The Stranger You Know by Jane Casey

What makes someone become a serial killer?

This 4th book in the police procedural crime series teams DC Maeve Kerrigan with partner and superior DI Josh Derwent as they investigate the murders of three young, single women in different areas of London. When he becomes a suspect due to an event that happened when he was a teenager, Maeve is told to keep Derwent out of the loop. Unable to believe he could have committed the murders, and regardless of the fact that he is a misogynist very critical of the way she performs her duties, Maeve can't keep herself from enlisting his help even as the case against him builds despite the lack of evidence. This killer is clever and leaves no traces or any clues behind. The unsuspecting women must trust their killer and he or she seems to pick the victims well.

Evenly paced with great characters and dialog, the narrative moves along with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. Although I only read the first book in this series, The Burning, I didn't feel lost though it was obvious that I did miss some of the development of relationships in between. The novel was very entertaining and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys witty repartee, cop buddy interaction, and a complex murder mystery that reaches a satisfying conclusion.

Titles of series, in order:
The Burning
The Reckoning
The Last Girl (Maeve Kerrigan Novels)
The Stranger You Know (Maeve Kerrigan Novels)

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-book ARC to review.

The Runner by Patrick Lee

4.0 out of 5 stars -- What if humans could reacquire the ability to read minds? From that point, what if scientists could find a way to control the minds of others? Now, that would certainly be useful -- to someone -- in our modern world.

Virtually every other reviewer has remarked on the fast-paced nature of this new thriller from author Patrick Lee -- so I advise that when you open the first pages that you allow yourself the time to read from cover to cover as you'll find it very hard to put down!

Sam Dryden knows heartache and loneliness; he's been in a state of inertia for years after the accidental death of his wife and daughter. Driven outdoors by his compulsion to run along the ocean boardwalk at night, he encounters a 12-year-old girl fleeing from some very determined men in hot pursuit. In a split second, the former Ranger and Delta force soldier makes a decision to help Rachel escape and they are off on an adventure that pits them against some very dangerous Department of Defense private contractors and the Molecular Biology Working Group. RNA-Interference Cohort, Knockout One One.

This novel was full of action and interesting (plausible?)science applications in the field of mind reading and mind control. I enjoyed the characters as well as their relationships and motivations. I've read Lee's other books and highly recommend this one to all who love a multi-layered story with very clear depictions of good and evil!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-book ARC to review.

The Keeper by John Lescroart

3.0 out of 5 stars -- the latest in the series is an entertaining mystery that focuses on the collaboration between attorney Hardy and his long time friend turned investigator, ex cop Abe Glitsky, as they delve into the case of a missing woman and corruption at the local jail. The body of the woman, wife of jail guard Hal Chase, is found in a wooded clearing close to the family home and Hal is arrested. But the homicide isn't going to be closed that easily -- and the team is off and running, chasing down clues and trying to find evidence.

Although I knew who the murderer was almost instantly (a side effect of reading hundreds of books in this genre), the evolving story was paced well with plenty of red herrings. The partnership of Dismas and Abe has developed over the long series and the characters are well drawn and complex. Their interaction is spiked with humor but their respect for each other is evident.

I enjoy the series and fans will want to devour this latest book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the e-book ARC to review.

I am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes

5.0 out of 5 stars  

An amazing suspense thriller with an unforgettable character. It screams "blockbuster movie" and I simply could not put it down though I paced myself so I could make the pleasure last longer. It is one of the best I've read in ages! I had about given up on this genre, but this book managed to lure me back and to remind me of how much I had once loved it.

Readers will be glued to the pages in this race against time -- can Pilgrim find the lone man intent on destroying America with a scheme so heinous, and with a 100% kill rate, that is about to be unleashed on innocent people? Sent on a globe-trotting covert mission to find and stop this threat, Pilgrim seeks answers from the scant information he has and the few clues he is able to find. What does the "perfect murder" in a sleazy US hotel have to do with an "accidental death" in Bodrum, Turkey? The only key may be a tenuous connection between a book and a very radical Islamist.

I will be recommending this to everyone who loves heart-stopping action without the inclusion of a ridiculous romance, a smart-mouthed sidekick, or a trusty animal. 





Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler publishers for the e-book ARC to review.

The Word Exchange by Alena Graedon

4.5 out of 5 stars -- "Language comes from what we've seen, touched, loved, lost...We want to verify with others what we seem to perceive." I thought this book was brilliant though I realize that it is not for everyone. I've noticed from reading other reviews that people seem to have loved it or hated it -- many rated it without actually finishing more than a couple of chapters. I loved it because I love words -- those that I hear, speak, or write. Vocabulary fascinates me and I always have a dictionary close - and it really got a workout while I was immersed in this imaginative tale involving an epidemic of "word flu" -- a condition wherein victims can no longer communicate appropriately in their native language; the "virus" is initially most severe in the USA. Speech is garbled and words are nonsense. People cannot be understood as made up words spontaneously erupt and other words simply disappear or suddenly have new meanings or definitions. In the not-so-distant future, the entire world is dependent on handheld devices called Memes. These digital marvels can anticipate almost every need and citizens have become quite attached to them. In fact, most people don't have to remember anything, even everyday words, because the Word Exchange can give a word to use and a definition whenever necessary in a barrage of texting, messaging or beaming. Books, letters, photographs, maps -- printed material of all kinds -- have slowly disappeared. Even paper and the act of writing on it have become nearly obsolete. There are only a few holdouts trying to prevent further obsolescence. Anana Johnson works with her father, Doug, who is the Chief Editor for the North American Dictionary of the English Language (NADEL) in New York. One night, right before launch of the latest and last print edition, Doug disappears. Frantic to find him from strange clues he left behind, Ana embarks on a harrowing mission just as the language virus hits. Her search leads her to a secret society, puts her life in danger, and forces her to confront the nature of being human. Set in the near future, this dystopian novel takes aim at our increasing dependence on technology and serves as a warning that we perhaps ought not to rely so much on our devices to meet our every need but should instead focus more on conversation, thinking and reading. Turn off the constant contact with meaningless data, learn multiple languages take a break from being "plugged in" -- a least for a couple of hours a day! I really enjoyed this story concept and allowed myself to suspend disbelief when the science was shaky (re: the "virus") and just went along for the ride. It's fiction and an author is always allowed liberties! This would be an excellent choice for a book club as there are many great points to discuss and debate. I'd recommend it to all those who love linguistics and their dictionaries!  A comment about format: When reading this book on a Kindle device you may have difficulty following the footnotes. Lastly -- this book reminded me of a series written by Jasper Fforde -- the THURSDAY NEXT novels -- which I also enjoyed immensely. The titles of the series are: Thursday Next 1. The Eyre Affair (2001) 2. Lost in a Good Book (2002) 3. The Well of Lost Plots (2002) 4. Something Rotten (2004) 5. First Among Sequels (2007) 6. One of Our Thursdays Is Missing (2011) 7. The Woman Who Died A Lot (2012) The Next Set (omnibus) (2005) A Thursday Next Digital Collection: Novels 1-5 (omnibus) (2011) The Thursday Next Collection 1-3: Eyre Affair / Lost in a Good Book /Well of Lost Plots (omnibus) (2013) Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday for the e-book ARC to review.

No Safe House by Linwood Barclay

Well, I was wrong about this one. I've read every book Barclay has written and my favorite is NO TIME FOR GOODBYE. When I realized that this suspense thriller was going to revisit those characters, I was more than hesitant to read it because I really am tired of sequels and series and, honestly, I was done with the Archer story. Fortunately, I won this book as a First Reads giveaway and decided that I'd go ahead and give it a try. I'm very glad I did because this novel was a very entertaining roller coaster ride that hooked me quickly and didn't let go. Although many of the characters are those from that other novel I loved, the story told here is capable of being a standalone and involves the Archer family in another brush with an acquaintance who is basically a criminal but who had, once upon a time, done them a good turn that prevented a family tragedy.

The action doesn't let up and each chapter switches between characters and events as the reader becomes entangled in a convoluted plot that, at times, can be confusing. Barclay does a really excellent job writing about the average family man who is called upon to do unconventional -- and can we say: illegal -- maneuvers with an unsavory partner in order to save his daughter from peril. Terry Archer is a high school English teacher who usually wants to do the right thing and stay out of trouble. This time, however, his 14-year-old daughter has become embroiled in a situation that will have huge repercussions if the police become involved. Despite the fact that I find the daughter, Grace, to be extremely unlikeable, I do understand a parent who wants to protect his daughter. Wife Cynthia is also a bit of an unsympathetic mess, but a man does what he has to do, right?

I think readers will enjoy this return to Milford and the reconnection with these characters in a "wicked-good story" where the lines between good and evil are a little bit blurred.

 

The Secret History by Stephanie Thornton

4.0 out of 5 stars - This historical fiction novel recounts the rise of a young, homeless street urchin to the throne as Empress Theodora circa 500 AD.

Theodora and her 2 sisters, along with their mother, are put out on the mean streets of Constantinople when their father and husband dies suddenly. Too young and too unskilled to find any work, the two older sisters leave their drunken mother and find the only money they can earn is on the boards at a local theater where the women perform for men of all rank and power both on and off the stage. Faced with many trials, betrayals and disappointments, Theodora does whatever she needs to do to survive -- forming alliances here and there --  using her resilience and determination to drag herself out of situations that almost break her spirit. Basically considered a whore, though a very popular one, Theodora attracts the one man who just possibly might be the one to save her. Faced with treachery and secrecy. often unable to trust those closest to her, Theodora earns the respect and adoration of her Emperor and has the opportunity to take the ultimate step -- to accept the crown.

Told in the first person, the story of Theodora's triumphs and the agony of her defeats, is filled with the sights and sounds of Byzantine life in what was basically the most important city in the Empire at that time. The colors, the jewels, the fabrics, and the food were described in great detail. The reader could see the famous palaces and architecture vs the small moldy rooms and tavernas, and feel the contrast between the plebeian and the patrician society. I love the kind of book that can make a reader feel present in the time and setting.

Other reviewers have remarked that everything in the book is not completely accurate and -- it was not meant to be -- thus is not a biography, but historical fiction with some liberty taken by the author (as she explains in an afterward). I enjoyed it very much and would recommend it to anyone interested in this era with all its political and religious intrigue, its passion, and its extreme privilege that unimaginable wealth provides. Rich with description and with characters to love and hate, it's a great read that I couldn't put down until I finished it.

Library book - paperback format.

The Here and Now by Ann Brashares

YA with a hint of sci-fi, a report of time travel and a forbidden love.

Prenna travels back in time from a future world where millions have died from the plague as the result of politics and environmental meltdown. Ethan sees Prenna when she appears in front of him while he is fishing by a local creek and instantly falls in love.

But they cannot be together, for Prenna is part of a secret community that has developed rules so as not to interfere with the current time natives. The main rule is that members cannot fall in love or be intimate with anyone outside their enclave. But Prenna, age 17, and her classmate, Ethan, bond during a shared class in high school and find themselves drawn into a plan to save the world on May 17, 2014.

Very predictable with stereotypical one-dimensional characters, this novel seems to be the start of a series. The action and developing plot requires a great deal of suspension of disbelief. With themes of loss and identity that are never fully developed, Prenna's past life is only hinted at and the full reasons for the community's return to circa 2014 are not adequately explained enough to make it all believable. The narrative includes some political posturing and attempts moralistic commentary on the lifestyles and habits of contemporary society.

I'll see what the teens think of this one but I'm not likely to read the follow up. I'm pretty sure I know how it's all going to end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the e-book ARC to review.

Empress of the Night by Eva Stachniak

3.5  out of 5 stars A woman with the strength and a dream to bring the "greatest happiness to the greatest numbers.", April 11, 2014

  

In this follow-up to her sumptuous novel, The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great, author Eva Stachniak takes us back to Russia and Catherine the Great as the Empress reflects on her life in a first person account as she lies dying after suffering a massive stroke.

Any historical fiction novel relies heavily on extensive research into the subject and it's evident that much effort has been made to recreate the details that make a reader see the sights, hear the sounds of Russian life, smell the odors (pleasant and unpleasant), taste the food, and almost feel the textures of the cloth and furs. I could close my eyes sometimes and imagine I was actually there next to Catherine as she interacted with her family, lovers, favorites, courtiers and enemies. Her life story is full of triumphs and defeats, both on a personal level and a national one. She was an amazing woman, a strong leader, and an incredible visionary at a time when men thought themselves superior and more fit to rule great countries.

I was most grateful for the list of the cast of characters provided by the author as there are many similar names and sometimes it was hard to keep everyone straight. The shifts from present tense to Catherine's reminiscing about her life were often confusing.

I did enjoy both novels and suggest that they be read in order.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Bantam Dell for the e-book ARC to review.

Cruise by Suzanne Vermeer

2.0 out of 5 stars - Secrets and betrayal...

Predictable and full of stereotypes and cliches, this translation falls short of being a suspense thriller. Though there are a lot of contrived and unbelievable action scenes, the protagonist spends a lot of time with her own repetitive rhetorical self-questioning and angsting which leads to reader annoyance.

Helen and Frank are on a 15th anniversary luxury cruise when he disappears. Helen is bereft and heartbroken. Despite an exhaustive search, authorities are unable to find Helen's missing husband and he is presumed dead. Through Frank's company attorney, Helen learns that Frank has led a double life and the shocking discoveries keep coming. Helen, naturally, goes off to investigate these developments on her own and gets herself into some unbelievable predicaments and peril. The conclusion is completely pat and unsatisfying.

This is one to miss -- way too much "telling" in the writing and though it was a quick read (I read it over a couple of hours), I found myself just wanting to finish and be done with all the characters and the lame plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Open Road Integrated Media for sending along the e-book ARC to review. I'll likely not read another by this author.

Tempting Fate by Jane Green

3.0 out of 5 stars - Marriage and Family -- making it work requires lots of choices.

You know the feeling, when you want to scream at the character -- "DON'T DO IT!" That's the main reaction I had to this story about mid-life crisis, motherhood, marriage, family, friendship, adultery and betrayal. It reads like a lifetime movie and features Gabby, a 43-year-old supposedly happily married protagonist who goes off the rails one night when a good looking man, about 10 years younger, flirts with her at a bar when she's with friends on a Ladies Night Out. That's when the obsession and her troubles begin.

I really couldn't relate to any of the poor decisions that Gabby made and found her to be supremely narcissistic so did not work up any empathy for how she found herself in the resulting situations and fallout. Truly, I wasn't sure why anyone in the book found her so fascinating - so the whole plot was a bit unbelievable even as it was totally predictable for this genre.

I'm sure those who love women's fiction and/or chick lit will find some redeeming qualities in this story that tackles a lot of huge issues for contemporary wives and mothers. The ending was as expected. No doubt it will provide sufficient topics for a book group discussion and that may be a saving grace for sales and marketing.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-book ARC to review.

Close your Eyes, Hold Hands by Chris Bohjalian

5 out of 5 stars - Superbly written and hauntingly poignant, this novel is destined to become a modern day classic with a character who is authentic, vulnerable, and so honest that it will make a reader's heart ache with the desire to protect her. Shelter her. Save her.

Emily Shepard was 16-years-old the day Reactor Number One exploded on the second to the last day of her junior year of high school at Reddington Academy. She and her parents, who both worked at the nuclear power plant nearby on Cape Abenaki, lived comfortably there in Reddington, Vermont -- also known as the Northeast Kingdom. On the morning of the meltdown, Emily ran away from the temporary evacuation site where all the students had been bussed to wait until parents and guardians would come to retrieve them from a safe zone. What follows is her tale of life basically alone on the streets -- for her mother and father are surely dead. And, what's even worse -- her father is being blamed for the disaster.  Afraid to reveal who she really is, and teetering on the edge of emotional breakdown, Emily lives mostly inside her head remembering the poems of her much-loved favorite poet, Emily Dickinson, as a relatable gauge of her emotions. She's always been impulsive and had been in trouble before because of her poor judgment, but now she has to stay alive in a world so different from her previous life "waffling between suicide and survival."

I loved this book and feel that it will be very appealing to all ages, especially young adults, because the heroine is so believable -- not superhuman but real. The story is one that could have come straight from recent headlines (Fukushima) and will linger as a reminder that "radioactivity lasts as long as the soul." The title serves as both a precaution and a leap of faith. I'll be recommending this novel to everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for the e-book ARC to review.

That Night by Chevy Stevens

3.0 out of 5 stars - "When you're searching for the truth, you have to be willing to look at everything. You can't blame yourself for something someone else chose."

Toni Murphy's story begins with her release from prison at age 34 after being incarcerated 16 years for murdering her younger sister Nicole. The narrative is told in flashback style alternating between present day and her senior year at Woodbridge High, Campbell River in 1996. Toni has changed in prison because she has done hard time for a crime she still claims she didn't commit. When finally released on parole after spending almost half her life behind bars, she is an angry woman, determined to reclaim her life and prove her innocence. She's prevented by conditions of her probation from contacting her former love and co-defendant, bad boy Ryan Walker, so she focuses on efforts to find a place to live and a job as she tries to assimilate into life on the outside. But her drive to bring the real killers to justice results in violations of her parole after she decides to return to her hometown to confront those she (and the reader) knows are guilty.

Things always go from bad to worse for Toni, and she's not really a likeable protagonist. There are few surprises as the story unfolds -- it's just a matter of the journey to a predicted confrontation and finale. I kept reading just to see how the author would tie up all the ends and explain the details of what exactly happened that night and why. Most of the supporting characters are stereotypical and one-dimensional and it was hard to work up much enthusiasm for what seemed a foregone conclusion.

I've read all of author Chevy Stevens's books and STILL MISSING is still my favorite and the only one that really had a twist I didn't see coming. This is a departure from the 3 previous novels that were all tied together by one recurring character, and I'm certain that fans will want to read this new one though it is not exactly a suspenseful thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC e-book to review.

The Quick by Lauren Owen

2.0 out of 5 stars -- I love historical fiction with gothic overtones set in Victorian England so I was happy to receive this book as an advance reader's copy and eager to immerse myself in what was described as a mystery. A young Oxford educated man disappears and his sister comes to London looking for him. What I did not anticipate was that the book was about the undead -- vampires -- a secret society. It was full of grisly detail and sometimes hard to follow the story with changing point of view narrative. I longed for it to just be over though it seemed as if it took months to labor to the ending. Honestly, I can't think of a single person to recommend it to so I'll just say that it was my own mistake for not investigating the details about this novel before I chose it. Those who will enjoy this debut no doubt will be forewarned of the underlying theme and want to read this type of book. I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and LibraryThing.

You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz

5 out of 5 stars - "If a woman chooses the wrong person, he was always going to be the wrong person: that was all."

I loved this book, which surprises me because it's not typically the type of novel that strikes me -- a fan of suspense thrillers and historical fiction. The incredible power of this book comes from the voice of its protagonist in an almost stream of consciousness narration that grabs and holds the reader in thrall until the very end. I found myself marking up the pages, highlighting the passages that I'll be thinking about for days to come and will long to talk about with fellow bookish friends.

Grace Reinhart Sachs had it all -- a flourishing therapy practice focused on relationships with a book about to be published, a loving husband who worked as a pediatric oncologist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering, and an adorable son named Henry. Until the day she didn't ...when her whole world came crashing down in the wake of something that she had never intuited nor had foreseen.

To say more about the nature of the plot and the revelations would spoil the read, so I'll just leave this by saying that I'd recommend this to any book club -- though a common tale of "love gone wrong" and certainly one of secrets and lies - it felt new and unique because Grace had to be drug kicking and screaming to the truth. How can anyone be so blind? Well, it's often said that we see what we want and hope to see and "doubt can be a gift." But when the truth comes to light, how you handle it makes you into the person who survives or who doesn't.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the e-book ARC to review.

Apocalypse (#3) by Dean Crawford

 

3.0 out of 5 stars - "Time will tell..."

If you're in the mood for action and adventure featuring a team that is almost superhuman in their abilities and skills then this is the book for you! Although this is the third in a series featuring ex Marine and former journalist Ethan Warner and his partner, Nicola Lopez, the novel stands alone as a science fiction suspense thriller that deals with topics ranging from black holes to foretelling the future.

The Defense Intelligence Agency whisks bail-bondsmen Ethan and Nicola from Chicago to a house in Coral Gables, Florida, to the Bahamas, to the Dominican Republic, to super secret high clearance facilities, to a hidden research center on the ocean floor. Who or what are they pursuing? A maniacal billionaire who thinks he has found the way to control time - world famous philanthropist Joaquin Abell who has a diabolical scheme to bend his ability to see into the future into something that may not exactly be in the best interests of mankind.

While they survive incredible predicaments and perils, you'll have to use all of your ability to suspend disbelief as Ethan and Nicola try to save the world! Many action sequences, brain twisting scientific explanations (I can't speak at all about the physics involved here with any degree of authority), and amazing skills will keep the reader turning the pages as quickly as possible to get to the end of this adventure.

Thank you to NetGalley and Touchstone for the e-book ARC to review.
Other books in this series:
Covenant: A Novel
Immortal: A Novel
The Chimera Secret

The Fever by Megan Abbott

3.0 out of 5 stars - YA fiction centering on a mysterious illness that affects many teenaged girls one late winter in Dryden, a small town known as the "cloudiest city" in an unnamed state in present day USA. Deenie Nash, younger sister to Eli and daughter of teacher Tom Nash, has two best friends -- Lise and Gabby. They're inseparable most of the time experiencing the day to day drama of high school life, the lure of awakening sexuality, and all of the temptations offered by other typical teenage experimentation and interaction. The unusual events start with Lise - she has a seizure at school one morning and is subsequently hospitalized in the intensive care unit. Her condition worsens while other girls, including Gabby, start to fall victim to a similar illness. Panic ensues among the parents of the girls, the school administrators, and the townspeople as the CDC and the health department are called in to investigate the nature of this epidemic. Is it due to the HPV injections that the girls were required to receive? Or could this be the result of some kind of contamination in the local lake or the ground water? Perhaps the causative agent is in the air or in the school building or in the soil? The community reaction is mainly FEAR. As parents worry that their child will be the next to become ill, hidden desires and feelings are revealed that change the direction of the investigation and bring resolution, although in this case it is quite anticlimactic after all. The narrative is told in changing points of view and this allows the reader to see how various relationships between some of the main characters make the truth hard to find. For it is always going to be true that it is very difficult to KNOW another person completely and that many can keep some very big secrets. I imagine this novel will appeal to its targeted audience of teenaged girls and young adults, but I was a bit put off by some of the not so subtle political and biased messages in the story. I'll leave readers to come to their own conclusions about some of the controversial issues. I'd recommend it to a teen book club as there are many topics that would generate great discussion.  Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the e-book ARC to review.

The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak

4.0 out of 5 stars - "Some dreams... cannot be abandoned without losing part of your soul."

Fascinating historical fiction describing the turbulent times in Russia with Empress Elizabeth on the throne and young Princess Sophie, aged 14, newly arrived from Germany circa 1743-1764.The court is seen and described through the eyes of a young bookbinder's daughter who later becomes a "tongue" and companion for the frail child who ultimately secures the Russian throne as Catherine the Great.

Eager to start the sequel. Mostly inspired to read these books because of the recent Olympics events in Russia. Seeing the beautiful countryside and the grand palaces made me curious and inspired, once again, the researcher in me. I loved the details about life at court and the descriptions of the palace and customs.

Drug Wars - Contrails Saga #2 by Robert Anderson

 "More cocaine or more blood? What's it gonna be?"

Pulse-pouding sequel to CONTRAILS...

After FO Sam Claymore's misadventures in Columbia, and being left stranded in the Gulf of Mexico, he's back co-piloting puddle jumper flights for Civil Air. Sam operates in a nearly robotic state after resuming his duties with the airline. Sam's respite and the resumption of his relationship with flight attendant, Victoria, doesn't last long enough, however, when he's kidnapped and pulled back into a nightmare. Sam has a better attitude about his job, however, after his near-death experience in the lair of the cartel's most wanted drug czar, Pedro Estancia - El Dragon.  It seems that El Dragon has decided that Sam has a large debt to repay him. A ruthless rival organization headed by the bloodthirsty Francisco Cordoba, Los Muertos Vivientes, has its sights on expanding into North America with its drug trafficking and other assorted criminal activities. And El Dragon intends to use Sam, and the resources of the DEA, to stop him.

The action is nonstop and the details of the drug world are, if true, horrifying in scope and truly a force to be feared. Sam is an unlikely hero, and spends way too much time using the merchandise as he and best pal, Nate, try to get their game on without being killed. At times the reader may find it hard to believe that Sam is able to shake himself out of an alcohol or drug-induced stupor long enough to manage all the spectacular feats he pulls off! In any event, the escapades Sam survives bring to mind a vision of a DRUG WAR Rambo. Can Sam and his cohort save North America from the onslaught and bring a semblance of peace to ravaged Mexico, Central America and points beyond?

It's definitely a must to read the first book before opening this one, and to set aside a good block of time as the fast pace grabs hold and never lets go. Suspend your disbelief, reserve judgement on the political statements in the novel regarding legalizing drugs, and enjoy the entertainment value. If there is a book #3, I'll be reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Intrepid Press for the e-book ARC to review.

Fallen Women by Sandra Dallas

2.0 out of 5 stars - "We're all fallen women one way or another..A fallen woman is worse than any man."

That quote summarizes the whole tone of this murder mystery with a supposed historical authenticity. The time is 1885 and the place is Denver, Colorado. Beret (?) Osmundsen, a socialite and mission worker from New York, comes to this western town when she gets word that her younger sister, Lillie, has been murdered in a brothel there. Lillie, from whom Beret has been estranged, apparently fled west after the sisters had a terrible falling out, and later on became a prostitute in Denver's tenderloin district.

As soon as Beret arrives in Denver and is installed at the home of her wealthy aunt and uncle there, I was able to predict the whole rest of the outcome of the story. I did not connect with any of the characters nor did I ultimately care about them. Beret has absolutely no qualifications but ends up working with a detective there (himself a member of Denver's society people but slumming working in the police) helping with the investigation into Lillie's murder (and then another) without more than her experience in her mission work providing the credentials. Beret and Mick McCauley joke about her being a "criminologist" and their idea of police investigative technique is certainly superficial and not based on any science or forensic procedure but conjecture. Regardless, the identity of and reasons for the murder are obvious almost immediately. Beret is shallow, snobbish, and not as clever as she thinks she is -- and of course gets herself nearly killed several times from her incredibly stupid sleuthing techniques. The author attempts to throw in many red herrings to try to divert the reader, but it is unsuccessful and more annoying as it drags out the book unnecessarily.

At the conclusion, I was happy to be finished, and was very disappointed in this novel.

Amazon vine ARC.