Mystery Crime Books

The Princess of Burundi ranks up with the best of the Scandinavian mysteries I've read--including Henning Mankell's. It's almost in the same category as the magnificent classics of Sjowall and Wahloo.
I particularly liked the treatment of the family of the primary murder victim. It showed a group of flawed characters but with realism and empathy. Eriksson also skillfully captures the interplay among the police investigating a series of vicious killings. Although the subject is somber and quite dark, he leavens it with some humor and some pointed commentary on contemporary Swedish politics and society.
Finally, an extra shout out for the title--clever, mystifying but also relevant to the story.

I took a chance on this author and book, having read all of Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallender series, and all of Karin Fossum's books. This book kept me turning the page and was hard to put down. It is definitely a fine piece of work, and I recommend it highly to those who love dark and psychological mysteries.

I ordered this book because I saw the 2nd book (Cruel Stars of the Night) in Borders and thought it would be best to read the first; Princess of Burundi.

I highly reccommend this book to anyone who enjoys crime novels. Eriksson's writing is very addicting; he really is able to draw you into each of the character's lives as well as the overall plot. Once I started, I had a hard time putting it down. I look forward to reading more novels from Eriksson.

A top-notch crime/police procedural in the order of Menkell, in that, characters you can feel and touch.

Although the writing in this book is good and even very good in parts--ultimately it is a loser for three reason: 1)totally unsympathic and self-centered feminist lead detective; 2)periodic intrusion of author's obnoxious leftist politics; and 3)nonsensical actions by characters, ie person thinking he would be arrested for murder and accidently killing himself trying to escape when he clearly acted in defense of others. There's much better crime fiction from Sweden; read it.

I purchased from my book club as part of a 3 pack of books by this author. All of them were written in 2007. I had never read any of her stuff before but thought I'd give her a try. I guess she started out as a romance writer but has since switched to crime/mystery writing. This is a FBI thriller that is actually quiet good. Lots of twists and turns to it - most I was completely blindsided by. There is a little bit of character background in the story that I didn't completely understand. I assume these characters had been introduced in earlier books. I will certain try to get some of her old mystery stuff and read more. I recommend this book for people who like murder who done it kind of stories.

This is NOT a romance. FYI I thought the suspense was good; certainly had me guessing even to the end. This author has a lot of potential, but (for me) there were too many mundane tasks, and lengthy (although well written) descriptions for my personal tastes. Overall, though, a good mystery read.

This is my first time reading Mariah Stewart and I must say I enjoyed this book very much. It had a great mystery and surprising ending. My only complaint was that there was very little romance, if any. One kiss in the entire book was a little dissapointing, but if you buy this book just for the suspense, you will love it. If you buy it for the romance, there won't be any. All in all, a very entertaining and enjoyable read.

I am in total disagreement with the other reviewers of this book. The suspense is just okay and the romance was nonexistent. I am a fan of Mariah Stewart and I have realized that the last two books that I have read of hers, this one and Hard Truth, lacked in the romance department and didn't exactly thrill me with the suspense. I was looking forward to reading this new trilogy of hers and was disappointed. I will think twice before purchasing from Stewart again. It's like she is a totally different author! Some of her older books, Dead Even, Dead Certain, etc. were much better! Borrow the book from someone, don't buy it.

In 1983 in the town of Hatton Shannon Randall disappeared and the chief of police thought that eighteen year old Eric Beale from the wrong side of tracks had something to do with it. Out of his depth he calls in the FBI who sends Special Agent Matt Ranieri to take over the case. Although he couldn't get a confession out of Eric, Shannon was seen in his car, her blood was found on his shirt as was her homework book. When the case comes to trial Matt is so convincing that the jury finds Eric guilty and sentences him to death. He is executed eight years later.

In the present Shannon's body with a bullet and stab wounds is found on Shelter Island off the coast of Georgia. She died approximately eight hours ago which means an innocent person died. Special Agent Andre Shields is assigned to find out who killed Shannon assisted by Matt's daughter FBI agent Dorsey Collins who is unofficially working with him.. When they arrive in Hatton, Dorsey thinks that Shannon ran away and was a victim of abuse. Getting answers in the small town won't be easy as the townsfolk know how to keep secrets. As the FBI agents work the case, romantic feelings spring up but they don't let their feelings get in the way of finding out who beat up Shannon before she ran away and never returned home.

Mariah Stewart can always be counted on to write an exciting romantic suspense thriller and LAST LOOK is no exception. The protagonists are totally believable in their actions and desires especially Dorsey who know what she learns will hurt her father whose reputation was made by the Eric case. Ms. Stewart does a good job of showing how the small town *inhabitants close their doors politely to the outside authorities.

Harriet Klausner

The third book in the Vicky Bliss series, this book unites Vicky and John with her old flame, Tony, and her boss, Schmidt, in the search for the lost gold of Troy.

This novel is excellent- it brings back the character of Tony from the first Vicky novel, and adds to the mix other historians. The suspense is great, and the relationship between Vicky and John reaches a new level.

This is an awesome book!

This is the book that I pick up whenever I need comfort. It's such a treat - funny with fabulous characters that you'll wish were part of your life. I've read this book many times and for ages, every time I started it again, I'd forget who the villain was. The mystery is fascinating with history and art mixed in and enough action and intrigue to keep you going. As good as the mystery is, it's the wonderful characters and their friendships and humorous carryings on that makes the story sing. And there's a fabulous romance to boot. Get ready to fall in love with the mysterious John Smithe!

If you like to read fiction set in the places you vacation, this would be a great book to take with you on a trip to southern Germany at Christmas time.

Art historian Vicky Bliss has been sent an interesting photo, a photo that at first appears to be the famous shot of Frau Schliemann wearing the gold jewelry from Troy. A second look shows Vicky that this is not yet another copy of that photo but a much more recent shot. The problem with that is that the treasure had disappeared during WWII. Soon Vicky was on the trail, accompanied by her boss, Schmidt, several of her collegues (returning from a previous adventure) and the mysterious John Smith.

This is an light hearted action adventure. The characters are well done, particularly the principals (Vicky, John and Schmidt) much of the situations and dialogue is hilarious.

The only complaints that I have are there are many German terms used with little translation - frustrating for those of us who don't know the language. The other issue is that this is definitely one of those series that needs to be read in order not starting with this the 4th installment (as I did).

I've read all the Vicky Bliss novels, and I can only say I wish Elizabeth Peters would write more. She has such a humorous touch with these novels that the characters are not only believeable, they're a downright likeable bunch. I like the way Peters uses humor to propel the story along, and the exchanges between Vicky and her sometimes lover, John Smythe, are hilarious. But don't leave out her boss, Herr Doktor Schmidt, who is a remarkably innocent man for one of his advanced years, and a wonderful co-conspirator (even if he does have a tendency to view desperate situations as some sort of wonderful adventure). For fans of this series, I heartily recommend this book, since it's about time that Vicki and John come clean about their feelings for one another. The avalanche scene is a real nailbiter, and in keeping with the adventure! Don't miss this one!

and I believe the best of the Vicky Bliss series thus far; I have not read the fifth one yet, preferring to read them in order.

Vicky Bliss is a beautiful buxom art historian, located in Germany, who would prefer to be taken seriously for her brains rather than her looks. In this entry, she receives a photo of a woman wearing the golden jewels that had disappeared during the Nazi reign in Germany known as the Trojan Gold. To make it interesting, however, it is not a photograph of the original finder's wife, Frau Schliemann, as Vicky first supposes, but a modern photograph, meaning the gold has been found.

Vicky figures out who has the gold and races with her boss Schmidt to a small ski resort town, also in Germany, to find the gold. Meeting here there are several other art historians with whom she had attended an art conference the previous year as well as, of course, her sometimes boyfriend, Sir John Smythe.

The action is fast paced enough to keep the book interesting while the romance between Vicki and John reaches new levels. And, making this a perfect mystery read, there is plenty of humor as well. This is an excellently written mystery with suspects to choose from and clues to help along the way.

I have already purchased the fifth and, at least until now, last of the Vicky Bliss series. I certainly wish that Elizabeth Peters would write a new one!

Well if you never read a spy novel like myself then this would be a perfect entry point. First the positives the book was great because it was not so long the book was 224 pages so if you have a couple of hours to kill or on an airplane then this would be a perfect book to read and it was great because it dealt with the cold war era which is pretty interesting stuff.

The negative would be is that it is an old book but a good book certain british lingo such as macintosh meaning raincoat is something we americans would not understand but overall it was a great book and the lingo was not too bad that it confused anyone that read it. I was hoping for a happier ending but I was bitterly disappointed with what did transpired at the end but the book did keep me interested so overall I was happy.

Recommended by a Washington Post article, this book does not disappoint. It starts off with action in Berlin then spins a web of deceit and lies that keep the reader engrossed. We follow our main character through twists and turns and in different countries. The climax? Completely out of left-field. Shocking. As I finished the book, I sat and started at the ending for a good five minutes.

Buy this book! A great summer read. A great weekend read. Worthy of a space on your bookshelf.

There is no question that Le Carre casts a unique plot with this book, and he keeps his spies very much on the human side. He lets us into his characters' thoughts without giving anything away and they are not cartoonish. Although it is complelling, it becomes more of a puzzle and a history lesson about the cold war in the 60s than a genuine work of lasting literary value. Le Carre can write an amazing sentence now and then, but a story so locked into the circumstances of the day it was written in creaks with a bit of rust after 44 years. There are certain scenes and certain turns of phrase that put me off just a dash with their aged presentation, but I am old enough to remember the Berlin Wall and the machinations of both sides of the conflict, and it is a bit nostalgic to remember what things were like in the spy game before computers, satellites and cell phones. Le Carre doesn't put his heroes through the ringer the way his contemporary Alistair MacLean did, but he can write suspensefully, and ultimately this novel satisfies the need for a good yarn, as well as challenging the reader to figure out what's going on before the book's hero does. The anticommunist preachiness that creeps in is also a bit much in light of the time that has passed and what has happened in the meantime, but that goes by fairly quickly. It borders on melodrama without taking that final leap, but some of the dialog suffers all the same. It's a great taste of a bygone era of history, and of writing, and should be read as that. If you're looking for the cutting edge of spy fiction, this book lies at the other end of the scale. Anyone who writes a spy story owes Le Carre a debt for being one of the progenitors, but he didn't quite cross into literature territory the way Maughm did with the
Ashendon stories.

I haven't read many spy novels, but if they are like this book, I'd like to read more of them. The book's asset is its authenticity. A classic. If you are looking for some James Bond fun, look elsewhere.

I had heard good things about this book, but I'm sad to say I had never heard that it is as good as it is. This is a phenomenal book, that doesn't cheap out at the end. It's told is a colder, more impersonal style that really fits the story--sets the mood and all. This book is on my definite must read. You should own this book.

A gripping tale with a likable hero, I recommend this book for travelers, insomniacs and vacationers. Daniel Silva has mastered the thriller style, knows how to keep his reader turning the pages, guessing and fearing and hoping.

Silva can always be counted on to deliver a taut, fast-moving yet nuanced thriller and this is no exception. Hero Gabriel Allon sets out, somewhat reluctantly, to to avenge a massive, ugly bombing in Rome and in so doing, is forced to consider why he does what he does. In this book, as in his other Allon books, Silva ties the plot into the historic troubles between Israel and the Palestinians and ably reflects the complexities that motivate both sides. Allon is a believeable hero, now aging. Will Silva let him fade into the sunset? Doubtful, although Silva is quite capable of penning compelling novels that don't rely on this worthy hero. All in all, a good thriller. Your time won't be wasted on this one.

I am now a die hard fan of Daniel Silva. The Prince of Fire was just as great a read as all of his others. I recently ordered all of his novels and look forward to reading each of them. These books are suspenseful page turners that I can hardly put down to sleep or do work. I passed one onto a friend and now he is hooked on Daniel Silva as well. If you like suspense thrillers, Daniel Silva is the man. I would suggest starting from his first novel and working your way through. Although each novel has it's own storyline, his novels seem to build on one another; either way, don't pass up this and his other books.....they are all a must read!

When you read a review saying that Daniel Silva can flat out write, believe the hype! Silva can really write, and "Prince of Fire" proves just that. Another reviewer said that he didn't think Silva would raise the bar with this one, and that he was wrong. That's accurate enough, because I felt the same way. If somebody were to tell me that Daniel Silva isn't up to snuff, I'd be laughing for a long time at you.

So, what kind of situation can Daniel Silva put Gabriel Allon into this time? Well, look no further then the likes of Ari Shamron and Lev. Lev says move, and Gabriel calls some critical shots in this lethal game of chess! And when check-mate seems so far away, you better check your king and queen, because Gabriel will find the move that you don't see coming. This is a whole new hunt, and the question is, who's being hunted? He also deals with issues concerning his wife, and coming to terms with it altogether. In some ways, he becomes more of a leader among men then he thought possible. And the stakes just get higher. If you ever thought of "Daniel and the Lion's Den," just think of the possibilities.

This is by far the best that Silva has offered up concerning Gabriel Allon! I mean, WOW!! And I still have "The Messenger," as well as a couple of others to go in this series. Does that mean I'll be looking forward to his next offering? You bet! This was an explosion of Daniel Silva's very best, and it'll sure be a tough one to beat!

You've heard about the Israeli agent (or the Palestinian terrorist) who fell into a trap? No, I'm not referring to a two guys walk into a bar joke. I'm addressing the fact that the agent vs terrorist theme is getting so shop worn, that books like these seem to be novels that are churned out by some supercomputer hidden in a safe house south of Florence, Italy. The next novel to be written should be how a group of agents interested in restoring novelty to spy thrillers break into this house and destroy the hack writing supercomputer.

As for me one of the earliest, and the best of terrorist vs agent novels is John le Carre's book The Little Drummer Girl novel, a book that deeply explores the motivations of men on both sides of the deadly fence of political enmity. All through this book I kept thinking, surely I've read this book before. I hadn't, but I have read ones that follow the same plot.

A Palestinian terrorist blows up a building. An Israeli agent goes after him. People get misled and fall into traps. They escape from traps and chase around some more. There are women in the book, all beautiful, and, of course some are destined to die. That's it folks. That's the whole book. Yes, I don't think that I've left anything out. And if that seems awfully familiar to you then you know on page one how the book will end.

In some ways I found it difficult to rate this book at only two stars, because Daniel Silva is a fairly decent writer. He occasionally throws in an adjective or an adverb, descriptive parts of speech that many writers of this ilk find extremely difficult to use.

My recommendation. If you like reading this sort of plot over and over again written in a competent style then by all means read the book. Otherwise spare yourself the deadly repetition of terrorist vs agent. And, certainly, if you have not read John le Carre's The Little Drummer Girl go read it first, or reread it if you've had the distinct pleasure of having already enjoyed it.

Yet another embittered cop/ex-cop with a dark history I thought as I began to read this tale of a missing boy and the steps his parents take to try to find him: yet another embittered police lieutenant/captain/chief trying to make life as difficult as possible for the `f**k ups' he has to try to lead. Gradually, though, as I progressed I began to realize that the characterization and sharp prose lifted this effort above the average and almost into the rarefied atmosphere currently occupied by crime writers, such as Michael Connelly, who specialize in detective/police procedurals. This is a crowded market but there is always room for writers who are able to invest enough of the `x-factor' into producing not only a genuine page-turner but also a story that draws the reader in so that they, not only need to find out what happens next, but really begin to care about the fate of the characters therein. A stark contrast in these respects is the relatively recent effort, Mr Clarinet, by Nick Stone, a brilliant exercise in how to use almost every entry in the `Crime Writer's book of Clichés' to predictable effect.

Levien isn't quite there yet; for instance, the ending is somewhat flat. However, if he continues in the same direction I suspect that it won't be too long before he is nudging Michael Connelly et. al. out of the way to make a little room for himself!

I guess like myself, many UK readers will since this tale involves a child kidnapping and the events a year later inevitably make comparisons in their mind with the widely publicised McCann case, especially in its depiction of the major impact of events on the parents. This is no bad thing in helping understand why this book although fiction is such a powerful tale and reads so true.

The book which is the debut of an ex-cop private investigator Frank Behr, with his own demons from the loss of his own young child and subsequently his job and marriage, reads with great impact from the first page. Written by a successful film screen writer it reads at times like a film script. especially in the many taut meetings the investigator goes through in trying to pick up the long cold trail of the missing boy. The story is mainly set in mid west USA and unfolds at deepening levels of evil and with such spot on handling of the procedures involved in the gum shoeing needed by private investigators, it is clear the writer has done his homework well (the end credits are to three such private investigators including the writer's brother or father). All is conveyed with an economy of style and characters that ring so true, it really did make the book unputdownable.

If this overall standard can be maintained in future stories then David Levien and Behr are going to be worth watching out for!

A gritty and suspenseful story, City of the Sun is not one for the squeamish. Eleven year old Jamie disappears while on his early morning newspaper delivery round, the police seem unable or even unwilling to do very much, so Jamie's' father Paul eventually hires a PI, Frank Behr. Paul manages to persuade the unwilling Behr to take him along on is investigations and stakeouts. An initially uneasy relationship develops into one of mutual respect as they try to unravel the case.

A gripping story, all the more so as very early it hints at unspeakable possible destinies for young Jamie. Well written, Levien takes the time to give life to all his characters, a devise which while lending a sense of reality to the story also at times inevitably gets in the way of the otherwise fast paced momentum. Such is one's involvement with the plot that one is tempted to skim quickly over such passages to get back to the main event. Of the characters Paul and Behr quickly engage the reader, and Jamie although we meet him only briefly immediately appeals as a decent young lad.

City of the Sun is a moving and involving story, all the more so because of its sense of reality, both in the telling and in the fact that such terrible things do happen in this world in which we live. One thing is certain, whatever the outcome might prove to be, the reader will be unable to put the book down until he learns of Jamie's fate.

I must agree with those who pointed out how "by-the-numbers" certain aspects of this book appear to anyone who has read more mature authors within the same genre. Still, with an unusual but well crafted premise, interesting characters, and an investigation that, once set in motion, overcomes one obstacle after another, this was a four star book all the way to the last few chapters.

Perhaps it was the screenwriter background in Levien that precipitated the unnecessarily adventurous and violent action scene at the end of the story. However, what was meant as a climactic finish comes across as not only contrived, but also beyond the limit of the most elastic of credibilities. What's worse, once the reader's "I-believe" button ceases to work, he cannot fail to realize how illogical and out of character the behavior of both the investigator and his employer have been in previous scenes as well as the final one.

Undoubtably, Frank Behr has promise, but he's still work in progress. I hope his next outing will provide the reader with auxiliary characters that are a little deeper than cardboard cutouts and a less violent but more logical climax.

After reading the reviews this book, I was pretty pumped up. But a quarter of the way through, I wondered if I had the same book. My version was a MP3 download. I listened to it when I was going to Curves three times a week. Compared to listening to a bunch of ladies cackle, it was great. Compared to other thrillers I've enjoyed, it doesn't stand up. There were too many parts that I found unbelievable. This is also I book I would have skimmed through. I couldn't do this with the MP3. Well, I could, but I'd run the risk of losing my place and starting all over. My player isn't the most impressive of models, but I've learned to deal.

When I reread what Publishers Weekly had to say, "Fans of Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch will be particularly delighted." stood out.

That must be the problem. I am not a Harry Bosch fan. Really liked THE LINCOLN LAWYER though. When another book comes around by this author, I won't shy away. I will, however, make sure it's audio, preferably CD so that I may use the fast-forward option. You know, just in case.

I am a blatant francophile and I frequently visit Paris. When I need a Paris fix I turn to Cara Black. Murder on the Ile Saint Louis was my first introduction to Aimee Leduc Investigations. Cara Black transported me to Paris beginning with the street map. The character of Aimee Luduc is real and believable to me. She isn't 'cutsie' or 'blase'. I also like the way all the characters are untroduced as plausible pieces in the story line. Cara Black provides a geographical background and complex story line that is enjoyable.

What could be a better read? The fascinating life of a computer detective involuntarily involved in a predicament and that draws you in to it and compells you to keep turning pages until the final solution to the puzzle is reached. I have admiration and respect for an author who researches her subject to such a great extent. On my next trip to Paris I will visit Ile St Louis with more interest. Thank you Cara Black

This Aimee Leduc series by Cara Black gets better all the time. Murder on the Ile Saint-Louis features a well-designed plot and a more fully developed Aimee. As always, the fast-moving action and detailed descriptions of Paris lured me right in. I read this book twice (something I never do)--once to enjoy the plot and a second time to savor the ambience of one of my favorite cities.

Cara Black takes her detective heroine, Amy LeDuc, to another Parisian neighborhood, the toney and historic Ile St. Louis, to resolve a series of murders that appear connected to criminal behavior by a major corporation. As in most of the books in this series, more than half of the enjoyment is in the author's detailed descriptions of the city's landmarks, architecture, cuisine and social behaviors. The story line in "St. Louis" is above average for this series and the characters still appeal, though the heroine's continuing bad judgment in men is aggravating--when is the author going to allow for a less steep learning curve? Overall, a good read, particularly for those folks seriously in love with Paris.

This is an excellent murder story and mentions many places and streets in Paris which makes it interesting for anyone who has been in Paris. Not the kind of plot to make one nervous while reading it. Good read.

MURDER ON THE ILE SAINT-LOUIS is an Aimée Leduc book. This time out, we see a softer side of Aimée, as she is prompted by a phone call from a frantic woman to come down to the courtyard of her building. Not knowing what to expect, Aimée slips on her kitten heels and grabs her gun. Instead of trouble, she finds a tiny baby girl wrapped in a denim jacket. Okay, for Aimée, that is trouble. Uncertain what else to do, Aimée enlists all of her friends to help her care for the baby until the mother returns for her.

Of course, Aimée doesn't sit idly by and wait for this to happen. Instead, she tries to find out how the mysterious caller knows her, how she came to select the unlikely Aimée as the child's protector, and to determine what is keeping the mother from returning to claim her infant. Along the way there is a healthy dose of Parisian history, a few more dead bodies, and some lovely couture frocks acquired at bargain basement prices.

Of the Aimée Leduc books I have read, MURDER ON THE ILE SAINT-LOUIS is my favorite. It has the same wonderful descriptions of the architecture and the historical stories that I enjoy so much, but it has a kinder, gentler Aimée, too. In this book, she must make the safety of the baby her primary concern and she tones down her often reckless and thoughtless behavior. A more considerate main character involves me more in the story because she is easier for me to relate to.

Favorite character? René, Aimée's business partner and emergency baby sitter. In this book, his unfulfilled wishes are there for all to see as he cares for the baby. Did I guess it? Some of it. Will I read another? Yes.

James Scott Bell is a truly blessed and gifted author. This is the latest book I have read by Mr. Bell and as with all the others it kept my interest from the beginning to the end. As I was half way through the book the though "disturbing" kept running through my mind. Until you understood "The Whole Truth" then "disturbing" was gone with a feeling of fullfillment or satisfaction that this was a well written, thoughtful and meaningful book. Christian's and non-Christian's will come away with a feeling that this book shows us everyday life, disturbing yes, but also fullfilling if you seek God.

"The Whole Truth" is yet another fine work of fiction from former trial lawyer James Scott Bell. This one, with the backdrop of a sinister cult hidden away in a barricaded compound, is interesting, suspenseful, and thrilling... woven with several unique twists. The author's legal background adds a compelling authenticity dimension which holds the reader's interest throughout. The novel also underscores Mr. Bell's Christian faith... which perhaps, sadly, is the reason that his and other Zondervan authors' works are bypassed by many, including movie producers who would otherwise find his suspenseful plot structures to be ideal for intriguing screenplays. In any event, "The Whole Truth"--and other James Scott Bell works--are highly recommended by this reader!
--R.C. Howe (a.k.a., Toby Martin II) / Erskine, Minnesota

The Whole Truth is one of those novels that forces you to stay up later than you intended because you have to see what happens next. It's a delightful mixture of humor and suspense. You'll cheer for Steve Conroy as he attempts to outrun shadows of the past and make decisions that will affect his current and future life. Jim Bell did a great job creating characters we care about, and a story that keeps the pages turning.

This story will keep you reading late into the night. Chilling suspense, I found myself captivated until the very last page. James Scott Bell has really created a character to love and a story that will linger in your thoughts for days after you've read the last sentence.

Steve Conroy, 30 years old, is the miserable lead character in James Scott Bell's new legal thriller, THE WHOLE TRUTH. Miserable, meaning his marriage is falling apart, he's a former drug addict, he's been evicted from his law office, and he has no money or clients. Steve's tragic adult life can be traced back to when he was five years old. One night, two strangers broke into his house and kidnapped his brother. Steve was too afraid to say anything until the morning. That event has haunted him every single day since then.

One day, a prisoner named Johnny LaSalle contacts Johnny and claims he is Robert, the brother that disappeared so many years ago. Steve knows it can't be possible because his brother was later found dead. However, Johnny knows things that only his brother would know. Then Johnny offers Steve a large amount of money to be his lawyer, and the lawyer to his religious group living at a mountain compound. The middle of the novel consists of Steve fighting to stay off drugs and trying to cope with the idea that Johnny could be his long lost brother. If Johnny is his brother, then Steve has to reconcile his sense of morality with Johnny and his friends' white-supremicist beliefs. Can Steve be the lawyer that the White Supremicist group wants him to be? Can he stay off drugs? Can he convice young law clerk Sienna Ciccone to take a chance and go out with him? Will ex-wife Ashley give him another chance?

In my opinion, this novel had a great beginning, a strong ending, and struggled in the middle, thus only 3 stars. Bell describes vividly the closeness Steve feels to Robert and how he idolizes his older brother. Then Robert is taken and Steve must live with the devestation that the kidnapping was somehow his own fault. Then the middle comes and Steve comes off as an obnoxious character. He tries to be funny, peppering many of his jokes with pop culture references that will soon be out of date. I feel like Steve needed more of a seriousness about him since his life was in such dire straights. Perhaps Bell wrote Steve as a comedian as a way of coping with his pain, but for me there was too much of it. Once the final act arrives, and the novel picks back up again. Steve has been attacked, betrayed, saved, shot at, rescued and lied to. He's been through the ringer. He meets a girl named Bethany that had been held captive at the LaSalle compound. He finds out the truth about his brother, and he even begins to believe in God. I liked the end. It had plenty of twists and turns and packed an emotional punch.

This book isn't as good as some of Bell's recent novels. The opening kidnapping is such an emotional tragedy and what follows just doesn't have the same feeling. However, the ending is good and makes the novel worth reading.

The Master of the Backstory has done it again -- Cook has created a novel infused with a mystery that does not become solved until the very end. As I said in a review of another of his books, it is impossible to second guess this guy. His stories, set in the present, have been set in motion by events of the past, but every angle is not revealed until the final page, despite references to the outcomes of how the lives of subsidiary characters pan out, indicating that the story is being told from a perspective even further in the future.

Jack Branch has returned to his father's Delta estate to teach at the local high school. During his class on historical evil he's shocked to discover student Eddie is the son of local murderer the Coed Killer - and tries to mentor the boy to help him set a good example. When a friendship with the boy's father ensues, danger evolves in this masterful mystery recommended for any general-interest collection strong in novels and mysteries.

I got about 40 pages in and gave up. This book is boring. Didn't engage me at all. The jumping around was just annoying. I'll go read a good book.

If you've gotten this far down in the reviews, you've probably been able to read the plot summaries. So, I'll just cut straight to my review as to its merits.

I read this book because it got a starred review from PW, which frequently has the effect of raising expectations too high - to expect a 5-star read. However, from start to finish I felt like I was reading a young adult novel or one that would eventually end up on school reading lists. For while a real-life school might not support an entire course on evil, the discussion of what constitutes evil (and good) might be of interest to high schoolers along with discussions the novel could generate on good judgment and decision-making, class differences, youth and innocence, the support or lack thereof within families, did the main character's stumble equal his "reward" in life and on and on.

But for adults past the age of 40, many of the book's revelations (such as "absolute power corrupts absolutely" or "does anyone ever know where anything will lead" or, for that matter, the opening sentence that having lived "the good life" of private schools and lemonade on the veranda served up by the help might just lead to a certain naivete on the part of the main character) may lead adult readers to eventually smack themselves in the head and say, "well that seems obvious."

Nevertheless, the characters are very well-drawn, the dialogue believable, and even with the never-ending supply of foreshadowing, of perhaps because of it, I was still keenly engaged until the final page as to what would happen to all of them. And I did like the author's use of flashback and trial notes that told us what happened to whom throughout the novel because it was creative and solved the problem of trying to tell what happened to all the supporting cast in the final chapter.

If you like your fiction dark and tragic but with a likeable main character who is harder on himself than necessary, then you will enjoy the book. It is well-plotted with enough tricks up the author's sleeve to hold your interest if not offering much that hasn't been said before.

Thomas H. Cook revisits familiar territory in Master of the Delta: The very first paragraph tells you this will be a tragedy of Greek melodramatic proportions. He does not disappoint. In this beautifully written novel, Cook again explores his well worn themes of family conflicts, lost love, tortured souls, misunderstanding with devastating outcomes, winding down to the appropriate somber ending. I especially liked his use of time changes and different voices troughout the story. The plot twist at the very end also took me by surprise. Some may find these themes excessively dark, but that is precisely why fans of Cook come back again and again for another dose. Nobody can put together a modern tragic/mystery like Thomas H. Cook.

WAITED 21 DAYS NEVER GOT THE BOOK. THEY SAID AFTER I E-MAILED THEM A NUMBER OF TIMES I WOULD GET A CHOICE AFTER 21 DAYS TO GET THE BOOK OR CREDIT. WELL I NEVER GOT A CHOICE THE JUST GAVE ME CREDIT NO SORRY JUST CREDIT. SO I WAITED 21 DAys FOR NOTHING!

Excellent "read", highly recommend this book. Careful though, language and sexual content not appropriate for young ears.

I enjoy Scottoline's work and this is no exception to the rule. Reliable, fun mystery story.

Mary DiNunzio is a lawyer on the lookout for a partnership with one of Philadelphia's top law firms. Still grieving for her late husband, she is really in no mood for a secret admirer/stalker. With all the stress of her job, she ignores the early signs of the stalker, but when things get considerably more personal, and Mary's friends start to pay the price, she can't help but take the attention seriously.

I discovered Lisa Scottoline's work by accident and I did not start the series at the beginning, it has mattered little. I made a point to go back to Mary's story and get a feel for everything and I am so glad I did. This book is fabulous and Ms. Scottoline definitely knows how to tell a story. Action, suspense, emotion, all the things that keep you hanging on from the first word to the last, and then wanting more. Thank goodness I have several more books in the series to go.

SPOILER ALERT!! I don't want to spoil the book for anyone who hasn't read this, but I thought I should warn fellow Catholics about this book. Yes, she's a good writer. But she a) has a really, really bizarre take on Catholicism and b) she puts in digs that will make Catholics cringe.

For example, the main character makes nasty asides about how Catholics don't mind if someone belongs to the mafia, so long as he contributes to the church. Oh, right. Lying, theft and murder--not a thing about them in the ten commandments.

At the end of the book, the main character's twin sister leaves the convent. She apparently only went into the convent for cheesy pop psychology reasons, but a visit from her twin turned her around. The convent is portrayed as cloistered but (get this!) the nuns get vacations. Talk about laughing out loud. And there are these grim, horrible sayings everywhere in the convent.

Take my word for it: this is one Catholic will want to SKIP. +