James Patterson's "4th of July' is another one of the Women's Murder Club series which Patterson co-wrote this time with Maxine Paetro. Lt. Lindsay Boxer was off duty until she got a call from her former partner, Jacobi. They've got a lead on a vehicle they've been watching for that is connected to some murders - Does she want to ride along? She's at dinner with friends and has had a couple of drinks but she informs him of this when she joins him.
They end up in a car chase with the vehicle occupants. When the car overturns and they see the occupants are just a teenage girl and boy, they holster their guns and rush to get them out of the luxury car before it explodes. Unfortunately, the teens are armed and open fire hitting both Lindsay and Jacobi but Lindsay is able to return fire and kills the girl and leaves the boy paralyzed for life. Initially the boy makes a statement that they did commit the murders but later retracts it when his parents (His father is a prominent doctor.) file a lawsuit against Lindsay for the wrongful death of their daughter and paralyzing their son.
Lindsay is devastated but decides to get out of the city since she's been currently relieved of duty. While awaiting her trial date, she goes to stay at her sister's while her sister and nieces are out of town. When she arrives, she learns there have been a series of murders in town that match the first cold case from her early days as a cop -- a case that has haunted her. Unofficially she begins to work on these murders as more occur and finally the local police allow her to join their investigation.
So...she's awaiting trial and in the midst of a police investigation which she hopes will solve her old cold case and, as is not uncommon, her life is threatened. Another great mystery -- on to the next in the series. pazt
Saturday, May 20, 2017
Monday, April 10, 2017
"Till Death"
"Till Death" is a novel by Jennifer L. Armentrout, a New York Times bestselling author. It's the story of Sasha Keeton who left her West Virginia hometown ten years ago after her escape from a serial killer known as "The Groom." She left behind her mother to run the family B & B, her best friends, and her boyfriend at the time. Now she needs to return home to help her mother run the B & B -- what she'd always wanted to do. As she reconnects with old friends, she also reconnects with her old boyfriend, Cole Landis, who is now an FBI agent.
What no one expected, though, was that Sasha's return would start a chain of events leading to more young women dying. Since her serial killer was killed when Sasha escaped, it has to be a copycat. As those around them begin to die, will she and her friends, the local law, and the FBI be able to discover who is behind this and how to stop it? This was a read that kept me on the edge of my seat as I also worked on "whodunnit." It's my first Armentrout read but it won't be the last. pazt
What no one expected, though, was that Sasha's return would start a chain of events leading to more young women dying. Since her serial killer was killed when Sasha escaped, it has to be a copycat. As those around them begin to die, will she and her friends, the local law, and the FBI be able to discover who is behind this and how to stop it? This was a read that kept me on the edge of my seat as I also worked on "whodunnit." It's my first Armentrout read but it won't be the last. pazt
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
"Philomena"
"Philomena" was written by Martin Sixsmith and is based on the true story of a young woman, Philomena Lee, who was sent to a convent after becoming pregnant as a teen. There she gave birth to a son, Anthony Lee. She worked in the laundry during the day but was able to spend time with her son during the evening. When she and another young mother became friends, they played together with their son and daughter bringing those two children close enough that they were like brother and sister.
Times were harsh and "fallen"women weren't accepted in general Irish society so the women gave up their children for adoption after they'd spent the first three years of the child's life raising them. The young women were forced to sign relinquishment papers and, when the children were adopted, they weren't even told that they were leaving the convent -- often not discovering it until they went to see their children that evening and learned they were gone.
The nuns had total control over when the girls could leave the convent,when the children were adopted, and they received compensation from the adoptive parents that went entirely to the convent. Although there were some nuns who showed kindness, the girls were mostly treated as sinners and shamed, sometimes beaten,and made to work long hours. They were told never to try to look for their children and never to speak of them to anyone.
Anthony and Mary were adopted together because Marge Hess, who made the trip from America to adopt a daughter into their family of three sons, saw how close the two children were and felt she couldn't break up this "brother and sister." Being adopted together was a comfort to them because they had each other to console but both were bewildered by what they'd done (obviously something very bad) to make their "mammies" give them away.
In the meantime Philomena was sent to England to work at another convent with wayward boys. She eventually left and found a position to train as a nurse. She married and had another son and a daughter but never spoke of Anthony to them or her husband. She divorced that husband and remarried but her children noticed that she was always depressed around Christmas (which was when Anthony left the convent to join his new family in America). When she finally told her children about Anthony's existence the search began to find him but everything about adoptions from that time was cloaked in secrecy.
In the meantime, Anthony and Mary were raised in Catholic schools in Rockford, Ill, where Marge's brother was a bishop and their adoptive father,"Doc," was a urologist. Mary graduated from high school while Anthony (now named Mike Hess) was away at college. Marge's brother, who Mike had been close to, had died and Doc was ready for some warmer weather so the family of three remaining at home moved to Florida. Eventually Mary became pregnant and married the father and gave birth to a son.
In the meantime, Mike had completed college and law school and was working in D.C. where he'd once done an internship (arranged by Doc) with Senator Dirkson from Illinois. Although a liberal and Democrat, Mike ended up working for the Republican National Committee and eventually becoming the leading lawyer in the Bush administration.
At that time it would have been political suicide to be gay so Mike had to hide that part of himself but he discovered many other closet gays in the D.C. area who held high positions. He had several lovers and two long term relationships but he was haunted always by not feeling worthy and sometimes sabotaged those relationships because he didn't feel he deserved to be happy.
He maintained contact with his adoptive family until Marge's death then he only continued contact with Mary. He began a search for the missing piece -- his birthmother -- but ran into the same walls as she did searching for him.
The author does an excellent job of sharing some of the struggles adoptive children have as well as exposing the harshness of the Irish Catholic adoption process at the time Mike was a child. He also gives us an in depth look at Mike's life -- especially his years in D.C.
When Mike learns he is dying of AIDS, he arranges to be buried at the convent where he was born and his wishes are carried out by his partner, Pete. Pete inherits the bulk of his estate with a bequest going to his sister, Mary.
Although Mike and Philomena do not find each other while Mike is still alive, Philomena does eventually discover his grave at the convent and finds some peace at last. The author also arranges a meeting between Philomena and Pete so she can learn about the man her son become. She admits she could never have given him the life he had in America.
This excellent story has been made into a movie which I have not seen but I highly recommend the book. pazt
Times were harsh and "fallen"women weren't accepted in general Irish society so the women gave up their children for adoption after they'd spent the first three years of the child's life raising them. The young women were forced to sign relinquishment papers and, when the children were adopted, they weren't even told that they were leaving the convent -- often not discovering it until they went to see their children that evening and learned they were gone.
The nuns had total control over when the girls could leave the convent,when the children were adopted, and they received compensation from the adoptive parents that went entirely to the convent. Although there were some nuns who showed kindness, the girls were mostly treated as sinners and shamed, sometimes beaten,and made to work long hours. They were told never to try to look for their children and never to speak of them to anyone.
Anthony and Mary were adopted together because Marge Hess, who made the trip from America to adopt a daughter into their family of three sons, saw how close the two children were and felt she couldn't break up this "brother and sister." Being adopted together was a comfort to them because they had each other to console but both were bewildered by what they'd done (obviously something very bad) to make their "mammies" give them away.
In the meantime Philomena was sent to England to work at another convent with wayward boys. She eventually left and found a position to train as a nurse. She married and had another son and a daughter but never spoke of Anthony to them or her husband. She divorced that husband and remarried but her children noticed that she was always depressed around Christmas (which was when Anthony left the convent to join his new family in America). When she finally told her children about Anthony's existence the search began to find him but everything about adoptions from that time was cloaked in secrecy.
In the meantime, Anthony and Mary were raised in Catholic schools in Rockford, Ill, where Marge's brother was a bishop and their adoptive father,"Doc," was a urologist. Mary graduated from high school while Anthony (now named Mike Hess) was away at college. Marge's brother, who Mike had been close to, had died and Doc was ready for some warmer weather so the family of three remaining at home moved to Florida. Eventually Mary became pregnant and married the father and gave birth to a son.
In the meantime, Mike had completed college and law school and was working in D.C. where he'd once done an internship (arranged by Doc) with Senator Dirkson from Illinois. Although a liberal and Democrat, Mike ended up working for the Republican National Committee and eventually becoming the leading lawyer in the Bush administration.
At that time it would have been political suicide to be gay so Mike had to hide that part of himself but he discovered many other closet gays in the D.C. area who held high positions. He had several lovers and two long term relationships but he was haunted always by not feeling worthy and sometimes sabotaged those relationships because he didn't feel he deserved to be happy.
He maintained contact with his adoptive family until Marge's death then he only continued contact with Mary. He began a search for the missing piece -- his birthmother -- but ran into the same walls as she did searching for him.
The author does an excellent job of sharing some of the struggles adoptive children have as well as exposing the harshness of the Irish Catholic adoption process at the time Mike was a child. He also gives us an in depth look at Mike's life -- especially his years in D.C.
When Mike learns he is dying of AIDS, he arranges to be buried at the convent where he was born and his wishes are carried out by his partner, Pete. Pete inherits the bulk of his estate with a bequest going to his sister, Mary.
Although Mike and Philomena do not find each other while Mike is still alive, Philomena does eventually discover his grave at the convent and finds some peace at last. The author also arranges a meeting between Philomena and Pete so she can learn about the man her son become. She admits she could never have given him the life he had in America.
This excellent story has been made into a movie which I have not seen but I highly recommend the book. pazt
Monday, March 27, 2017
"High Profile"
I'm reading Robert B. Parker's Jesse Stone novels in order and just finished "High Profile" which also includes Sunny Randall (another Parker series).
In "High Profile" Stone and his department are charged with finding out who murdered a talk-show host found hanging from a tree in a public park in Paradise although, at first glance, he has no ties to Paradise. When his female assistant's body is discovered in a dumpster, Stone has his work cut out for him. Everyone in the talk show host's family and co-workers become suspect but what was the motive and why in Paradise? Stone is getting pressure from the governor to solve this high profile case.
As if he didn't have enough on his plate, his ex-wife Jenn asks for help claiming she's been raped and is being stalked. Stone asks his private detective friend (and sometimes lover), Sunny Randall, to provide protective detail for Jenn and discover what is really going on.
I love to solve mysteries but this one had me stumped just as long as Stone so it was a great read!pazt
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
"Nancy Wake - SOE's Greatest Heroine"
"Nancy Wake-SOE's Greatest Heroine" is probably the best true story I've ever read. It's written by Russell Braddon and reads like a novel. He did a lot of research and had many conversations with Nancy herself and others she worked with. Braddon has also written a book describing his experience as a prisoner in Changi for four years during World War II called "The Naked Island" and it was a best seller.
Nancy was an Australian who went to France in 1939 and there she met a wealthy young man, Henri Fiocca. They fell in love and married in 1940 and Nancy lived a very privileged life with Henri. However, when the war came along and France was occupied, she couldn't just sit back and do nothing so she pleaded with Henri to donate money to help others and she herself became part of the resistance movement.
When things became too "hot" for her in France, Henri realized she must get out of the country. She'd built quite a reputation for herself and the Gestapo were searching for the "White Mouse" although they yet had a name to put with her. She escaped to England and Henri promised to follow.
In the meantime, she is enlisted in Britain to join the British Special Operations Executive. After months of training she was parachuted back into France and she became a leader of around 7,000 men who were part of the resistance. She was sent in advance of D-Day with special instructions to make preparations and disrupt German activity.
Nancy was an amazing woman commanding all these men in her 20's and escaping danger herself many times. I highly recommend this book! pazt
Nancy was an Australian who went to France in 1939 and there she met a wealthy young man, Henri Fiocca. They fell in love and married in 1940 and Nancy lived a very privileged life with Henri. However, when the war came along and France was occupied, she couldn't just sit back and do nothing so she pleaded with Henri to donate money to help others and she herself became part of the resistance movement.
When things became too "hot" for her in France, Henri realized she must get out of the country. She'd built quite a reputation for herself and the Gestapo were searching for the "White Mouse" although they yet had a name to put with her. She escaped to England and Henri promised to follow.
In the meantime, she is enlisted in Britain to join the British Special Operations Executive. After months of training she was parachuted back into France and she became a leader of around 7,000 men who were part of the resistance. She was sent in advance of D-Day with special instructions to make preparations and disrupt German activity.
Nancy was an amazing woman commanding all these men in her 20's and escaping danger herself many times. I highly recommend this book! pazt
Monday, March 20, 2017
"Her Nightly Embrace"
"Her Nightly Embrace" is Book 1 of the Ravi P. I. Series by Adi Tantimedh, Book 2 is due to come out in December of 2017 as the second in a trilogy. It's also due to be a TV series soon.
I haven't figured out why the title is "Her Nightly Embrace" so if anyone else does, please clue me in!
Ravi is a British-born-Indian private investigator with eccentric co-workers as well as a needy family. He's in a bit of a money bind paying off bills his mother has run up for his sister's wedding.
Ravi is not your typical P. I. - He was a religious scholar turned high school teacher who now works for Golden Sentinels. Golden Sentinels tends to work with upscale clients solving problems and helping with security issues.
Ravi's uniqueness lies in his visions of Hindu Gods -- but is it a help or a hindrance in his line of work?
Although I enjoyed reading this work of fiction and it was fun, it seemed a little disjointed at times./pazt
I haven't figured out why the title is "Her Nightly Embrace" so if anyone else does, please clue me in!
Ravi is a British-born-Indian private investigator with eccentric co-workers as well as a needy family. He's in a bit of a money bind paying off bills his mother has run up for his sister's wedding.
Ravi is not your typical P. I. - He was a religious scholar turned high school teacher who now works for Golden Sentinels. Golden Sentinels tends to work with upscale clients solving problems and helping with security issues.
Ravi's uniqueness lies in his visions of Hindu Gods -- but is it a help or a hindrance in his line of work?
Although I enjoyed reading this work of fiction and it was fun, it seemed a little disjointed at times./pazt
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
"The Neon Court or, The Betrayal of Matthew Swift"
"The Neon Court or,The Betrayal of Matthew Swift" is Kate Griffin's third book in the Matthew Swift Series. It always takes me a while to get into the Matthew Swift books -- perhaps because they are based on their own world and I have to find my way back into that world. Although it is slow going, I always want to finish the books and, as I near the end, my interest increases as does my reading pace. This book, however, is probably one of my least favorite of the Matthew Swift series and took me the longest to read.
Swift has a battle on his hand as the Tribe and the Neon Court are preparing to go to war. The Midnight Mayor (in an old treaty) has agreed to fight on the side of The Neon Court. However, Swift wants to be sure who or what started this war before he enters a battle. The negotiations to find that out take their toll and Swift loses some friends and/or colleagues leading up to the battle and is mightily bruised himself and that's only the beginning! pazt
Swift has a battle on his hand as the Tribe and the Neon Court are preparing to go to war. The Midnight Mayor (in an old treaty) has agreed to fight on the side of The Neon Court. However, Swift wants to be sure who or what started this war before he enters a battle. The negotiations to find that out take their toll and Swift loses some friends and/or colleagues leading up to the battle and is mightily bruised himself and that's only the beginning! pazt
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