Harlan Coben's "Tell No One" is one of the best mysteries I've read in a long time and I've read some very good ones recently. This one kept me on the edge of my seat and not wanting to put this book down! There is corruption, greed, parental love, romantic love, friendship, and a rich man who believes he is above the law because he wants revenge.
Dr. David Beck and his attorney wife, Elizabeth, have known each other since childhood and were in love a long time before they married. They have a ritual that involves returning to a childhood camp owned by David's grandfather but now abandoned. They like to celebrate the anniversary of their first kiss there and carve their initials in a tree. However, this year it goes very wrong. David is knocked out and falls into the lake and Elizabeth is kidnapped. She's later found murdered and it's determined to be the work of a serial killer. Since David is in the hospital, his father in-law and Elizabeth's uncle (both cops) identify her body. Everyone is devastated.
Fast forward a few years and David has put his life back together and tried to move on but just can't seem to do it. When he receives an e-mail routed through a secure source one day, he is sure it is from his dead wife and she urges him to "Tell No One" that she's in contact with him. However, as he begins to investigate to see if there is even a possibility that her body was misidentified, federal agents come looking for him thinking he may have been the one to kill his wife -- or set it up. While he's defending himself, his life and the lives of those he talks to are in danger and he turns to a source he never thought he'd call on for help.
This book just keeps twisting and turning until it comes to a very surprising end! It's definitely worth reading!
pazt
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
"Naked Came The Manatee"
"Naked Came The Manatee" is a novel written by thirteen Florida writers who have penned best sellers, hit movies, top-rated TV shows, and won Pulitzer Prizes. This novel is unique in that each of them wrote one of its thirteen chapters.
It all started as a serial novel in 1995 for "The Miami Herald's Tropic" magazine as completed chapters were passed on to the next writer. Florida became hooked and eagerly awaited the next publication. The authors are Carl Hiaasen, Elmore Leonard, Dave Barry, James W. Hall, Edna Buchanan, Les Standiford, Paula Levine, Brian Antoni, Tananarive Due, John Dufresne, Vicki Hendricks, Evelyn Mayerson, and Carolina Hospital. I've read books by Carl Hiaassen and they are always a lot of fun and I've just recently discovered Edna Buchanan so I sought this book at my local library. Evidently it's out of print but they did have a hardback copy.
It was an easy and light read in the beginning but with each subsequent chapter (and the change in author and sometimes a very different turn in the plot) I had a more difficult time remembering and/or keeping up with the story. It's an interesting concept but not one that maybe should be tried with any regularity in my opinion. pazt
It all started as a serial novel in 1995 for "The Miami Herald's Tropic" magazine as completed chapters were passed on to the next writer. Florida became hooked and eagerly awaited the next publication. The authors are Carl Hiaasen, Elmore Leonard, Dave Barry, James W. Hall, Edna Buchanan, Les Standiford, Paula Levine, Brian Antoni, Tananarive Due, John Dufresne, Vicki Hendricks, Evelyn Mayerson, and Carolina Hospital. I've read books by Carl Hiaassen and they are always a lot of fun and I've just recently discovered Edna Buchanan so I sought this book at my local library. Evidently it's out of print but they did have a hardback copy.
It was an easy and light read in the beginning but with each subsequent chapter (and the change in author and sometimes a very different turn in the plot) I had a more difficult time remembering and/or keeping up with the story. It's an interesting concept but not one that maybe should be tried with any regularity in my opinion. pazt
Monday, July 28, 2014
"Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken"
"Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken" is a Disney movie based on the true story of a runaway orphan, Sonora Webster. Sonora is played by Gabrielle Anwar (also starring in TV's "Burn Notice") and I believe this may have been one of her first roles.
After Sonora's parents die, she and her younger sister are taken in by her mother's aunt but it's the depression and Sonora's attitude and the lack of money for food leads her aunt to the decision to place Sonora only in the care of the state. Instead Sonora runs away to find Doc Carver's traveling show because she's seen his ad asking for a "diving girl" for a death defying stunt. Sonora is sure she can do the job without even knowing what it is and she is determined.
Sonora finds the show but is turned away by Doc Carver. However, as I said, she is persistent and she finally gets a job mucking out stables with the show. When she comes to the attention of Doc's gambling son, he takes a shine to her and together they secretly train a horse that he won in a poker game. Doc thinks the horse is untrainable but they prove otherwise and Sonora shows Doc that she can be a "diving girl" and, in fact, steals the show. However, a tragedy threatens to keep her from performing but it appears nothing can keep Sonora down for long. This is a very heartwarming story. pazt
After Sonora's parents die, she and her younger sister are taken in by her mother's aunt but it's the depression and Sonora's attitude and the lack of money for food leads her aunt to the decision to place Sonora only in the care of the state. Instead Sonora runs away to find Doc Carver's traveling show because she's seen his ad asking for a "diving girl" for a death defying stunt. Sonora is sure she can do the job without even knowing what it is and she is determined.
Sonora finds the show but is turned away by Doc Carver. However, as I said, she is persistent and she finally gets a job mucking out stables with the show. When she comes to the attention of Doc's gambling son, he takes a shine to her and together they secretly train a horse that he won in a poker game. Doc thinks the horse is untrainable but they prove otherwise and Sonora shows Doc that she can be a "diving girl" and, in fact, steals the show. However, a tragedy threatens to keep her from performing but it appears nothing can keep Sonora down for long. This is a very heartwarming story. pazt
Sunday, July 27, 2014
"Rizzoli & Isles" - The Complete Third Season
My hubby and I just completed the third season of "rizzoli & isles" on DVD and he was hesitant to watch the last episode because all the other seasons have been cliff hangers and he doesn't like waiting until the beginning of the next season (which we've already requested from the library but we're number 70 something in the list of patrons who want it!) to find out what happened. So....I watched the last episode without him and it actually cleared up a couple of things left hanging earlier in this season and the only real "cliff hanger" is just a continuation of one we've already been waiting to see how it would resolve itself. With that done he agreed to watch the last episode with me.
Although I'm a big fan of this series, I think I've enjoyed this season the most so far. Jane and Maura spend the first episode dealing with the aftermath of last season's final episode and figuring out how to heal their friendship. It felt like this season had a little more humor in it -- quite the feat for a show based on a homicide squad. This season involves all the members of Jane's family at some point with some secrets coming out. Jane's mother (after being asked for a divorce by her father) starts dating again. We meet Frost's mother and her new partner and watch Frost obsess over an old case that has been brought to his attention again in the midst of a case he and Jane are working on. Maura is trying to figure out what role her biological mother might have in her life -- if any. I loved the intermingling of the murder investigations with their personal lives. My spouse did have one observation - What is it that Jane's cop brother Frankie does? He's always around to help out if they need him in homicide or to take a family member home or ??? How come he has so much flexibility? If you know the answer, clue us in, please! pazt
Although I'm a big fan of this series, I think I've enjoyed this season the most so far. Jane and Maura spend the first episode dealing with the aftermath of last season's final episode and figuring out how to heal their friendship. It felt like this season had a little more humor in it -- quite the feat for a show based on a homicide squad. This season involves all the members of Jane's family at some point with some secrets coming out. Jane's mother (after being asked for a divorce by her father) starts dating again. We meet Frost's mother and her new partner and watch Frost obsess over an old case that has been brought to his attention again in the midst of a case he and Jane are working on. Maura is trying to figure out what role her biological mother might have in her life -- if any. I loved the intermingling of the murder investigations with their personal lives. My spouse did have one observation - What is it that Jane's cop brother Frankie does? He's always around to help out if they need him in homicide or to take a family member home or ??? How come he has so much flexibility? If you know the answer, clue us in, please! pazt
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
"Seconds Away" - A Mickey Bolitar Novel
"Seconds Away" - a Mickey Bolitary Novel - is the second in this series by Harlan Coben. It has been some time since I read the first book, "Shelter" but Coban spent the first part of this book recapping enough of what happened in the first book to refresh my memory and bring me up to speed. Although these books are aimed at a teen audience, I enjoy them and plan to continue to read this series. There is another series about Mickey's Uncle Myron that is also on my "to read" list.
Mickey Bolitar is an only child and like his uncle Myron he loves basketball. When Mickey reaches the time for him to start high school, his world traveling parents decide it is time to settle in one place and give him the opportunity to experience being on a basketball team and having a group of friends that will be stable. They move back to his father's home town but then Mickey's father is killed in an accident and his mother is so devastated that she ends up using drugs. While she is in rehab, Mickey is living with his Uncle Myron but it's not an easy relationship.
Mickey has made some close friends since starting high school but he really doesn't know them well. There is Ema who will not allow him to know anything about her home life -- even where she lives. There is Rachel who comes from a very wealthy family and lives in a home that is gated. Last but not least, there is "Spoon" (a nickname Mickey gave him) who is the janitor's son. Together they form a formidable team when they come up against some very bad guys in "Shelter."
Mickey is also learning some family secrets about the work that had his parents traveling the world and in "Seconds Away" he begins to discover another side of his Uncle Myron. In the first book he meets "Bat Lady" - a woman who lives in what the locals seem to think is a haunted house but Mickey's interactions with her reveal more secrets as well as wisdom she imparts to him.
In this book, Rachel's mother has been killed and Rachel herself has suffered a slight gunshot wound at the same time. Mickey and his friends are out to discover what happened but it appears they have put all their lives in danger again and Uncle Myron and the detective father of one of Mickey's basketball pickup game friends come to the rescue.
Throughout the book Mickey is beginning to doubt that his father is really dead and at the end he has convinced his Uncle Myron to have the grave opened so he can see if it really is his father who is buried there. He's beginning to be less antagonistic towards his Uncle Myron and I suspect the next book in the series, "Found," will be about an adventure with Uncle Myron. Unfortunately, "Found" is not due to be released until 9/9/2014. pazt
Mickey Bolitar is an only child and like his uncle Myron he loves basketball. When Mickey reaches the time for him to start high school, his world traveling parents decide it is time to settle in one place and give him the opportunity to experience being on a basketball team and having a group of friends that will be stable. They move back to his father's home town but then Mickey's father is killed in an accident and his mother is so devastated that she ends up using drugs. While she is in rehab, Mickey is living with his Uncle Myron but it's not an easy relationship.
Mickey has made some close friends since starting high school but he really doesn't know them well. There is Ema who will not allow him to know anything about her home life -- even where she lives. There is Rachel who comes from a very wealthy family and lives in a home that is gated. Last but not least, there is "Spoon" (a nickname Mickey gave him) who is the janitor's son. Together they form a formidable team when they come up against some very bad guys in "Shelter."
Mickey is also learning some family secrets about the work that had his parents traveling the world and in "Seconds Away" he begins to discover another side of his Uncle Myron. In the first book he meets "Bat Lady" - a woman who lives in what the locals seem to think is a haunted house but Mickey's interactions with her reveal more secrets as well as wisdom she imparts to him.
In this book, Rachel's mother has been killed and Rachel herself has suffered a slight gunshot wound at the same time. Mickey and his friends are out to discover what happened but it appears they have put all their lives in danger again and Uncle Myron and the detective father of one of Mickey's basketball pickup game friends come to the rescue.
Throughout the book Mickey is beginning to doubt that his father is really dead and at the end he has convinced his Uncle Myron to have the grave opened so he can see if it really is his father who is buried there. He's beginning to be less antagonistic towards his Uncle Myron and I suspect the next book in the series, "Found," will be about an adventure with Uncle Myron. Unfortunately, "Found" is not due to be released until 9/9/2014. pazt
Reaching Out
As I was meditating this morning, a thought came to me: We each live in our own insulated world. No matter how much or how little we may have, we view the world from where we are. It is only by being willing to look outside that world to see the pain or suffering of those less fortunate than we are (and no matter where I am in life there will always be someone with less -- less material goods, less love, less health, etc) that we will learn compassion. It is only by stepping outside that insulated world that we can reach out in love, compassion, and generosity. By helping someone else, I not only give to them but I also feed my soul and bring joy into my life as well as feel gratitude for what I have and for what I can share. Namaste
Thursday, July 17, 2014
"Winter Prey"
"Winter Prey" is John Sandford's fifth mystery in his Lucas Davenport series. Sandford agrees with his readers that this might be one of the better books in this series. It certainly kept me guessing till the end!
Davenport has been staying away from his new state of the art office hiding out at his cabin up north and it's one of the coldest winters in Wisconsin history. When a couple and their daughter are brutally murdered and their home burned to the ground, Sheriff Shelly Carr asks for Davenport's assistance. In fact, he deputizes him to make it official.
These deaths are just the tip of the iceberg and there is more than murder involved. Davenport is part of the Sheriff's local team which includes Dr. Weather Karkinnen, a local surgeon, who, as a matter of regular rotation, acts as coroner on this case. When she becomes a target, Davenport moves into her guest bedroom at night to act as a bodyguard and has someone routinely assigned to be with her at all times for protection.
Neither Davenport nor Weather have been in a relationship for some time and there is a mutual attraction that they eventually act on. However, solving the murders and preventing additional ones takes precedence.
How many more "innocents" will die before they find their murderer? pazt
Davenport has been staying away from his new state of the art office hiding out at his cabin up north and it's one of the coldest winters in Wisconsin history. When a couple and their daughter are brutally murdered and their home burned to the ground, Sheriff Shelly Carr asks for Davenport's assistance. In fact, he deputizes him to make it official.
These deaths are just the tip of the iceberg and there is more than murder involved. Davenport is part of the Sheriff's local team which includes Dr. Weather Karkinnen, a local surgeon, who, as a matter of regular rotation, acts as coroner on this case. When she becomes a target, Davenport moves into her guest bedroom at night to act as a bodyguard and has someone routinely assigned to be with her at all times for protection.
Neither Davenport nor Weather have been in a relationship for some time and there is a mutual attraction that they eventually act on. However, solving the murders and preventing additional ones takes precedence.
How many more "innocents" will die before they find their murderer? pazt
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