, which has to do with the Scarlet Hand, is extremely confusing. Furthermore, the 6th book (yes, its out!)has a plot that doesnt really match up with the 5th. Still, its an extremely compelling read, I suggest that you buy it!

I am sure that I am not the target market for this series, as I will turn 56 in less than a week. In spite of that I have to say that I love this series of books. The sisters and their extended family keep me entertained, crying and rolling on the floor with laughter.
I recently discovered these books when reading a newspaper article about the frenzy around the release of the sixth book.

I was a huge fan of the Harry Potter books and since there probably will never be another one am glad to find a replacement that is just as good and sometimes better.

I can't wait for the 7th installment, to find out what myths and fairy tale stories will have new light shed on them.

The adventures never seem to end for fairy-tale detectives Sabrina and Daphne Grimm. This time they are investigating a series of thefts of magical items like Baba Yaga's Wand of Merlin, Morgan le Fay's Wonder Clock, and water from the Fountain of Youth. Usually Granny Relda and Mr. Canis help them solve mysteries, but Sabrina and Daphne are pretty much on their own this time. Granny Relda is busy trying to raise money to pay her property tax and Mr. Canis is finding it harder and harder to stop turning into the Big Bad Wolf. Will Sabrina and Daphne be able to find the thief before they run out of time?

"Magic and Other Misdemeanors" is another great entry in Michael Buckley's delightful "The Sisters Grimm" fairy-tale detective series. Sabrina and Daphne continue to grow as characters in each book, especially Sabrina, 12 years old by the end of the book and not nearly as angry as she was in the earlier books. Buckley does a great job of incorporating fairy tale and other legendary characters such as Cinderella, Goldilocks, some of the seven dwarfs, the Queen of Hearts, the Sheriff of Nottingham, and many more. It's always fun to see how he tweaks the various characters - for example, Puss `N Boots is an exterminator, Cinderella hosts a radio talk show called The Dr. Cindy Show, and the witch from Hansel and Gretel is a (not very good) dentist. There's a wonderful sense of humor throughout the book (the magic mirror's computer still being on dial-up and Granny Relda's "recipes" are just two examples of that humor). There are some scary moments, but nothing too frightening. The reason for the theft of the magical items has been done before, but Buckley somehow makes it seem fresh.

"Magic and Other Misdemeanors" is aimed at ages 9 - 12, but readers young and old will enjoy it.

Anne Perry's BUCKINGHAM PALACE GARDENS receives a hard-hitting narration by veteran Michael Page, who has recorded over 50 titles for this publisher alone. His voice spices a survey of Buckingham palace after a fatal house party draws in one Thomas Pitt to investigate the crisis. An avid thriller evolves.

This book is great and good reading as all of her books are. She is my favorite writer.

...no Charlotte to give Pitt help with his inquiries. But little Gracie, all 4'11.5" of her, finally gets to shine in this well-crafted novel. I did miss Charlotte and some of the other characters that often appear in this fine series but I was glad to see Pitt back solving murders and not hunting down saboteurs.

I don't want to give too much away, so I'll just say I thoroughly enjoyed this latest edition of Charlotte and Thomas Pitt's adventures in crime. If you are a fan of this series, I think you'll be pleased as well.

Another fine job by Ms. Perry. But next time, a little bit more of Charlotte.

I've been addicted to these books by Anne Perry for a number of years. They track well with stories my great-grandmother told me, and it's enjoyable to curl up with one of the books on a rainy afternoon.

I have all her novels and though I haven't had the chance to read this one yet I'm sure I'll be pleased.

I've recently became a big fan of Robert Crais. I started reading the Elvis Cole series in order, this being the third in the series. I must say it held my attention the whole way through, and I can't wait to continue on!

This is definitely a series worth checking out.

Happy Reading!

I admit it took this third book to officially crown him King, but that he is. After reading hundreds of dozens (I know, I know) of books in my life, including ALL of the books written by a whole MESS of writers, I can recognize superior plotting and characterization. But to have all that chewy goodness also wrapped up in an entertaining, involving and engaging story with LOTS of first and secondary characters you are concerned with--that's mastery. For example, after you have read this book (no, not a spoiler), weren't you a little worried about Charlie in the climatic scene? Being concerned about a rat-bad guy? Now that's some author chops. Run, get these all, if you or the man or teenage boy in your life is starting to think about the bigger moral questions. Good examples in these books to clear up the issues.

---Lullaby Town is the third in Robert Crais' Elvis Cole series and considerably better than the first two.
I have been reading the series in order after hearing about Crais. The Monkey's Raincoat, the Cole debut, spent a lot of time convincing us how cool Elvis is, and offered a plot that often stretched credibility.
But it was good enough to invest in the sequel, Stalking The Angel. That was better, not so silly, but still offered an unlikely plot.
But Crais seems to hit stride with Lullaby Town. The plot still stretches a bit, maybe more than a bit, but the action is taut, the character of Cole a bit more realistic and the writing snappy and crisp.
Next up for me is Free Fall. I can't wait.
If Crais keeps improving, he may turn out the most memorable private eye series since Ross MacDonald's magnificent Lew Archer books back in the 60s and 70s.

Robert Crais always holds my attention. I usually can't wait for his next book. I started reading Crais about 7 months ago. I ordered most of his other books. I tell anyone who likes mystery and suspense to read his books. RWH

LULLABY TOWN is the third entry in Robert Crais's "Elvis Cole" series about a LA Private Eye. I'm currently reading this series in order, and this novel is the most enjoyable of the three I've read.

The plot of LULLABY TOWN, which involves Cole taking on the mafia in a small Connecticut town, is borderline ridiculous, but it's still good fun. Crais takes a bit more time here in developing the story, and the storyline of this novel seemed to flow better than the prior two installments. The dialogue in LULLABY TOWN is quite humourous and sharp, better than almost any PI author in print. After reading this book, I can see why Crais became a superstar of the genre.

It is pretty clear that these early Cole novels are highly influenced by Robert Parker's Spenser series. This is not necessarily an insult, since the early Spenser books are some of the best genre writing available to modern readers. Still, my problem with Crais is that his early work strikes me as heavily derivative of another author's style, which means that it lacks the freshness and originality that are required for truly great fiction. Crais seems to feel comfortable following a formula, but I wish he would take more chances with his talent.

Overall, though, LULLABY TOWN is a very solid read, and I look forward to reading more novels in this series.

I have read everyone of Hillerman's books, and I think this will be the last. His last several books have been dull, predictable, uninspired, and worst of all contradictory. I'm afraid Hillerman may be becoming senile. His editor is incompetent!

Gentle explorations into Navajo culture coexist with criminal brutality and meditations on retirement in this odd, but still satisfying, Hillerman novel. The story follows the multiple identities of a murderer, the shape shifter of the title, studied persistently by retired Joe Leaphorn, formerly of the Navajo Tribal Police. Subplots involving history as told in woven rugs, the homesickness of a young Hmong man employed by the murderer, and similarities in creation stories from several cultures add dimension and depth. Oddly, the most interesting ruminations of our hero may be those on the difficulties and disappointments of retirement, something newly experienced by the huge boomer population in the US, Navajo and otherwise.

As others have said, I find this the worst yet in a downward spiral. Not much plot, totally cliche'd protagonist doing almost nothing, very little native culture (surely the shape shifter is not so simple as a clever con man?), not even any cool scenery in this one. The editing is simply shameful. Someone who loves this man should try to save him from further embarrassment.

I am a long time Hillerman fan, and expected not to like this book based on the recent reviews. Thank goodness I was pleasantly surprised to find that I liked it very much, and even thought it was among his best! I agree with others that the structure of the plot, with a flashback being the main story, doesn't seem to work too well. I found myself forgetting that it was a flashback as the story progressed, though. I thought the plot was better than some of his other books, that followed a predictable formula of Leaphorn and Chee pursuing separate strands and alternating chapters of Leaphorn's actions, Chee's actions, Leaphorn's actions, Chee's... etc., until the final chapters tied it together. This plot is solely Leaphorn's story, and the plot unfolds directly. Less artifice, more enjoyable. I also liked Leaphorn's growing awareness of his aging. Subtle little touches, like having difficulty getting up from a sitting position, and having occasional "why am I doing this when I am supposedly retired?" thoughts. I was quite surprised by the ending, and wondered if an ex-policeman would really wrap things up the way he did, but Leaphorn is not a conventional person and perhaps he would. All in all, I found it a very satisfying read. I am dismayed that others did not. I think some of the criticism is very nit-picky. After all, this is fiction, and requires "a willing suspension of disbelief."

What a huge disappointment.

Hillerman has never been much of a master of prose. Fans read past his stilted sentences for intriguing plots, often interesting characters, development of the relationships between the key characters, and the weaving of Navajo culture and Four Corners geography.

This is probably Hillerman's worst effort. His last books have been on a decline, and after this one, I feel like I've donated enough to his retirement fund. Lame plot, anguished prose, repetition ad nauseam.

If you happen to also be a Dick Francis fan ... contrast this book with Francis' latest - which is as good as his best. Sad to see Hillerman decline so ... and we should partly blame his editors for that as well.

This is one of the best mysteries I ever read. The character development is outstanding and the descriptions of Pendergast are just unreal. He is such a "dynamo" of a hero and has such interesting, fascinating things about him that he is just irresistable. I loved this book and have read hundreds of mysteries......this is definitely up in the top 10. Loved it and I do mean loved it.

This book is a highly creepy, highly thrilling adventure for Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast. I'd say it's a must-read. Coming from a small-town where cornfields rule the world, it was easy to get into the mindset of the book. If you haven't experienced cornfields first-hand, this book will make you think twice about ever setting foot in one.

Another high five for Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child and the engaging and fantastic Agent Pendergast. I just couldn't put the book down. An excellent read.

Having been a fan of Preston/Child books since day 1 I expected nothing less from them than a solid read, great suspense, good character developement and an enjoyable ride. I got all of that until the last 20-30 pages. Let's just say that the ending left a LOT of room for improvement. Not only did the ending feel rushed but it was also implausible. Here's a good trick for you to do. Read all but the ending and you'll get a classic Preston/Child book and then make up your own ending. I promise you that your's will be better than theirs was. Then read their ending and you'll see what I mean.

A dead body gruesomely arranged in a corn field at the edge of a very small Kansas town? This is exactly the right case to solve for FBI Special Agent Pendergast. Alone and on his own initiative he shows up in this small corn-growing town in die middle of nowhere to investigate. Could the recent killings really be linked to a 19th-century massacre of a band of outlaws by Indians in the same area? Soon Pendergast finds himself under pressure to solve the riddle before the death toll keeps piling up any further...

From previous Preston/Child books most reader will remember Pendergast as one of the most charismatic and also strange characters in a long time. This time he teams up with Corrie Swanson, a rebellious local teenage girl hired as his driver and guide. As you can imagine not everybody is in favor of Pendergast. The local cops don't like him, nor do the local politicians. And sometimes even the reader is not 100% sure about him. ;-)
The story features interesting and strange characters, some really gruesome killings and scenarios as well as lot of mystery from past and present. Exactly what books from Preston/Child are well established and liked for.
However there is at least one bigger deviation to former books. This time not only Pendergast finds the key to the solution. Even if he withholds information (as usual) from his helper, the police and also from the reader, nevertheless 3 different parties understand where they have to search for the perpetrator. This search leads to an extremely long showdown which is about a third of the book long! Quite an unusual writing style for Preston/Child.
Even if the identity of the villain as well as the final solution might be absurd to some and even ridiculous to other readers, the story and its outcome are not as far fetched as "Cabinet of Curiosities". (But there are some references that former book in this story.)
The only really stupid incident here is Pendergast's mental journey (a form of mental concentration as a combination of memory palace and an ancient form of meditation) in order to understand the mystery of the past and its link to the present. Leaving your body mentally and traveling through time?! Gimme a break!

Overall it is a conclusive story with a far better and more satisfying solution in comparison to "Cabinet of Curiosities". The book is entertaining and far from boring but nothing that will keep you glued to your seat (partly due to the very long showdown). Other books from Preston/Child are better. I would recommend reading "The Relic", "Reliquary" and "Riptide" (first).

Michael Jecks is a very, very accomplished writer. He brings the Edward and Isabella period to brilliand life. I recommend everyone who has interest in mistery and medieval history to read his books as soon as possible and, just like me, to crave for the next installment of the series

This is the first book in the series that fails to deliver on an enjoyable mystery. The author almost apologizes for the radical change in his crafting of this story. Mr. Jecks does a wonderful job of weaving his character into the historical backdrop of the English-French conflict and provides a solid story line to follow. It is however not his typical work that builds details and characters to a climax of understanding who the culprit is. I would recommend it as a good read for someone who is like the time period of the setting, as the story touches on many of the little known facts of the events, just not a good mystery.

I can only apologize to Michael Jecks for not having written a review before now. Although I had the long wait, it arrived earlier than originally expected. I pledged to wait and finish the book that I was reading at the time by an excellent author. But, the flesh is weak and before I knew it, I was carefully taking the dust jacket off the precious tomb and finding it most difficult to put down despite a set back in health. Jecks has been good, no excellent before now. Then he wrote outside of his "home ground" and one or two nay sayers where there to chide him for leaving home as it were. I could not agree! He grew and his character development grew apace. Now Jecks has proven to me that he can weave a great story in a most complex web while one enjoys every minute of reading not just the "who done it," but absorb the historical period at the same time. I will leave it at that because I don't plan on telling the story. But, Jecks, you had best get the next one on the shelves soon. I am also glad to see that the book stores are keeping his older works on the shelves as never before that I have seen in this part of the U.S. I certainly hope that British readers appreciate what they have in this author and give him credit. The book is good enough that I over looked the few typos that I don't credit the author with, but his publisher should take greater care for Jecks. I am looking forward to the release of his friend, Bernard Knight's, latest work. I hope for earlier than expected release here.

First, I'll admit to two of my biases: I have enjoyed all of Michael Jecks' books, and I love medieval mysteries in general. And I hate the fact that these are sold as being "Knights Templar" mysteries, because that is hardly their main focus.

That being said, this book is more Templar-oriented than most, and Jecks is as scrupulous about history as always. I also love the fact that the title is in some ways a potentially misleading riddle.

For those who are used to seeing Jecks' characters in the English countryside, this novel, which is set mostly in France, will be new and different. I applaud Jecks for branching out geographically, while keeping the characters with whom I was comfortable. It is another book that teaches a lot of history painlessly while amusing us with interesting characters and a good mystery.