Ridley Pearson's "Undercurrents" novel is the first in his Police Sergeant Lou Boldt series based in Seattle. I've read all four books in Pearson's Walt Fleming series set in Sun Valley, ID, and was introduced to Boldt when he came to Sun Valley in the last book in the Fleming series, "In Harm's Way." I decided to start reading the Boldt series next and it has not been a disappointment so far.
In "Undercurrents" Boldt heads a special task force within the Seattle Homicide bureau and he has been charged with finding and stopping the "Cross Killer" who has murdered several women. The case has some twists and turns along the way that tend to hamper the investigation. Press leaks from within the police department end in the murder of one suspect and put others linked to the case in serious danger. When the killing starts again, they know they have not yet caught their serial killer but Boldt is also not sure that all the killings are the work of one murderer. There may be a copycat killer out there and whoever it is has to have some type of connection to the police force to carry off such a close mimicry.
In the meantime, Boldt and his wife have been having marital difficulties and he moves out. The police psychologist, the very attractive Daphne Matthews, is there for him professionally and personally. What I liked about Boldt's personal life, though, was how introspective he becomes after he leaves his wife and his personal discovery that the breakdown of his marriage had as much to do with him and his dedication to his job as it did with his wife. His personal life is woven in very cleverly as we see how many hours he gives to his work and how little time that leaves for a personal life.
The crime he is investigating is not an easy one to solve and it takes dedicated hours from all of his team -- some he doesn't particularly get along well with! As they sift through the clues together, some patterns begin to emerge and some breaks along the way finally do lead to a satisfying conclusion. Experts Boldt talked to in the Seattle area that gave him insight into how the currents move indicating where bodies might end up given different scenarios gave authenticity to the story, too.
Did I like it? Well, yes -- I've already requested book two in the series! pazt
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
"Sudden Prey"
"Sudden Prey" is another Lucas Davenport novel by John Sandford - 8th in the series, I believe. It was just what I needed to take my mind off the pain I was experiencing from a cervical strain.
As usual, Sandford doesn't waste any time getting into the story and getting the action going. Lucas put together a team to stop a pair of female bank robbers -- also cold blooded killers -- but when the team falls into place at the financial institution the pair have just robbed, the result is a shoot-out that leaves both females dead. Their families are crying foul and the man who was the husband of one robber and a brother to the other decides to take his brand of justice into his own hands with the help of a couple of friends. His plan - get even by killing the team's loved ones! Will Lucas be able to protect all of them while trying to catch this ruthless team? pazt
As usual, Sandford doesn't waste any time getting into the story and getting the action going. Lucas put together a team to stop a pair of female bank robbers -- also cold blooded killers -- but when the team falls into place at the financial institution the pair have just robbed, the result is a shoot-out that leaves both females dead. Their families are crying foul and the man who was the husband of one robber and a brother to the other decides to take his brand of justice into his own hands with the help of a couple of friends. His plan - get even by killing the team's loved ones! Will Lucas be able to protect all of them while trying to catch this ruthless team? pazt
Monday, February 23, 2015
"Desert Heat"
"Desert Heat" is J. A. Jance's first novel in the Joanna Brady series and is not one that I had read before. In the past I have read some of Jance's Brady and Beaumont series but it has been a long while. When I heard her speak at a benefit luncheon last year and she spoke about her latest novel that had just been released, I decided it was time to read the Joanna Brady series from the beginnning.
Joanna and Andy Brady are preparing to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary so Joanna has arranged for her mother to come stay with their 9 year old daughter. However, when Andy is more than an hour late coming to pick her up for their overnight stay, Joanna begins to worry and starts calling his colleagues at the sheriff's office. Andy is a lawman who is currently running to be the next sheriff of Cochise County.
As the time lengthens and his co-workers assure her Andy had headed home, Joanna decides it is time to search for him. She finds him shot and near death not too far from their home. While he lies critically wounded in the hospital fighting for his life, stories start to circulate that he may have been a dirty cop. When the tales are confirmed by others he worked with and a DEA officer starts asking questions, Joanna knows it is up to her to prove her husband's innocence and show that he did not attempt suicide but was instead shot by someone unknown.
This is a suspenseful tale from start to finish with some unexpected twists -- great reading! pazt
Joanna and Andy Brady are preparing to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary so Joanna has arranged for her mother to come stay with their 9 year old daughter. However, when Andy is more than an hour late coming to pick her up for their overnight stay, Joanna begins to worry and starts calling his colleagues at the sheriff's office. Andy is a lawman who is currently running to be the next sheriff of Cochise County.
As the time lengthens and his co-workers assure her Andy had headed home, Joanna decides it is time to search for him. She finds him shot and near death not too far from their home. While he lies critically wounded in the hospital fighting for his life, stories start to circulate that he may have been a dirty cop. When the tales are confirmed by others he worked with and a DEA officer starts asking questions, Joanna knows it is up to her to prove her husband's innocence and show that he did not attempt suicide but was instead shot by someone unknown.
This is a suspenseful tale from start to finish with some unexpected twists -- great reading! pazt
Thursday, February 19, 2015
"The Killing of the Tinkers"
"The Killing of the Tinkers" is Ken Bruen's second Jack Taylor novel. When Taylor returns to Galway a year after relocating to London, he's acquired a wife and a coke habit. Although the marriage appears to be on the rocks, the coke habit and his drinking do not.
When Sweeper, a Tinker (or gypsy) approaches him about the brutal murders of several young tinkers, he's asked to look into it because the Guardia seem to be ignoring them. In return Sweeper gives him a house to live in as well as keeps him in funds.
Taylor does manage to solve the case of who is killing swans and reconnects with old friends. As usual, his main case is a little less straightforward than he thinks. When a London policeman friend visits Galway, he gives him some assistance and warns him not to be too focused in a specific direction. I read this book in less than 24 hours -- couldn't put it down unless I had to! Time to look for the next book in the series. pazt
When Sweeper, a Tinker (or gypsy) approaches him about the brutal murders of several young tinkers, he's asked to look into it because the Guardia seem to be ignoring them. In return Sweeper gives him a house to live in as well as keeps him in funds.
Taylor does manage to solve the case of who is killing swans and reconnects with old friends. As usual, his main case is a little less straightforward than he thinks. When a London policeman friend visits Galway, he gives him some assistance and warns him not to be too focused in a specific direction. I read this book in less than 24 hours -- couldn't put it down unless I had to! Time to look for the next book in the series. pazt
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
"Etched In Sand"
"Etched In Sand" is a remarkable memoir by Regina Calcaterra. Check out her web site at www.reginacalcaterra.com or find her on facebook. This book has been selected as St. Petersburg College's 2015 One College/One Read book.
At the time this book was published Regina was serving for Governor Andrew Cuomo as the executive director of the New York State Moreland Commission on Utility Preparation and Response. She has her law degree and an impressive work resume but what I like most is her service as a board member to "You Gotta Believe," an organization that works toward finding forever homes for older foster children.
"Etched in Sand" tells the true story of Regina and her 4 siblings growing up with a very dysfunctional mother who basically left them to fend for themselves for long periods of time. How they survived and coped is an amazing story and who they have all become as adults is a tribute to their resilience and strength.
Regina had two older sisters, a younger brother and a younger sister. What they endured is nothing any child should ever endure. I have always had a soft spot for child welfare issues and this story reinforces the need for caring adults to be there for children in similar situations. Never underestimate the power that you might have in your role as a welfare worker, foster parent, caring neighbor, or teacher to influence a young life and make a difference to them when they don't have functional parents.
This story is also the story of Regina's need as an adult to confirm that the man her mother always told her was her father be made to face that fact and to acknowledge that he knowingly left her in an intolerable situation. As a result of her persistence, her father's name is on her birth certificate and she was able to forge a relationship with an aunt and uncle and learn more about her roots. If you read no other book this year, make sure you read this one!
At the time this book was published Regina was serving for Governor Andrew Cuomo as the executive director of the New York State Moreland Commission on Utility Preparation and Response. She has her law degree and an impressive work resume but what I like most is her service as a board member to "You Gotta Believe," an organization that works toward finding forever homes for older foster children.
"Etched in Sand" tells the true story of Regina and her 4 siblings growing up with a very dysfunctional mother who basically left them to fend for themselves for long periods of time. How they survived and coped is an amazing story and who they have all become as adults is a tribute to their resilience and strength.
Regina had two older sisters, a younger brother and a younger sister. What they endured is nothing any child should ever endure. I have always had a soft spot for child welfare issues and this story reinforces the need for caring adults to be there for children in similar situations. Never underestimate the power that you might have in your role as a welfare worker, foster parent, caring neighbor, or teacher to influence a young life and make a difference to them when they don't have functional parents.
This story is also the story of Regina's need as an adult to confirm that the man her mother always told her was her father be made to face that fact and to acknowledge that he knowingly left her in an intolerable situation. As a result of her persistence, her father's name is on her birth certificate and she was able to forge a relationship with an aunt and uncle and learn more about her roots. If you read no other book this year, make sure you read this one!
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
"The Hanging of Samuel Ash"
"The Hanging of Samuel Ash" is the 4th book in the Hook Runyon Mystery series by Sheldon Russell. Russell lives in Waynoka, OK and is the award-winning author of seven novels as well as having taught at the University of Louisville. He's professor emeritus at the University of Central Oklahoma and you can visit his web site at www.sheldonrussell.com.
This is the first of Russell's books that I have read so I must have picked this one up off the local library's "best picks" display. I like his lead character, Hook Runyon, and plan to read the first book in this series next. Although the book involves investigating the hanging of a young man on railroad property (and Hook is the railroad detective), there is a subtle underlying humor throughout the book that also keeps the tone a little lighter and I found the mix just right.
Hook is supposed to be chasing some pickpockets operating along the Santa Fe rail line with the help of Junior Monroe -- an overeducated young man who has been thrust on him for training. When he finds the body hanging on railroad property, though, he can't just bury him in a pauper's grave and move on. He finds a bronze star with the name Samuel Ash engraved on it and feels he owes it to this young World War II hero to make sure he is buried at home where people know him and can mourn for him. However, getting to the truth of where that is while putting off his boss (who just wants the body buried and Hook moving on with his job) becomes slightly more complicated than Hook realizes it will be and also puts him at some personal risk. pazt
This is the first of Russell's books that I have read so I must have picked this one up off the local library's "best picks" display. I like his lead character, Hook Runyon, and plan to read the first book in this series next. Although the book involves investigating the hanging of a young man on railroad property (and Hook is the railroad detective), there is a subtle underlying humor throughout the book that also keeps the tone a little lighter and I found the mix just right.
Hook is supposed to be chasing some pickpockets operating along the Santa Fe rail line with the help of Junior Monroe -- an overeducated young man who has been thrust on him for training. When he finds the body hanging on railroad property, though, he can't just bury him in a pauper's grave and move on. He finds a bronze star with the name Samuel Ash engraved on it and feels he owes it to this young World War II hero to make sure he is buried at home where people know him and can mourn for him. However, getting to the truth of where that is while putting off his boss (who just wants the body buried and Hook moving on with his job) becomes slightly more complicated than Hook realizes it will be and also puts him at some personal risk. pazt
Sunday, February 8, 2015
"Fear On Friday"
"Fear on Friday" is Ann Purser's fifth Lois Mead mystery. There is a murder is this novel but it takes a while to set the stage for this one because first we become privy to a web of adultery, deceit, and sex for sale. By the time we get to the murder, I find myself happy about who the victim turns out to be.
Lois Mead and her business, "New Brooms," has opened a second office in the neighboring town of Tresham and the new shop gives them a view to customers coming and going from a shop across the street. Lois is surprised to see Chief Inspector Hunter Cowgill also visiting this business of a dubious nature. However, all becomes clear when he asks her to do a little snooping for him. She's reluctant but eventually agrees and ends up in the thick of the murder investigation and in danger herself. I found some black humor in this one which actually I enjoyed. A fun read -- pazt.
Lois Mead and her business, "New Brooms," has opened a second office in the neighboring town of Tresham and the new shop gives them a view to customers coming and going from a shop across the street. Lois is surprised to see Chief Inspector Hunter Cowgill also visiting this business of a dubious nature. However, all becomes clear when he asks her to do a little snooping for him. She's reluctant but eventually agrees and ends up in the thick of the murder investigation and in danger herself. I found some black humor in this one which actually I enjoyed. A fun read -- pazt.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
"Wigs On The Green"
"Wigs On The Green" is Nancy Mitford's third novel and it was originally published in 1935 when she was 31. Nancy is the oldest of the six Mitford sisters and she drew on family and friends as inspiration for her characters which may be why she was hesitant to have this book republished so soon after World War II.
Two of Nancy's sisters, Diana and Unity, became Hitler fans and attended a Nazi Party rally at Nuremberg. Characters in this book are thought to be modeled after both Diana and Unity so probably caused some family friction when it was first published.
The book itself likely reflects what might have been common place in those days -- young people ready to blindly follow a new political party or ideal without an understanding of where it might lead them or the perils it might entail.
On the whole the book is satirical as well as a glimpse into the history of that period so I found it amusing and fun to read but also easy to put aside after reading a few pages at a time. pazt
Two of Nancy's sisters, Diana and Unity, became Hitler fans and attended a Nazi Party rally at Nuremberg. Characters in this book are thought to be modeled after both Diana and Unity so probably caused some family friction when it was first published.
The book itself likely reflects what might have been common place in those days -- young people ready to blindly follow a new political party or ideal without an understanding of where it might lead them or the perils it might entail.
On the whole the book is satirical as well as a glimpse into the history of that period so I found it amusing and fun to read but also easy to put aside after reading a few pages at a time. pazt
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