"The Night Crew"

John Sandford's "The Night Crew" appears to be a stand alone book rather than one of a series like many of his books - at least at this point.  It's always possible that it could become a series and I'd vote for that.

Anna Batory leads the night crew -- a group of free lancers who go out late nights to look for news stories they can videotape and report on then sell to TV news outlets.  The regular crew besides Anna is Creek, who drives the truck, and Louis, who keeps tabs on what might be newsworthy out there for them to track down plus he serves as a navigator.  Between the three of them they manage to make about $90,000 each yearly.  Once in a while they have others who assist them and one of those is Jason (who the night our story starts is out with the crew because he has a lead on an animal rights activitists potential event).

While the crew are at the scene of the animal rights events, they hear about a teenage boy who is threatening to jump from a hotel and they race to the scene.  They get some spectacular film that they're easily able to sell but that night is the beginning of many troubles for this crew.  Murder, assault, and a serial killer began to track them.  The father of the teenage boy who jumped, Jake Harper, enters the scene because he believes his son's death was caused by the drugs his son was using at a party that night and that it's all somehow linked to the difficulties the night crew is currently experiencing.  So Anna and Jake begin to work with the police and on their own to try to find out who wants to hurt those around Anna and possibly be a threat to her also.  Jake is an attorney but he's also an ex-cop so his contacts within the police force and his skills learned on the job along with Anna's own sixth sense make for a good team.  As is usual with the Sandford stories I've read so far, this one is full of twists and turns and unexpected outcomes.  I've already got another Sandford book on my nightstand for my next read.  I love this author's work!  pazt

"Pie In The Sky" Series 6

Richard Griffiths stars as DI Henry Crabbe in this last series of "Pie in The Sky."  His boss, Freddy Fisher, has come up with a new Public Duties Squad and put Crabbe in charge along with a female (Morton) and a male (Guthrie).  The latter two give the impression that they're being punished for something by being relegated to this squad.  Crabbe is not so happy with his new duties either but carries them out none the less until the final episode when he's finally had it with Fisher and his using him and his team for his own purposes to get ahead.  In the final episode Crabbe is a real grouch and it turns out he's lost his sense of taste and smell -- very important for a chef running his own restaurant.  The queen is also expected to visit the Barstock office and preparations are underway to make sure everyone behaves properly.  As the queen is arriving, though, Fisher needs Crabbe to take the blame for something Fisher did so as not to spoil Fisher's chances of becoming the new chief constable when the current one retires.  That's the last straw for Crabbe so he hands in his notice and, miraculously, Crabbe regains his sense of smell and taste.  As he and Margaret, Morton, Guthrie and the Pie in the Sky staff are celebrating, Margaret chokes on her wine when Crabbe announces his resignation from the police force.  If you're a "Pie in the Sky" follower, you won't want to miss Series 6.  pazt

"Blood and Ashes"

Matt Hilton's "Blood and Ashes" features ex-soldier Joe Hunter and I got the impression while reading this book that it is not the first one in the series.  I hate that because I prefer to read them in order but I couldn't put it down so didn't bother to try to find the first in the series yet.  That will be my next goal -- see what order they're in and start reading!

This book is action packed but also full of blood and gore so be warned.  Hunter is called to aid an ex-comrade whose daughter has been murdered but when he arrives in town, his comrade, Don Griffiths, believes the whole family is in danger -- him, his 2 grandchildren, his son-in-law, and the daughter that still lives at home with him.  When Hunter encounters a couple of goons on his return walk to his car, he becomes convinced also.  That's when the action starts and it doesn't stop until the end!  pazt

"New Tricks" Season Three

The third season of "New Tricks" is available in 3 discs.  Maybe it's me but the three men working for Superintendent Sandra Pullman (played by Amanda Redman) in the Unsolved Crime Unit appear to be a little "crazier" than usual in these episodes.  It may have started with the hint that Pullman might be interviewing for a promotion and leaving the unit which immediately throws the guys into a tizzy.  Gerry Standing (played by Dennis Waterman) is having his usual female troubles but they're not all with ex-wives this time -- his daughter(s) are causing him some grief.  Brian Lane (played by Alun Armstrong) is causing his wife some grief when he decides he doesn't need his meds any more but can treat his mental health issues with natural remedies.  In the meantime, Jack Halford (played by James Bolam) is investigating a cold case that involves an old enemy who may or may not be the man who killed Jack's wife.  This season is full of mayhem but some fun, too.  pazt

"Play Dead"

To the best of my knowledge "Play Dead" is the first novel I've read by Harlan Coben.  It also happens to be the first novel he wrote and he has a one page "note" in the front of the paperback version I read hinting that this is not his best work and reminding us it was written when he was just beginning and suggesting we might not want to expect a lot out of him.  If that's the case, I can hardly wait to read his later novels because this one is good!

Laura Ayers, a beautiful former model and now a successful business owner, and David Baskin, a Celtics basketball star, have eloped to Australia and are on their honeymoon and their secret marriage is known only to a very few.  However, their happiness doesn't last long when David goes missing then is discovered to have drowned while Laura was at a business meeting. 

Laura is stricken with grief and looking for answers but any attempts to figure out what happened keep ending with stalls and, as she slowly uncovers more and more clues, she and those close to her are threatened and/or end up dead.  Nothing is as it seems and even when I think I have the plot figured out and know who the villain is, another twist pops up keeping me guessing.  I can hardly wait to read Coben's next novel!  pazt

"The Twylight Tower"

"The Twylight Tower" is Karen Harper's third book in the Elizabeth 1 mysteries.  These books contain historical information with literary license to create a mystery that Queen Elizabeth 1 and her band of close cohorts can solve.  "The Twylight Tower" finds Elizabeth vacationing at her summer place and ignoring a lot of her royal duties much to the dismay of her main adviser, Cecil.  Cecil finds the young Queen spending too much time with Robert Dudley who is serving his Queen at court while his wife, Amy Robsart Dudley, is secluded in a country home where she is suffering with a tumor that threatens to take her life.

Back at court and throughout the country rumors are flying that the Queen is going to marry Dudley despite the fact that he already has a wife.  This is good news to her enemies and those that want to take her throne from her.  When a series of suspicious deaths occur including that of Amy Dudley, Elizabeth is brought face to face with the dangers resulting from her neglect of her royal duties.  Will she be able to solve the mysteries and once again rule her country and keep her enemies at bay?  pazt

"Lord and Lady Spy" and "The Spy Who Kissed Me"

"Lord and Lady Spy" by Shana Galen and "The Spy Who Kissed Me" by Pauline Baird Jones are two spy novels I recently read back to back.  Both were entertaining but completely different.  "Lord and Lady Spy" is set in England at the end of the Napoleonic Wars  while "The Spy Who Kissed Me" is set in modern times.

Although I enjoyed "Lord and Lady Spy," I have to admit I skimmed over most of the bedroom scenes.  Lady Sophia Smythe married Lord Adrian Smythe as a cover that would allow her to spy for the Barbican organization.  She is known as "Saint" in the spy world while her husband (who is also working for the Barbican organization) is known as Agent Wolf.  The real trick is that neither knows the other one is working for Barbican and they're so intent on keeping their secrets that neither seems to notice the others frequent absences from home.  However, the Napoleonic Wars have come to an end and the Barbican organization needs less spies.  They're both been told their services are no longer needed but a murder needs to be solved and the Barbican organization allows their identities to be revealed to one another but then pits them against one another to solve the murder.  The prize -- the one remaining opening in the Barbican organization!  What will the secrets they've kept from one another as well as this competition do to their marriage?  Who wins the contest and where do they go from here?!  Future books in the series might have some of those answers.

"The Spy Who Kissed Me" has Isabel "Stan" Stanley moving into a garage apartment at her twin sister's home to help her sister through the aftermath of a rough divorce and also help her deal with their mother who has moved in with her sister!  Isabel's mom is also very interested in getting Isabel married and spends much of her time coming up with suitable men for her to date.  Isabel is a successful author of children's books and works from home.  She'd been working from home in New Orleans but caved in to her sister's pleas for help.  What she didn't expect was to have a spy literally drop through the roof of her sister's car one night when she was returning alone from a meeting.  Now her life will never be the same again as she becomes embroiled in a spy case unwillingly but the man himself might make it all worthwhile if she can just stay alive.  There is humor throughout that is slightly reminiscent of a Janet Evanovich novel so I'm hooked and ready to read more of Baird's books.  pazt