Book Review: "Robert B Parker's Hot Property" by Mike Lupica

 

Spenser investigates a case that hits far too close to home for his comfort in this latest installment of Robert B. Parker's beloved series.

Spenser is waiting out the latest Boston snow storm when he gets word that Rita Fiore's been shot. Rita's always been a tricky one: nudging Spenser for years, she's an ever-present figure that transcends friendship in Spenser's circle. Like many of them, at the end of the day, Rita is family. And family will always be protected.

Both a pit bull in the courtroom and provocateur outside it, though, Rita is no stranger to controversy. But as one of the city's toughest lawyers, Spenser knows that there's no short list of suspects who might want to enact revenge. With Rita's life hanging in the balance, it's up to him to get to the bottom of things, even if it means unearthing some savory secrets. -from Netgalley.com

This eARC was given to me by Netgalley.com and I am providing an unbiased review.

Where do I start with this one? Well, if you remember from the 1980's, there was a television show called Spenser For Hire starring Robert Urich as a private detective in Boston named Spenser. I did not know then, this was based on the first books Robert Parker had put out, but I grew up loving that show. As an adult, I went back and through the library read pretty much the whole series, and some off-shoots as well. This is around/about book 52 in the Spenser series, with the last dozen (guessing) written by a few different authors.

I always love getting back into the character lives of a large series like this one. I have written a few reviews on other books by Lupica, including a Spenser book or two. He has well-mastered the writing style Parker had created and used for his stories, and it just helps (in my mind) how I play the story out in my imagination as I read it. One of the things I really liked about this story, is the connection to many of the other series that Parker had created (Jesse Stone, Sunny Randall). Both of those characters either made an appearance, or were mentioned, at some point in the tale. This series has always been one of my favorites, and would like to see more, but not sure where the story can go after this many books.

Book Review: "Spirit Crossing" by William Kent Krueger

 

A disappearance and a dead body put Cork O’Connor’s family in the crosshairs of a killer in the twentieth book in the New York Times bestselling series from William Kent Krueger­, “a master storyteller at the top of his game” (Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author).

The disappearance of a local politician’s teenaged daughter is major news in Minnesota. As a huge manhunt is launched to find her, Cork O’Connor’s grandson stumbles across the shallow grave of a young Ojibwe woman—but nobody seems that interested. Nobody, that is, except Cork and the newly formed Iron Lake Ojibwe Tribal Police. As Cork and the tribal officers dig into the circumstances of this mysterious and grim discovery, they uncover a connection to the missing teenager. And soon, it’s clear that Cork’s grandson is in danger of being the killer’s next victim. - from Netgalley.com

This eARC was given to me by Netgalley.com and I am providing an unbiased review.

Krueger's Cork O'Connor series has been one I have enjoyed over the past couple years, and this newest installment just drops me back into their lives and world. The writing style and character world the author has built is just wonderful to read about. A continuing storyline based on previous books (not really what I could call a stand-alone read) is something I just really enjoy. Krueger has a way to bring attention to events that may be fictional in the story, but real issues in our world: oppression of the Native Americans, and how they are treated not just by general public, but Law Enforcement as well; oil pipe-lines and how they could destroy nature, and the fight against the companies that want to build them.

I considered this t book to be well-written and interesting to read. I appreciate how easy it was to read, and become part of the main characters' lives again. Really recommend going back and starting at the beginning of the series for anyone interested in reading this one, and to also check out some of the author's other works as well.

Book Review: "Burn Out" by Joshua Hood

 

From the USA Today bestselling author of Robert Ludlum’s Treadstone series, Burn Out is a no-holds-barred thriller from the “master of action” (Publishers Weekly) Joshua Hood.

Becoming one of the US Forest Service’s elite smoke jumpers has been Jake Slade’s dream. Parachuting into the path of a raging fire and beating it into submission isn’t for the faint of heart, but Slade has never backed down from a challenge. After surviving the grueling six-week training course, he thinks he’s ready for anything nature has to dish out.

What he hasn’t considered is manmade danger, in the form of an old friend turned CI and the DEA Special Agent determined to hunt him down … using Slade as the tracker. It’s an offer he wants to refuse, but with the promise of prison time being expunged from his record, Slade agrees, hoping to finally put to rest the demons of his past.

But what begins as a straightforward search and rescue mission swiftly turns into a harrowing run for his life … - from Netgalley.com

This eARC was given to me through Netgalley.com, and I am providing an unbiased review.

This one was a trial run for me in reading. As a fan of the Bourne movies, and not having read any of Ludlum's works, I wanted to try this author out, plus the story synopsis sounded somewhat interesting. Overall, the story is interesting, and fairly action-filled like one would expect from an action series writer. We have a guy trying to put a bad past behind him, working on being a smoke jumper, whose ties to the earlier life come back to 'haunt' him. We have a cartel boss that sends out a sicario to remove some problems, and it all happens in a  forest that has fires burning all over.

Though interestingly possible for all these scenarios to actually happen, as I read through, it just kept getting more and more unbelievable at times. The story and plot are fairly well developed, and the writing style easy to read and understand. I just discount the level of imagination the writer is wanting me to use for an action novel. This is able to be read as a stand-alone novel, and is not associated with any series that I am aware of.

Book Review: "Candle & Crow" by Kevin Hearne

 

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Iron Druid Chronicles comes the final book in the “action-packed, enchantingly fun” (Booklist) Ink & Sigil series, as an ink-slinging wizard pursues the answer to a very personal mystery: Who cast a pair of curses on his head?

Al MacBharrais has a most unusual job: He’s a practitioner of ink-and-sigil magic, tasked with keeping order among the gods and monsters that dwell hidden in the human world. But there’s one supernatural mystery he’s never been able to solve: Years ago, someone cast twin curses on him that killed off his apprentices and drove away loved ones who heard him speak, leaving him bereft and isolated. 

But he’s not quite alone: As Al works to solve this mystery, his friends draw him into their own eccentric dramas. Buck Foi the hobgoblin has been pondering his own legacy—and has a plan for a daring shenanigan that will make him the most celebrated hobgoblin of all. Nadia, goth queen and battle seer, is creating her own cult around a god who loves whisky and cheese. 

And the Morrigan, a former Irish death goddess, has decided she wants not only to live as an ordinary woman but also to face the most perilous challenge of the mortal world: online dating. 

Meanwhile, Al crosses paths with old friends and new—including some beloved Druids and their very good dogs—in his globe-trotting quest to solve the mystery of his curses. But he’s pulled in so many different directions by his colleagues, a suspicious detective, and the whims of destructive gods that Al begins to wonder: Will he ever find time to write his own happy ending? - from Netgalley.com

This eARC was given to me by Netgalley.com and I am providing an unbiased review.

As a big fan of the Iron Druid series, I like this offshoot about Al, our Sigil Agent in the same world setting. This is the third book in this line of story, and pretty much continues a very short period after the last one. Some of the problems from earlier books are still lingering (the curse) and a few new ones come up - nothing that this Agent cannot handle though!

This newer series has been a fun read for me. As a fan of this world build Hearne has done for the Iron Druid, the style of magic and it's use, that this blend of specially prepared inks and uses of sigils, brings out yet another aspect that co-exists with an existing world magic. Great read, fulfilling storyline.

Book Review: "The Spore Queen" by Debra Castaneda

 

Forest. Fungi. Family secrets.

Reporter Maria Hart ventures into the depths of Nils Forest chasing a news story about a violent storm, but she never returns. Within months, four other people will also disappear in the woods.

Tech mogul David Eager lives at the forest’s edge. He is haunted by Maria’s disappearance, and something more. Fungus is common in the foggy woodland, but now it’s behaving in unnatural ways, creeping onto his property and into his dreams.

Maria’s friend, Amy Matthews, hears strange rumors about Nils Forest and, motivated by a dark secret, decides to investigate for herself. It’s no easy task. The terrain is notoriously rugged. But Amy is cunning and determined to find her former roommate, dead or alive.

Amy’s not alone. Maria’s mother, desperate for answers about her daughter, joins the search.

Together, they journey into the heart of Nils Forest where they make a chilling discovery—there’s a new fungus in these woods, and it has transformative powers. As they push deeper into the trees, they uncover a terrifying, mind-bending force. Her name is The Spore Queen. - from Booksirens.com 

This eARC was provided by Booksirens.com and I giving an unbiased review.

This is another installment into the 'Dark Earth Rising' books from this author. Admittedly, after having read the others, I was a bit disappointed in this particular novel. Though the story follows the general idea of the Earth retaliating in a strange fashion against humans, this one didn't feel the same. The ending was different, as to events that happened that leads one to believe a mysterious disappearance (or possible destruction) of the malignant force of nature, whereas this time, it was not only supported by followers, but assisted in flourishing. Does this mean a possible follow-up novel, that expands on this particular storyline? Not sure, but would be interesting to find out.

Book Review: "Disturbing the Dead" by Kelley Armstrong

 

Disturbing the Dead is the latest in a unique series with one foot in the 1860s and the other in the present day. The Rip Through Time crime novels are a genre-blending, atmospheric romp from New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong.

Victorian Scotland is becoming less strange to modern-day homicide detective Mallory Atkinson. Though inhabiting someone else’s body will always be unsettling, even if her employers know that she’s not actually housemaid Catriona Mitchell, ever since the night both of them were attacked in the same dark alley 150 years apart. Mallory likes her job as assistant to undertaker/medical examiner Dr. Duncan Gray, and is developing true friends—and feelings—in this century.

So, understanding the Victorian fascination with death, Mallory isn't that surprised when she and her friends are invited to a mummy unwrapping at the home of Sir Alastair Christie. When their host is missing when it comes time to unwrap the mummy, Gray and Mallory are asked to step in. And upon closer inspection, it’s not a mummy they’ve unwrapped, but a much more modern body. - from Netgalley.com 

This eARC was provided by Netgalley.com and I giving an unbiased review.

This is the third book (not counting novellas) int his series, and follows the story of Mallory, a modern day detective, that gets transported back in time to another body in Victorian Scotland. There, luckily she is the housemaid of a 'surgeon' and basically creates herself an assistant position with him as he assists the police in studying dead bodies. It's somewhat convoluted and far-reaching in how a female in that era could do such.

Anyways, though I do, and have, enjoy(ed) many books from this author, and was anxiously awaiting this one to be available, I just could not get into it. I tried setting it aside, and picking it up days later, but still no luck in getting interested. I would love to try to read it again at a later date, as the twist in the plot synopsis intrigues me.

Book Review: "The Mountain Mystic" by Russell W. Johnson

 

Since succeeding her dearly departed husband, Bill, to become Jasper County’s first female sheriff, Mary Beth Cain has closed more cases than any three of her male predecessors combined. But nobody bats a thousand in the cop game. Nobody. And, ovaries aside, Mary Beth knows she’s no different. There’d been a handful of unsolveds during her tenure, victims and families denied their justice, and each and every one of them gnaws at her soul. She thinks about them late at night as she sips her whiskey, counting regrets like sheep.

But the case that haunts Mary Beth most is one that went cold before she was even on the force: the long-ago disappearance of a family friend, named Maria Ruiz. So when a country psychic’s vision leads to the discovery of Maria’s body, Mary Beth isn’t willing to chalk it up as genuine clairvoyance and goes all in on an investigation that cuts close to home. - from Netgalley.com 

This eARC was received from Netgalley.com and I am providing an unbiased review.

This is a second book following the story of Sheriff Mary Beth Cain of Jasper County, Kentucky. This could be read as a stand-alone, but I always feel better recommending reading in order, though it is not really listed as a series.

I enjoyed the perspective of writing about a female sheriff in a crime-ridden area of 'backwoods Kentucky'. Our MC having family ties to the alleged KY Mafia, and just her own mother being a 'crime boss' says a lot about integrity when it comes to law enforcement work. Granted Mary Beth's way isn't always straight legal either. Storyline is easy to follow, even as it references events that happened years before the current story. Reads as a possible realistic story and comes to a nice conclusion. Would like to see more books like this one.