Book Review: Absolute Power by David Baldacci

A rather silly start to the book but it sets up a cracking read that involves the President and high stakes. A cover up and a few bodies stacked up as the book progresses.

An OK book but not one of David Baldacci's best. 6/10

Website Recommendation: Good Reads

I enjoy going to this website that has loads of information about books, with lists, reviews, authors and lots of people's opinions and ratings of books.

It is called Good Reads and you should go and check it out and have a browse around and maybe join up too.

Good Reads Website

Book Review: The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly

Bought this book at Heathrow and have been avidly reading it since. Got back into the character of Mickey Haller pretty quickly, especially after seeing the film of the Lincoln Lawyer.

The book centres on a courtroom and it is fascinating in the hands of Michael Connelly to see how the ebb and flow of a courtroom drama pans out. In addition to this is the behind the scenes look at lawyers and their staff at work.

Of course, I also loved the update on Mickey Haller's life and his relationship with his wife and daughter.

The book twists and turns and is totally compelling. The twist at the end is a superb touch and is like the last big down dive on a roller coaster.

An absolutely compelling book and 10/10 from me!

Recommended Author Dick Francis

Said to be a favourite author of the Queen Mother, I can understand why. I have enjoyed reading his books immensely through the years. He has a connection to my home town Maidenhead too and that is why I started to read his books. Sadly I have now read all of his novels and Dick Francis died a year or so ago.

 

His novels are generally based on horse racing or a horse theme and although I am not too keen on horses I am fascinated by his page turning thrillers. They are cosy novels to read. He has also written a biography of Lester Piggott and that was worth reading too as well as his own autobiography. However you can stick to his thrillers. No need to read these in order particularly although there are a few that feature the same characters but I do not consider it necessary to read them in chronological order.

 

His son Felix helped co-write his novels in the latter years and his wife Mary (who pre-deceased him) helped a lot with the research.

Dick Francis website

Dick Francis at Fantastic Fiction

Recommended Author Georges Simenon

Georges Simenon was a prolific Belgian writer, famous for his French detective Maigret. Simenon died in the early 1970's and some of his Maigret novels are hard to find in English as they have been out of print for years in many instances. You can get them from EBay or from the library. I read the last two Maigret novels in the library in England as they got them through their Laser system (where libraries are all linked together). The books were so valuable that I was not able to leave the library with them, I had to read them under the watchful eye of the librarian.

 

The Maigret novels are generally quite short and have a certain style that is compelling. They are a little dark and you get back into a bygone age of French life too. Simenon is a very proactive writer and these novels are splendid.

 

Simenon has also written many stand alone novels too and some of these are very dark and macabre. I have read a few that I have been a little frightened of such is their power.

 

Some of the Maigret novels have been made into TV programmes that I have never seen. Simenon was also quite eccentric and had a colourful life so a biography of him too is well worth the read as well.

Recommended Author Agatha Christie

It is difficult to believe that people do not know who Agatha Christie is but I suppose over the passing of time since her death that people no longer know who she is? She started writing in England in the early 1920's with her first novel the Mysterious Affair at Styles. This writing carried on through to the 1970's. Her books were wonderful mysteries set in country houses, boats etc and usually in the upper classes of society. Mainly a time that has since passed.

 

Her two main detectives Hercule Poirot and Jane Marple both very different but both with puzzles to sort out. Wonderful books to read, puzzles to keep you guessing right to the last page. Well written and some classics of their genre such as Murder on the Orient Express and the Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Many of her books have been made into films too.

 

If you have not read any Agatha Christie then you are not a mystery reader!

Agatha Christie Website

Recommended Author HG Wells

HG Wells has been dead for many years but he lives on through the excitement of his novels. Many of course, such as War of the Worlds and the Time Machine are timeless classics, must reads.

He was a very prolific writer and many of his novels can be read for free from libraries and also downloaded for free from Amazon on Kindle.

His writing style is not in the least stuff or dated and remains easy to read for the modern day reader. There is also plenty of choice as he has written so much too.

HG Wells on Fantastic Fiction

Recommended Author Minette Walters

I read all of Minette Walter's novels one after another, I think that they are really fantastic to read. All stand alone and exciting reads, I thought that she would continue to write more, but she appears not to write any more?

Please Minette can you please write some more novels, this reader would like to read more of your works.

Minette Walters at Fantastic Fiction

Recommended Author Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway is an American writing legend and Nobel Prize Winner. His novels are sparsely written and easy to read. You feel as if you are really at the places he writes about. I must say that many of the subjects of his novels I am not interested in or frankly would not support his views. However, despite this his novels are fantastic to read. His books on the Spanish Civil War, the First World War, bull fighting and fishing at sea are wonderful.

 

You can go through the Hemingway novels at a fair pace as they are easy to read. I particularly loved the Old Man and the Sea for which Hemingway won the 1954 Nobel Prize for Literature. I usually read some Hemingway when I see the pictures of the Hemingway Lookalike competition in Florida each year.

 

You will enjoy Hemingway's writing style and some of the subjects he chooses to write about will provoke some new thoughts on the subject for you too.

Ernest Hemingway on Fantastic Fiction

Recommended Author Ben Elton

Have not read any Ben Elton for quite some years and I have four of his novels sitting in storage waiting for my return to England to read them. Worth reading his books and they are quite readable, however his best work is obviously in co-writing Blackadder and the Young Ones. He has also written plays and musicals as well. Saw Ben Elton on stage in Jersey, Channel Islands and he was OK, funny in parts but I expected a lot more.

 

Check out his books and see if you like them.

He has a Ben Elton website and he is on Fantastic Fiction too.

Recommended Author Richard Gordon

I must confess I have not read any Richard Gordon books for some years now but they are nice little books, he wrote the Doctor in the House series. This was dramatised on TV in the UK and I have a fond affection both for the TV series and the books.

 

In many ways the books are a little dated but they hark back to a more innocent era. However they are still funny and light-hearted books. They may be a little harder to obtain these days, but if you are struggling then I would suggest that you try Fantastic Fiction and often they have links to online booksellers who sell older books. Similarly you could try EBay and bid for some if you can find them. However, if all else fails go to your local library. If they haven't got the book you want to read then they can get it for you through the Laser system. This is where all the libraries in the UK are linked together and they get a copy of a specific book for you come what may. They did this for me when I was struggling to get the last of the Maigret (Georges Simenon) novels to read.

 

Worth looking out for Richard Gordon although you will probably have to dig a bit to find his books.

Recommended Author Robert Louis Stevenson

Robert Louis Stevenson has written some absolute classic stories and he has a fasntastic clean and easy writing style. I am always going back to his novels and searching out the ones I have not read.

He of course wrote such classics as Jekyl and Hyde, Treasure Island and Catriona. All great novels and well worth the accolades given to them.

RLS has also written travel books, children's books as well as poems. I prefer his stories and novels but maybe these other genres will take your fancy. For books written so long ago, his style remains refreshing and compelling.

I am currently reading the Merry Men and Other Tales, a book that has been sitting on my shelf for years. Why didn't I pick it up ages ago, it is a wonderful read.

RLS on Fantastic Fiction

Recommended Author John Steinbeck

Truly one of the great American writers of all time. I was recommended to read Travels with Charly when on a touring holiday of the USA as it would be a backdrop to my holiday. It was a splendid novel and helped me remember my holiday when I read it later.

Some of his novels (Of Mice and Men for example) are classics and are great reads, classics of fiction. Also, his books have been made into films as well such as East of Eden.

John Steinbeck is for everyone, not just Americans, I always find his writing style a breath of fresh air. You must read at least one (or three) Steinbecks.

John Steinbeck on Fantastic Fiction

Recommended Author Gerald Seymour

Gerald Seymour writes stand alone thrillers that are all compelling reading and can be extremely intense, often the atmosphere of danger places you right there with the character.

He used to work for ITN and his stories are often newsworthy. His first novel, Harry's Game was set in the troubles in Northern Ireland and he generally keeps topical in his subject matter for the novels.

I have found a few of his novels not to be so good, but when he is on form, his novels are really unputdownable. Really fantastic. Stick with Gerald Seymour!

Gerald Seymour at Fantastic Fiction

Recommended Author Ruth Rendell (and Barbara Vine)

Ruth Rendell has been writing for many years, consequently there is plenty of choice! Her stand alone novels are generally good to read. However, it is the Inspector Reg Wexford novels that are the best for me. I have read all of these and cannot wait for the next one.

The Wexford novels are great, the character builds through the many books. You like to inhabit Reg's world and the snippets of life at the time of the novel. You are interested in his family and his environment. The books are also cozy little mysteries and are very well written.

In addition, Ruth Rendell also writes under the name of Barbara Vine, these novels tend to be a little deeper in subject matter. This darker side is also compelling reading, and I would suggest that you also read some of the Barbara Vine novels as well to see if you like them? I am sure that you will.

Ruth Rendell on Fantastic Fiction

Recommended Author Kathy Reichs

Kathy Reichs I avoided reading for some time as I thought (incorrectly) that she would just be a carbon copy of Patricia Cornwell. However, this is not the case at all and many would consider Kathy Reichs novels to be better.

They generally feature Temperance Brennan who's character inspired the TV series Bones (that I have never seen). The books are splendid mystery with some educational medical science thrown in.

Like the author, I love the changes between Canada and USA locations, as well as some other countries overseas. The novels are easy to read and you keep going back for more to find out what has happend to Temperance in her personal life as well as her working life. Good thrillers.

Kathy Reichs website

Recommended Author Ian Rankin

Ian Rankin has written a series of novels starring his detective Rebus a rather old school method man. The character of Rebus is thoroughly engaging and these books need to be read in order. The characters build and you like to know all about the life of Rebus. He has a fairly unhealthy lifestyle and enjoys listening to music generally of a bygone age. It helps to bring an evocative backdrop to the novels.

 

The Rebus novels are set in Edinburgh and if you have visited there then you will understand the urban landscape and how the characters fit into it. They are compelling reads and I was sad the day Ian Rankin decided to kill Rebus off.

 

Ian Rankin has written other novels besides the Rebus ones and I still have some of these to read. However I am a big Rebus fan and in some ways I feel a little short-changed that he is not continuing with the character. If you haven't read any Rebus novels then you should do, I feel sure that you will love them too.

Ian Rankin Website

Recommended Author Wayne Dyer

Wayne Dyer wrote the fantastically titled book "Your Erroneous Zones" that is basically a book about how to live your life more productively and away from thoughts that will make us into victims rather than owners of our thoughts. It is about ways in which we react rather than respond to situations. I have read this book twice. He has also written many other books on similar themes including about the Tao and they are very much worth a read too.

Wayne Dyer is a fantastic speaker and his videos are available and you can see him on PBS and the Hay House website. He is always thought provoking and interesting.

Hay House Website

Recommended Author Tom Peters

Tom Peters is more of a management guru. I first saw him on TV giving a lecture. He is very upbeat and engaging as a speaker, mainly on management and motivation. If you get the chance to see his performances then they are worth some of your time.

His books too, mainly on a management theme, are also excellent. I have read a few and I particularly liked the Pursuit of Wow as you are able to just dip into it anywhere and get a new idea on how to manage yourself and your life.

Not your average run of the mill management guy, worth checking his books out.

Tom Peters Website

Recommended Author James Patterson

I saw some James Patterson novels on the shelf at a local bookstore and started to read the back covers. I recalled the name of a series about a detective called Alex Cross and seemed to remember good things being said. I managed to buy the first three there and then. They were simply un-put-down-able and I quickly read through the first three in the series. These need to be read in order really as the characters, particularly in his family, grow with the novels.

 

Unfortunately for me, I was unable to get the next six novels in print form in Doha, Qatar and I paid a small fortune to have them shipped from the UK. However since that time I have discovered Kindle and this has alleviated that little problem.

I have now read all of the Alex Cross novels and they are generally excellent and I would thoroughly recommend them.

 

I have also read the series of novels featuring the detective Michael Bennett, the cop with ten children. They also feature his private life that is as compelling as the thriller/mysteries are too. You want to know about his life, children and home. Again, I can thoroughly recommend these novels too.

 

James Patterson also has many other standalone novels that are generally of a high standard too and worth reading. He now tends to write with other authors or appears to lend his name to novels but these too are of a high standard and I have enjoyed reading these too. I have a number of these on my "to read" shelf!

James Patterson is not one of the world's bestselling authors for nothing so if you haven't read any of his novels then you should do. Right now!!!

James Patterson Website

James Patterson on Fantastic Fiction

Recommended Author George Orwell

I was given a six book omnibus edition of Orwell novels and I read these fairly quickly. His novels are to me fairly bleak to read but they capture the ordinariness of life and they become compelling. I will get the other books he has written and read these sometime soon too.

 

His best and most popular novels are 1984 and Animal Farm that are both fantastic and to an extent they have come true. 1984 and Big Brother watching you has an element of truth with spyware on computers and surveillance cameras in the streets. As to Animal Farm, whilst most communist countries may no longer exist, you can still see elements in Animal Farm in regimes around the world. I found the film of 1984 (With John Hurt and Richard Burton) and the cartoon version of Animal Farm to be worth watching too.

 

I would recommend reading 1984 and Animal Farm and if you really like these then go on and read Orwell's other novels.

George Orwell on Fantastic Fiction

Recommended Author Robert Crais

I have only read the first of the Elvis Cole novels but it was good for me. Unfortunately it was at a bad time in my life and I never got round to reading the second one. At present, I am making my way through the Harlan Coben novels (including the Myron Bolitar series) as well as the David Baldacci novels. Also I am endeavouring to read the last two Charles Dickens novels that I need to read to complete reading all of his novels.

However, I did read enjoy reading the first Robert Crais novel, the Monkey's Raincoat, featuring Elvis Cole. I will be getting back to these in the late summer and reading them in order so that I get to know the characters as they appeared and developed.

A list of Robert Crais novels can be found at Fantastic Fiction or the Robert Crais website