A Book A Week

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of reading Bleed for Me, a novel by Michael Robotham, featuring crime-fighting psychologist Joseph O'Loughlin. After devouring the book, I was anxious to get my hands on more. Fortunately, this fall saw the release of the next installment in Robotham's series, and I was quick to acquire a copy of this one as well.

Three years ago, the small town of Bingham was rocked to its core when two local teenagers, Piper and Tash, disappeared. Originally thought to have run away, it is soon discovered that the girls were kidnapped. In the wake of incident, two families struggle to cope with the loss of their daughter while simultaneously being investigated for possible involvement. With little evidence to guide them, the police eventually assume the girls to be dead and the story of the girls' disappearance soon fades into the history of the town.

Clinical Psychologist and part time police advisor Joe O'Loughlin has problems of his own. On top of an increasingly severe battle with Parkinson's disease, he struggles to balance his career with his relationship with his estranged wife and daughters. As the holiday season approaches, Joe plans to spend more time with his fragile family and step away from the high profile investigations that he has previously been involved with.

All these plans come crashing down when he receives a call to investigate a murdered family at the house where one of the missing girl's, Tash, family used to live. The mentally unstable suspect in custody is convinced that he saw a girl running through the snow, being chased by a snowman. Could this girl be the missing Tash? And who is this mysterious snowman? Intrigued by the possibilities, Joe races against the clock to unlock the secrets of the man's mind and to re-open the investigation of the girls' disappearance.

Author Michael Robotham has stuck gold again. His characters, especially Joe, are crafted with a depth that keeps the reader highly invested into the story. I'll admit, this mystery lacked a bit of the urgency that I felt while reading Bleed for Me, but after a slow start, the novel really picks up into a suspenseful thrill ride that is sure to keep you guessing. This is the perfect novel for readers who enjoy well-written thrillers that go beyond the genre cliches. After reading two novels by Robotham, I am officially a fan!

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and GoodReads.

(week 49, book 44)

There is no doubt that you have noticed the lack of reviews on this site in the last month. No, I haven't abandoned my goal of reading a book a week. In fact, I have continued to read new novels and still plan on meeting my year end goal. I have, however, failed to update this blog with current reviews. As some of you may know, I am still a college music student and I plan on graduating in the middle of next month. One of the graduation requirements for all music composition students is to hold a senior recital featuring one hour of original music. As you can imagine, this is no small undertaking. Combining this project with the rest of my course demands has left little time to post current reviews.

Fortunately, I completed my senior recital earlier in the week, and my work load has significantly diminished. Therefore, I am now free to continue posting to this blog. I should have my next review up in the next couple of days. Thanks to all of you for your patience and continued support. As we enter the holiday season, I hope you all have great times and happy reading.

-Ethan

Robin Monarch is no ordinary man. The son of two con artists, Robin began a life of theft at an early age. After his parents occupation finally cost them their lives, young Robin was forced to use his skills to survive on the streets of poverty stricken Buenos Aires. There, he banned with other young boys, forming a fraternity of theft. His life was quickly spiraling out of control when he was seriously injured in a street heist. Rushed to a local clinic, his life was forever changed when he met Sister Rachel.

Now years later, Robin, possibly the best CIA operative, has decided to start a new chapter in his life. While searching for a secretive weapon, "Green Fields", overseas, Robin sees something that disrupts his faith in the CIA. When the lab he is searching explodes, Robin ceases the opportunity to escape. The directors at the CIA are worried about the information Robin acquired, so he instantly becomes one of the most wanted men in the world. Armed with information that could change the course of modern warfare, Robin enters a race to obtain the secrets of "Green Fields" before it falls into the wrong hands.

In "Rogue" author Mark Sullivan, perhaps best known for his collaboration with author James Patterson, imagines a believable protagonist in Robin Monarch. After leaving the CIA, Monarch takes to a life of crime, stealing from wealthy individuals to help fund Sister Rachel's clinic. This allusion to Robin Hood, while obvious, successfully turns the militarily robotic Monarch into a relatable character. The story is, at times, a bit predictable, but Sullivan knows how to mix suspense and action with interesting characters. Overall, there is nothing extraordinary about this novel, but it does do what it sets out to achieve. Any reader hungry for a quick action novel similar to James Rollins' Sigma Force series is sure to enjoy this book.

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and GoodReads.

(week 40, book 43)

Jason Stafford has nothing. He was once a top Wall Street trader living the high life, but after a getting in over his head with falsified profits and fraudulent trades, he finds himself at the end of a two year jail sentence with no money, an estranged ex-wife who has his only son, and seemingly no future job opportunities. You can imagine his surprise when the CEO of a large Wall Street firm asks Jason to investigate the trades of a junior trader who recently died in a boating accident. Intrigued by the prospect to work in his old environment and desperate for any kind of income, Jason accepts.

As he begins to reclaim his professional dignity, Jason also is determined to gain custody from his alcoholic ex-wife. Jason Jr., nicknamed "the Kid", has been diagnosed with autism and is not getting the care he needs. With his ex just as unstable as his son, Jason is shocked to learn that the Kid is locked in a room all day. Risking his parole, Jason flies to Louisiana to retrieve his son. When he returns to New York, son in tow, Jason is forced to reevaluate his life, and learn to live with his unique son.

Meanwhile, Jason's investigation is revealing a larger conspiracy than even he expected. As he digs deeper into the web of fraud he attracts the attention of Wall Streets power players as well as agents from the FBI. When he uncovers a system that will certainly rock the entire financial institution, Jason must decide what to do with the information. If he makes the wrong decision, it could cost him his life.

With this excellent debut novel, author Michael Sears enters the thriller genre with a bang. His knowledge of Wall Street brings a unique perspective to the story. This timely tale of financial deceit flows at a perfect pace, never getting bogged down in the details that are presented. While the thriller side of the story is entertaining, it is the father-son relationship that really places the novel on a higher level. Jason's adjustment to becoming the guardian of his autistic son is the secret to this story's success. Sears subtly crafts the two characters, making the reader truly care about the son and root for the Father's redemption. I will admit that the secondary characters were not as strongly conceived as Jason and the Kid, but the focus on the two far outweighed the lack of development in the others. Overall, "Black Fridays" is a thriller with heart that I highly recommend.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and GoodReads.

(week 38, book 42)

Last year, I encountered and was delighted by the novel, The Stranger You Seek by Amanda Kyle Williams. Williams introduced the crime fighting detective, Keye Street, an Asian American, recovering alcoholic, female private investigator, raised by her adopted family in Atlanta, Georgia. Street was a refreshing addition to the female protagonist sub-genre of mysteries. Combining her quirky sense of humor with a startling mystery, Williams struck gold with her first novel.

In this second installment in the Keye Street series, we find Street getting on with her life, after the events of the previous novel. The high profile of her last case has lead to increased business for her private investigation firm, so much so that she and her stoner tech guy Niel are working harder than ever before. Her relationship with A.P.D. Lieutenant Aaron Rauser is slowly becoming more serious, and life seems to be in a good place.

When Keye receives a terrified call from her cousin, Miki, about an intruder in her home, she is skeptical of her accusations. The police on the scene find no evidence of an intrusion, and, given Miki's history of drug abuse and mental illness, Keye humors her cousins claims, but has no real intention to find anything. On top of this, she is investigating a strange case for a family who received an urn of chicken feed and concrete mix instead of their dead mother's ashes. Keye and Niel travel to the small town, ironically named Big Knob, to investigate this strange event. As they did deeper they uncover a shocking conspiracy that is sure to shock the small town.

Miki's claims become validated when a corpse, fitting the patterns of a sting of murders being investigated by Aaron Rauser, is discovered in her apartment. Even worse, the killer has set his sights on Miki and Keye as his next victims. The novel takes a "cat and mouse" turn as Keye races to discover the identity of the murder before he catches up to her.

Author Amanda Kyle Williams continues to expertly mix her quirky sensibilities with hear racing suspense in this followup novel. Keye Street is the kind of character that you instantly fall for and root for the entire novel. The story moves quick and consistently provides shocking twits and turns, keeping the reader thoroughly entertained. I felt that the resolution to this one was a bit too neat, but this novel is definitely worth the read.

For more information, visit the author's website http://amandakylewilliams.com/,
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/review/RIM4D5J4ADPJD/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm,
and http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13269085-stranger-in-the-room.

(week 37, book 41)

Ben Hanson is no stranger to mistakes. Recently released from prison, he understands that he made errors in both his personal and professional life. Now, free from confinement and with new sobriety, Ben wanders though life, searching for some kind of meaning. When his uncle Denny passes away, Ben's father, Jack, invites him to move back to his hometown to help settle his late uncle's estate.

Upon his arrival, Ben is flooded with memories of his past. He recalls the tragic death of his older cousin, Wayne, a tragedy that still haunts his family. As he begins to delve into his uncle's estate, fragments of the past come to light, all adding to the mystery of Wayne's demise.

In the same town, Lauren Sheehan is also trying to rebuild her life. Escaping from a violent ex-husband and abandoning her medical career, Lauren has returned to her hometown in search of a fresh start. In the small town, it is now surprise that the paths of Ben and Lauren intersect. Having no true past relationship, the two slowly become interested in each other. As time passes, their troubled lives become intertwined, creating a connection that they could have never imagined. Together, they kindle a romance and attempt to move on with their lives before their negative past catches up with them.

Going into this novel, I was unsure of what to expect. Normally, I try to steer clear of any "romance" novels, but this story offered much more. By slowly presents fragments of the two characters lives, mostly through flashback from each character's recollections, Somerville provides just enough information to keep the reader wanting more. Intricately imagined, the characters seem like genuine people who have had a rough go at life. Drawn with a sense of reality and empathy, it is easy to get behind Ben and Lauren and to truly care about them. While the writing is really great, I will admit that there were times when the change in time and narrator got a bit confusing. In certain moments Somerville slowed the pace of the plot, focussing more on character development that advancing the narrative. Fortunately, this attention to character made it impossible to stop reading. At times, this novel can be hard to digest. The themes of family drama, second chances, and suspenseful drama permeate this fascinating novel making it a completely engaging read.

For more information visit the author's website http://www.patricksomerville.com/,
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/review/RGD6H4SQD3GSK/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm,
and http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13208908-this-bright-river.

(week 36, book 40)