Friday, March 19, 2010

Black Friday


Alex Kava
Mira
$24.95

Maggie O’Dell is back in a new suspense thriller. Like the last one “Exposed,” the story is very believable because it just could happen. This time on Black Friday at the Mall of America in Minnesota, violence erupts at the complex with a shooter who is killing shoppers. This is a retailer’s worst nightmare. The FBI and other law enforcement agencies are on the case and they must solve it very quickly. This is one hell of a nail biting tense read that is one of her best works

www.AlexaKava.com
www.MIRABOOKS.com

by Gary Roen

Alex Cross’s Trial


James Patterson
Little Brown and Company
$27.95


There are several things that are different about this one. It is the first Alex Cross that Patterson has written with someone else, and it is not really an Alex Cross story. It also takes place at the beginning of the twentieth century. It is a tale that Cross is supposed to have written about something in his family that has been passed down through the years. Like all of the other books by Patterson, it has his trademark of a fast read and strong characters. It is also a social commentary on racism. The novel is interesting and moves along to its smashing conclusion.

www.HatchetteBookGroupUSA.com

by Gary Roen

The Professional


Robert B. Parker
Putnam
$26.95


Parker and Spenser are back in action and this time the story is lots of fun. Spenser is hired by an attorney to investigate a man who is having affairs with four women who are the litigator’s clients. What Spenser uncovers is a hornets nest of affairs all over the place. Along with Spenser are Susan and Hawk. As always the dialogue is snappy and the writing moves the story along briskly. Parker once again shows why his novels are so popular with this addition to the series.

www.penguin.com

by Gary Roen

Catscratch Fever and Other Stories


Katherine Baccaro
Iuniverse
$11.95


I read the first chapter four times and I have no idea what this book is about. It began in a coffee shop and moved out to the alley behind the business to the trash cans where a banana or something moves around. Books like this are the reason POD has such a bad name. The author should have been more focused on what she is trying to say. This is an author I will remember not to bother reading.

www.iuniverse.com

by Gary Roen

Just Take My Heart


Mary Higgins Clark
$25.99


The last novel “Where Are You Now” I thought was one of her worst, because it rambled along with a plot that was pretty far fetched even though it was based on a real incident. I am pleased to say this one is more like a typical Clark novel. There are many twists and turns and several interesting characters. The killer stalking several of them is fascinating and he plays a major part at the end of the story. Where I thought it was a little weak was the whole scenario about the female lawyer and her transplant heart operation. That aspect was like an unwanted set of commercials in a TV show that you are enjoying. Overall, I liked this one because Clark races the rest of the tale along to its shattering finale.

www.simonandSchuster.com

by Gary Roen

Hothouse Orchid



Stuart Woods
Putnam
$25.95


Woods delves further into the world of Orchid Beach, Florida. This time Holly Barker is on vacation from the CIA. She is a victim of a rapist who is later killing women. Holly. a former police chief uses, all of her talents to work with several agencies to solve the case. I wish though once and for all, Woods would resolve the character Teddy Fay who seems to be showing up in many of Woods’ most recent novels. Fay is getting to be rather boring because he just happens to be in the same place as Stone Barrington or Holly Barker or Will Lee. The novel is interesting but I think it’s time to permanently do something with Teddy.

www.penguin.com

by Gary Roen

Max A Maximum Ride Novel


James Patterson
Little Brown and Company
$19.99


This is another in the Maximum Ride series. This is the first one I’ve had the pleasure to read and review. I found it interesting and fun but would have liked to get to know the characters a little better. Overall, this is a very good series of science fiction that is geared to young adults but is an entertaining read for anyone who likes any of the other Patterson novels.

www.HatchetteBookGroupUSA.com

by Gary Roen

Vengeance Road


Rick Mofina
Mira
$7.99


Jack Gannon is a tough as nails reporter who is always determined to get to the bottom of a story. This time he has a personal connection. So with this one he is even more dogged to help solve the case. Through it all Jack is resolved to put the clues together and nothing thrown at him will steer him away from this story. Mofina deftly tells the story and moves the plot along until its surprising ending. Mofina is a great writer of the suspense novel.

www.RickMofina
www.MIRABOOKS.com

by Gary Roen

Passionate Promises


Patricia Marlett
Tate Publishing
$24.99


The author tells her story with realistic characters in a plot with lots of twists and turns. Sabrina a photographer, races home to Florida to console her sister on the news she has received that their closest relative has just died. Their Aunt Millie in her will gave her home and belongings to the two sisters. Sabrina travels to Ashville, North Carolina to begin taking care of the home. A lot of strange things begin to happen as Sabrina starts to reside there. The writer moves the tale along with short chapters and interesting settings that add to the tense pace of the novel.

www.tatepublishing.com

by Gary Roen

The Darkness


Jason Pinter
Mira
$7.99


This is a continuation of “The Fury” that ties up a lot of details. Henry Parker is back and this time he gets to work with his mentor, Jack O’Donnell. Together they slog their way through the underworld of New York to get closer to the drug kingpin “The Fury.” Once again the author tells a tense story that races along with edgy nail biting plot.

www.JasonPinte.com
www.MIRABOOKS.com

by Gary Roen