"15 Seconds" by Andrew Gross was inspired by something that happened to him in real life. Fortunately for Andrew, it didn't last as long as Dr. Henry Steadman's troubles!
Vance Hofer is an ex-cop who has lost everything - his wife died; his home was foreclosed on; and now his daughter, Amanda, is going to jail for vehicular homicide while under the influence of prescription drugs. He can't help Amanda who must serve her time in jail but he can track down her sources and make them pay.
Dr. Henry Steadman is a successful Florida plastic surgeon who also happens to be divorced. He and his ex-wife have one teenage daughter, Hallie, who means everything to both of them.
When Henry flies into Ft. Lauderdale to play golf with a friend and speak at a Doctors Without Borders regional conference, he has no idea that his life is about to be turned upside down. A routine traffic stop turns into a nightmare and he finds himself on the run with nowhere to turn.
Carrie Holmes is on her first day back at the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office as a Community Outreach Director. Her husband died unexpectedly and her son is recovering, too. She has the support of her family - her father an ex-cop and her brother is with the FBI - to help her return to a "normal" life.
When these three individuals find their lives colliding, they each have a decision to make about what their next step will be. Will they help one another or will they decide to not get involved?
This is an engrossing story with twists and turns and I'm ready to read more Andrew Gross novels. pazt
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Monday, November 23, 2015
"The Spider's Web"
"The Spider's Web" is a non-fiction novel written by Jerome Gold who was a juvenile rehabilitation counselor in a children's prison for a number of years. This book is based on his experiences with some of the youth he worked with for the last seven years he was at Ash Meadow. He was based in Wolf Cottage at Ash Meadow, a maximum security facility. A lot of the story focuses on Caitlin Weber, a thirteen year old girl, who along with her mother and four other children, murdered her mother's employer.
Caitlin stayed at Ash Meadow until she turned 18 then she was transferred to a prison for adult women, Purdy. Jerome (who goes by Jerry) and Caitlin become close and, in my opinion, he became the father figure that Caitlin lacked in her life. Even though Jerry is now retired, he and his wife continue to visit Caitlin in prison.
This book was an enlightening read - How many of us really know what happens to children who commit serious crimes? If you want to look behind the scenes in a juvenile facility as well as look at what may lead children to commit crimes, this book is for you. Although it's a difficult read at times, it is well worth the effort. pazt
Caitlin stayed at Ash Meadow until she turned 18 then she was transferred to a prison for adult women, Purdy. Jerome (who goes by Jerry) and Caitlin become close and, in my opinion, he became the father figure that Caitlin lacked in her life. Even though Jerry is now retired, he and his wife continue to visit Caitlin in prison.
This book was an enlightening read - How many of us really know what happens to children who commit serious crimes? If you want to look behind the scenes in a juvenile facility as well as look at what may lead children to commit crimes, this book is for you. Although it's a difficult read at times, it is well worth the effort. pazt
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
"The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind"
"The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind" by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer is William's story about growing up in Malawi where people believe in magic but science is a mystery.
William's story makes me realize how easy my life has been. This book is more than just a story about his accomplishments - It's the story of his and his family's survival during a major drought that caused so many deaths. It's also the story of how that drought inspired him to look for answers to help himself and his family and his neighbors.
William's village went to bed when it got dark -- at 7:00 p.m. -- because they had no electricity in their homes. William's schooling was limited because his parents did not have the money to pay his school fees. Did that stop him learning? No -- He had a dream to bring electricity and running water to his family. When he couldn't attend school, he found a local library and taught himself through studying books even though he had to struggle at times with the English they were written in. His desire motivated him to work hard to learn more. He used what he could scavenge from a junk yard and scraps around him and eventually he did build a rudimentary windmill and bring electricity first to his room then to his family's home. He didn't let people laughing at him or calling him crazy to stop him.
What he accomplished for himself was even more -- As word of what he had done spread and people stopped by to see his windmill, he attracted the attention of individuals who could not only offer him a chance to further his schooling but also help him find the resources financially to bring even more improvements to his family, his neighbors, his village. At the time this book was written, he was at a boarding school but he had also traveled to deliver a TED talk and to the U.S. to see windmill farms firsthand.
What really struck me as I finished reading William's life story was how much he loves his family and his village. Here is a boy from very humble beginnings who sleeps in a modest home where he can hear the termites chewing at night. When he is sleeping in what he would probably consider luxury in a bed in the U.S., he misses the quiet and the night sounds of his home village. He doesn't forget his roots and, when he has the opportunity and the financial resources, William returns to his village to bring better windmills and electricity, improved hygiene, and cleaner water that the village women can pump from the ground. William is an amazing young man and knows the true meaning of what it is to care for and give back to others. pazt
William's story makes me realize how easy my life has been. This book is more than just a story about his accomplishments - It's the story of his and his family's survival during a major drought that caused so many deaths. It's also the story of how that drought inspired him to look for answers to help himself and his family and his neighbors.
William's village went to bed when it got dark -- at 7:00 p.m. -- because they had no electricity in their homes. William's schooling was limited because his parents did not have the money to pay his school fees. Did that stop him learning? No -- He had a dream to bring electricity and running water to his family. When he couldn't attend school, he found a local library and taught himself through studying books even though he had to struggle at times with the English they were written in. His desire motivated him to work hard to learn more. He used what he could scavenge from a junk yard and scraps around him and eventually he did build a rudimentary windmill and bring electricity first to his room then to his family's home. He didn't let people laughing at him or calling him crazy to stop him.
What he accomplished for himself was even more -- As word of what he had done spread and people stopped by to see his windmill, he attracted the attention of individuals who could not only offer him a chance to further his schooling but also help him find the resources financially to bring even more improvements to his family, his neighbors, his village. At the time this book was written, he was at a boarding school but he had also traveled to deliver a TED talk and to the U.S. to see windmill farms firsthand.
What really struck me as I finished reading William's life story was how much he loves his family and his village. Here is a boy from very humble beginnings who sleeps in a modest home where he can hear the termites chewing at night. When he is sleeping in what he would probably consider luxury in a bed in the U.S., he misses the quiet and the night sounds of his home village. He doesn't forget his roots and, when he has the opportunity and the financial resources, William returns to his village to bring better windmills and electricity, improved hygiene, and cleaner water that the village women can pump from the ground. William is an amazing young man and knows the true meaning of what it is to care for and give back to others. pazt
Monday, November 16, 2015
"The Magdalen Martyrs"
Ken Bruen's "The Magdalen Martyrs" is his third book in the Jack Taylor novel series. His first book in this series, "The Guards," won him a Shamus Award for Best Novel of 2003 from the Private Eye Writers of America.
This novel is set in Galway where Jack is once again living in a room at Mrs. Bailey's hotel. He's trying to stay off the drugs and booze but finds himself unable to get a good night's rest.
Almost simultaneously Jack takes on two new cases. One is a favor called in by Bill Cassell, a Galway tough. He knew he'd have to "pay the piper" at some time for the favor Cassell did for him and thinks he's gotten off relatively easy. Cassell wants him to find a woman who he claims long ago helped his mom escape from the notorious Magdalen laundry. This was where wayward Catholic girls were sent -- either because they were pregnant or were disobedient to their parents. The girls were forced to work in the laundry and were physically and emotionally abused by the nuns in charge and the staff. Some decided to commit suicide to escape the conditions they'd been forced to endure.
Jack's paying case was a young man who believed his stepmother had killed his wealthy stepfather. He's a successful computer guy and was away at the time of his father's death. No autopsy was performed and his father was cremated so Jack has his hands full trying to decide where to start on this case.
In the meantime, Cassell, who is dying from cancer, doesn't think Jack is working hard enough on his request and has a couple of his thugs pay Jack a visit and that doesn't set well with Jack. In addition, he gets in a bit of trouble by assaulting a man who was physically assaulting his young children in front of a store. Witness statements varied and Jack ended up in jail.
So, Jack does what he does best and ends up back on drugs and booze. Eventually he's able to solve both cases but in very unusual ways. If he'd been paying attention to the news, maybe he'd solved one of them a little earlier.
I watched some of the Jack Taylor series produced for TV and this is one of the stories portrayed but the book (of course) has a totally different slant although part of the story doesn't vary from the book.
It is really hard for me to explain what reading one of the Jack Taylor novels is like for me. Bruen intersperses books, quotes, music, etc. throughout the books and sometimes their relevance makes sense to me in light of the story and at other times I'm totally stymied by the relevance and even begin to feel I'm just not smart enough or knowledgeable enough to figure out the link! I still like reading the books, though! pazt
This novel is set in Galway where Jack is once again living in a room at Mrs. Bailey's hotel. He's trying to stay off the drugs and booze but finds himself unable to get a good night's rest.
Almost simultaneously Jack takes on two new cases. One is a favor called in by Bill Cassell, a Galway tough. He knew he'd have to "pay the piper" at some time for the favor Cassell did for him and thinks he's gotten off relatively easy. Cassell wants him to find a woman who he claims long ago helped his mom escape from the notorious Magdalen laundry. This was where wayward Catholic girls were sent -- either because they were pregnant or were disobedient to their parents. The girls were forced to work in the laundry and were physically and emotionally abused by the nuns in charge and the staff. Some decided to commit suicide to escape the conditions they'd been forced to endure.
Jack's paying case was a young man who believed his stepmother had killed his wealthy stepfather. He's a successful computer guy and was away at the time of his father's death. No autopsy was performed and his father was cremated so Jack has his hands full trying to decide where to start on this case.
In the meantime, Cassell, who is dying from cancer, doesn't think Jack is working hard enough on his request and has a couple of his thugs pay Jack a visit and that doesn't set well with Jack. In addition, he gets in a bit of trouble by assaulting a man who was physically assaulting his young children in front of a store. Witness statements varied and Jack ended up in jail.
So, Jack does what he does best and ends up back on drugs and booze. Eventually he's able to solve both cases but in very unusual ways. If he'd been paying attention to the news, maybe he'd solved one of them a little earlier.
I watched some of the Jack Taylor series produced for TV and this is one of the stories portrayed but the book (of course) has a totally different slant although part of the story doesn't vary from the book.
It is really hard for me to explain what reading one of the Jack Taylor novels is like for me. Bruen intersperses books, quotes, music, etc. throughout the books and sometimes their relevance makes sense to me in light of the story and at other times I'm totally stymied by the relevance and even begin to feel I'm just not smart enough or knowledgeable enough to figure out the link! I still like reading the books, though! pazt
Sunday, November 15, 2015
"Baltimore Blues"
"Baltimore Blues" is Laura Lippman's first Tess Monaghan novel in a series that (as of 2015) includes 12 books. Laura is a New York Times bestselling author who has been awarded every major prize in crime fiction.
Tess Monaghan, the heroine in Lippman's novels, is an out-of-work former reporter for the Star in Baltimore who lives above a bookstore owned by her aunt who also lives there -- currently with her younger policeman boyfriend. Tess pays her rent by working part-time in the bookstore as well as doing other odd jobs.
Tess goes rowing every morning with her good friend Darryl "Rock" Paxton and one morning he asks her to do some sleuthing for him. His fiance is acting strangely and he would like to know if she is seeing someone else. The report she takes back to Rock upsets him and, when his fiance's boss is found dead after Rock confronts him about having an affair with his intended, he is arrested for the murder. Rock's attorney is also a rower and hires Tess to help him clear Rock's name.
In a city where there are murders daily and secrets powerful people would like to keep buried, is Tess endangering herself and those close to her when she begins sleuthing again? Her knowledge of the city and her reporter skills prove to be very helpful in uncovering some information that may or may not lead to Rock being cleared.
Want to know more about this author? Check her out at lauralippman.net or friend her on facebook at lauralippman.
After reading this novel, I'm ready for the next one in the series! pazt
Tess Monaghan, the heroine in Lippman's novels, is an out-of-work former reporter for the Star in Baltimore who lives above a bookstore owned by her aunt who also lives there -- currently with her younger policeman boyfriend. Tess pays her rent by working part-time in the bookstore as well as doing other odd jobs.
Tess goes rowing every morning with her good friend Darryl "Rock" Paxton and one morning he asks her to do some sleuthing for him. His fiance is acting strangely and he would like to know if she is seeing someone else. The report she takes back to Rock upsets him and, when his fiance's boss is found dead after Rock confronts him about having an affair with his intended, he is arrested for the murder. Rock's attorney is also a rower and hires Tess to help him clear Rock's name.
In a city where there are murders daily and secrets powerful people would like to keep buried, is Tess endangering herself and those close to her when she begins sleuthing again? Her knowledge of the city and her reporter skills prove to be very helpful in uncovering some information that may or may not lead to Rock being cleared.
Want to know more about this author? Check her out at lauralippman.net or friend her on facebook at lauralippman.
After reading this novel, I'm ready for the next one in the series! pazt
Sunday, November 1, 2015
"The Heist"
Janet Evanovich (best selling author of the Stephanie Plum series) and Lee Goldberg (author of the bestselling Monk series of mysteries) co-wrote "The Heist." It features FBI Special Agent Kate O'Hare who has been chasing Nicolas Fox, an international crook. However, when she catches him, nothing goes as she planned when he is offered the opportunity to work with Kate to catch a corrupt investment banker who has fled the country to avoid prosecution. Instead of seeing Fox go to jail she has to work side by side with him! Did I mention that he's also good looking and charming?
The adventure begins when the two of them hatch the biggest con of all to get the investment banker back to the States so he can be prosecuted. First they have to assemble a team and evade the FBI since Fox is still on their "Most Wanted" list officially. The fun is in getting there and that's what makes this novel an entertaining read. pazt
The adventure begins when the two of them hatch the biggest con of all to get the investment banker back to the States so he can be prosecuted. First they have to assemble a team and evade the FBI since Fox is still on their "Most Wanted" list officially. The fun is in getting there and that's what makes this novel an entertaining read. pazt
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