Tuesday Book Reviews

 

Four-star review of Taking the Fifth by J.A. Jance 

I’ve enjoyed many of Jance’s novels in the past, even the ones with J.P. Beaumont as the Seattle-based protagonist. This one was very predictable, though, and far from memorable, but a good, quick read.

A few of the characters were well-developed. A few were dead before they could be, even in retrospect. Beau is flawed, and one of his flaws is how easily he’s dazzled by a woman, in this case an over-the-hill singer who’s making a comeback. Throw in a murder by high heel and what do you get?

 

 

Four-star review of Exodus by Jasper T. Scott

 The third book in the New Frontiers trilogy wasn’t as enjoyable as the first two. The twists and turns of the ending were the most disappointing. Alexander and Caty are to be passengers on a colony ship that would take them to settle a new planet in the Proxima Centauri system. We’re introduced to another passenger named Benjamin and his mother. We also see some of the story through the eyes of the crew of the ship. Before all the 70,000 passengers boarded, the ship is attacked. It’s from this point that the story spins through many strange happenings. I kept reading because I wanted to know what happened to the characters, but it was hard at the end to feel any hope for the characters.  This series appears to be a kind of prequel to another series. I’m no longer sure I want to read on, even though I’ve enjoyed all of the other books I’ve read by the author.

Tuesday Book Review on Wednesday

 

Five-star review of Long Time to Die by Robert Kidera book 5 in the Gabe McKenna series

 The series ends on a high note, or perhaps I should say, satisfying note after an exciting story. Gabe is in a witness protection program from the FBI in Arizona when this page-turner starts. The action takes place on a train to Chicago, in Albuquerque, in El Paso and in southern New Mexico not far from Las Cruces and features many of the characters of previous stories, including his daughter and grandson. He’s still dealing with the cartel and needs help, but in return he provides important intel to the FBI. Now that this series is over, I’ll miss it and the locales I’m familiar with. Mostly, I’ll miss the characters.

Tuesday book reviews on Thursday

 

Five-star review of After by Morris Gleitzman

 The fourth book in the series returns to 1945 to fill in some of Felix’s story. His distinctive ‘voice’ pulled me through this sometimes-harrowing story. He’s not as naïve as in the earlier stories, but he still makes childish assumptions. He finds out that Gabriek has been working with a group of partisans against the Nazis in the area. They give Felix the job as assistant to Dr. Zajak, his introduction to medicine, and in particular, surgery. He works with the partisans, but after an attack on the camp, he finds and helps six kids in a nearby town after it’s bombed. The remaining series of events show his emotional growth as well as the many things he’s learned. A very quick, smooth read that’s perfect for everyone.