Book Review: Roses are Red by James Patterson (Alex Cross 6)

Alex Cross gets to take on the Mastermind. A series of bank robberies leads to some very precise demands. Extreme violence ensues if the demands are not precisely met too.

His old adversary Kyle Craig comes back to taunt Alex Cross and even turns up at his son's christening.

More bank robberies lead to more savage and senseless killings. There is more here than gain. The hunt is on for the Mastermind and he taunts Alex Cross and his team. Many long roads are travelled before he is hunted down.

To worry him even further, one of his children becomes seriously ill and Cross has to devote himself to his family while carrying on with the hunt for the serial killer.

The ending of the book is particularly good.

8/10 for me on this one.

Book Review: The Black Ice by Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch 2)

Published in 1993 this is the second in the Harry Bosch novels. Bosch is on call on Christmas Day when he gets word of a dead body on his patch. However, the case does not come his way. Bosch decides to go to the scene of the crime to find out what is up? It turns out that Bosch knows the victim who has committed suicide. However Bosch soon discovers that the victim has been murdered.

Bosch acts on his own unauthorised initiative on the case. Then a second officer is found dead. Murdered. A few coincidences between the two cases begin to reveal themselves and Bosch has double the workload.

The plot leads Harry to Mexico where the causes of the murders originates.

The book is well written, the characters are fully believable people and the plot is realistic too.

Bosch is soon up to speed for me in this novel and you are soon hooked on the novels of Michael Connelly.

An 8/10 for me for this novel.

Book Review: Pop Goes The Weasel by James Patterson (Alex Cross 5)

A series of baffling killings seemingly have no leads. Just bodies with no identities. There is also no pattern to the killings and there appears to be no motive or connection between the victims.

However Alex Cross soon discovers that the crimes are connected and there is a serial killer known as the Weasel who is behind them.

The book is very well written as we know who the killer is from near the beginning and it is great the way the two threads (the killer and the detective) eventually become intertwined. However the road to the climax is well worth the read.

8/10 for me on this one.

Book Review: Shall we tell the President? By Jeffrey Archer

This book dates from 1977 and is in the last in a trilogy of novels with Kane and Abel and the Prodigal Daughter, the President version is the last one.

The story focuses on Abel's daughter Florentyna Kane and when she became the first woman President of the United States (are you watching Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton?) following the death of the incumbent President.

The FBI are aware of a plot on her life but only five people know of this plot, of those five there is only one survivor who knows all the details. He is a top FBI agent called Mark Andrews. However Andrews has a dilemma as he knows which senator is involved in plotting to kill her but he needs to find the assassin and he has six days to do this. But does he tell the President now or not?

I read this book quite some time ago, but Archer is always a good story teller and I remember turning the pages to this one pretty fast.

8/10 from me.

Book Review: First Among Equals by Jeffrey Archer

Like his first novel, Archer chooses four characters to keep the action moving and the plot refreshing and multi faceted. This novel draws on Jeffrey Archer's own political knowledge as four fictional MP's strive to become the Prime Minister.

You can pick your runner from the characters to try and decide who is going to win the political race. A nice novel and in the usual Archer easy to read page turning style.

A 7/10 from me for this novel.

Book Review: The Prodigal Daughter by Jeffrey Archer

This novel is the second in a trilogy. This book is in three sections, past, present and future. The book also covers quite a lot of time as well as events. The book is part 2 of a three part Kane and Abel series.

The book concerns itself with the daughter of Mr Kane, called Florentyna who vies to become the first President of the United States. Bearing in mind that this is written well before Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin.

The book moves along well and you find yourself rooting for the main character. You unfortunately have to relive some of the previous book that is OK if you are reading this as a standalone novel but a bit irritating if you are reading it as the sequel.

This gets a 7/10 for me.

Book Review: The Black Echo by Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch 1)

The first of the Michael Connelly novels and the introduction to Harry Bosch the Los Angeles detective. Connelly worked as a crime writer so he seems to have the inside track on the genre. The Black Echo is not the best of his work but he is certainly the best thriller writer today (2011). The Black Echo is a good start though.

Bosch was a Vietnam veteran who was often in the undergrowth and tunnels in pursuit of the enemy. On his return to the US he became a LA detective in the Robbery/Homicide Division.

After a case goes wrong for Bosch and he inadvertently kills the main suspect he is demoted to the Hollywood Homicide Division where he teams up with his partner Jerry Edgar. A friend and also former Vietnam Tunnel Rat dies and his death is connected to a bank robbery that used underground tunnels. An environment suited to Harry Bosch and also a cause close to his heart.

Bosch also works with an FBI agent called Eleanor Wish who becomes big in Harry's life. The Vietnamese connection continues through the novel.

A great first novel and 8/10 for me.

Book Review: Cat and Mouse by James Patterson (Alex Cross 4)

The serial killer Gary Soneji is back to taunt Alex Cross once again. Will Cross capture him this time and bring him down?

Soneji is dying from AIDs and therefore he has nothing to lose and he wants to get Alex Cross before he dies. There is also another killer on the loose, the mysterious Mr Smith.

I like reading about Alex Cross's family but this leaves him vulnerable too. He is attacked in his own home and ends up in a coma for a while.

The story moves to Paris France too, the bodies count rises across the pages. Mr Smith in Europe and Soneji in the USA, how will Alex Cross bring them both down or will he be brought down himself? You will need to read the book for the roller coaster ride to find out.

A great book for me and 9/10

Book Review: Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less by Jeffrey Archer

This is Jeffrey Archer's first book published in 1976 that I believe is still a fantastic read. The premise is that an American millionaire swindles four people out of one million dollars. The four of them believe that they will be rich the next day, only to find themselves penniless. This was the scenario that happened to Archer in real life, he lost everything on a get rich quick scheme. All part of his very colourful life.

One of the four strangers called Stephen Bradley gets together with the other three to get their money back from the American, not a penny more, not a penny less. The four men carry out elaborate and thoroughly entertaining schemes to get their money back. A few liberties are taken with this but it is a cracking good read nonetheless and you can forgive a few flaws especially for a first novel.

The four characters are all very different and it keeps the book refreshing to read. The pages turn very quickly and the scenarios are not too challenging. A good light read.

A thoroughly entertaining 9/10 for me.

Book Review: Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer

The first novel in a trilogy, this story concerns two men who were born on the same day but in different places and how their lives progressed and came together. As ever with Jeffrey Archer it is a great story that moves along quickly. You want to know what happens to the characters.

Each chapter focuses on one man or the other so you can appreciate how each character develops equally. However, one character is from a privileged background in the USA the other is at the other end of life in Russia trying to escape from his lifestyle.

The plot interweaves with real life history (the First World War and the Titanic sinking) so Archer skilfully places us in events that we are familiar with and how they affected the characters.

Abel escapes to the USA via Turkey and after a few close shaves manages to get to America. He works his way up from a waiter in a hotel to manager. This during the time of the Great Depression. However the hotel requires extra cash and the owner seeks money from Kane. Not getting it, the hotel owner commits suicide. Abel discovers the letdown from Kane and seeks vengeance.

The two men soon become rivals focusing on outdoing each other at every turn.

The plot thickens further when the two men's children fall in love.

The novel moves over a lifetime and over the generations and is a thoroughly enjoyable read.

9/10 from me on this one.

Book Review: Deliver Us From Evil by David Baldacci

Another in the Shaw/Katie James series (although Katie James does not really feature in this novel too much). I enjoyed the first part of the novel that had some suspense, romance and was set in Provence so it fired my imagination. It also was quite amusing as the story unfolded that there were two special agencies trying to take out a Russian criminal.

There was a truly horrifying chapter in the book where David Baldacci described a torture scene. It was extremely well written and I am glad that I did not read this late at night.

The climax of the novel was quite good too, however as ever we have to suspend our imaginations a bit. When someone catches the good guy, why don't they just kill them there and then? As ever, they let them go and a game of chase ensues. I suppose if this did not happen most thrillers would end on page 5. J

Enjoyed the book however 8/10 from me.

Book Review: Jack and Jill by James Patterson (Alex Cross 3)

Alex Cross is back on the scene and thrown into another baffling and exciting case, or should that be cases. A US Senator is killed first by Jack and Jill then he is quickly followed by a well known journalist then a general.

The randomness of the victims is intriguing and it is great how the clues mount up and you get to read of the killers plans and how Cross finds the clues and interprets them.

Cross as ever has John Sampson his best pal by his side but the killers get a little too close to home when the killer targets pupils at his son's school. His family is also therefore embroiled in the plot mix too.

The Alex Cross series continues to impress and you want to move on to the next one even though you are exhausted from reading this volume 3.

Another 9/10 for me, the early Alex Cross thrillers are great.

Book Review: Kiss the Girls by James Patterson (Alex Cross 2)

If you read the first novel Along Came a Spider in the Alex Cross series then you too, like me, will have been eager to get on to book 2 in the series. I am up to date with reading these (as at June 2011) and I cannot wait for my next fix of Alex Cross later this year, on 15 September 2011 for Alex Cross 18!

The second book sees evil infiltrating Alex Cross's personal life. His niece is kidnapped and he is on the case as ever trying to save her.

Not only does he have this family complication but he soon comes to realise that there are two serial killers competing with each other. Cross is helped on the case with his pal Sampson and the banter between them is always easy and engaging.

One of the killers nicknamed Casanova is not only killing victims but also holding them hostage.

The plot moves along at a good pace and you keep turning the pages and forget to go to bed until you have finished the book, like I did.

Another 9/10 for me, James Patterson was really on fire with the first few Alex Cross novels.

Book Review; Along Came a Spider by James Patterson (Alex Cross 1)

This is the first in the Alex Cross series by James Patterson. This book has also been made into a film with Morgan Freeman. I enjoyed the book and the film was OK! Morgan Freeman is a great actor and I love some of his work (Driving Miss Daisy, the Bucket List etc) however he was too old to play Alex Cross.

Alex Cross is a Washington DC detective who is African American and he lives with his grandmother and two children. His wife was killed in a drive by shooting. His fellow detective pal is called John Sampson. You soon learn to love their world and the progress of the characters as you read through the books. You will become addicted! Alex Cross is also a psychologist too.

This novel concerns a killer hell bent on fame. He kidnaps two children of well known parents and this becomes headline news and Alex Cross is on the case and on the chase. He is assisted by Jezzie Flanagan who becomes his love interest too.

The serial killer is called Gary Sonjei and he keeps setting new puzzles and leaving clues for Alex Cross to follow.

Alex Cross is an engaging character, a good man set against evil. The evil also invades his personal life too. I also enjoy the episodes with his family and how the evil ebbs and flows into their innocent lives.

A great book for me and 9/10.

Book Review: True Blue by David Baldacci

I really enjoyed reading this stand alone book by David Baldacci. The novel before of his that I read I found difficult to get through, but this one was easy to read. It has only taken me about four days to read this time.

The book moves along at a pace and concerns the relationship between two sisters, one a police chief and the other an ex-cop who has just served two years in prison. The romantic relationship is less convincing with the lawyer Roy.

The ex-cop/ex-prisoner sister called Mace tries to clear her name by investigating a crime that proves to be the start of a sinister secret service plot. I found the character of the old vetran really good, and I liked the bits where he was in the novel.

This book is one of the better David Baldacci novels.

I would give this 8/10

Book Review: The Collectors by David Baldacci

This is another novel in the Camel Club series and the background is set in the world of cons and it was fascinating for me as it was not a world I had read about before in fiction. David Baldacci skilfully tied this in to the Camel Club and a murder at the Library of Congress.

It was great to be back again in the land of the Camel Club, characters that I have become familiar with. There was more sharing of the limelight in this novel that I enjoyed, rather than it being focused on the John Carr/Oliver Stone character.

Two sets of hoods come after the members of the Camel Club and it is a good read.

I would give this Camel Club novel an 8/10.

Book Review: Tick Tock by James Patterson

This is the fourth in the Michael Bennett series, the genial New York detective who tries to bring up ten adopted children. He is helped by a nanny who is falling in love with him and his priest father in law.

Bennett is enjoying a much needed holiday when he gets dragged back to New York to a bomb plot. He is soon embroiled in a series of crimes and is assisted by another love interest FBI Agent Beth Peters.

The crimes of course are solved but not before his family are threatened and harmed. And in his personal life who will Michael Bennett end up with? Beth Peters or his Irish nanny Mary Catherine.

Enjoyed reading this on holiday in England in April 2011, lovely sunny weather and wonderful memories. Bought the book from Heathrow Airport.

8/10 for me.

Book Review: The Quickie by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

Had a nice read of this novel while on holiday in England with fantastic weather in April 2011. Got my copy from a charity shop, something that I don't seem to be able to do in Doha, Qatar. Maybe someone knows somewhere in Doha?

 

When a police woman discovers her husband with another woman she decides to seek revenge. This sets off a chain of events where her revenge goes completely wrong, her job starts to crack too.

 

Lauren Stillwell ends up fighting not only for her marriage and her livelihood but also her life too. You keep turning the pages.

 

7/10 from me.

Book Review: Last Man Standing by David Baldacci

I had put off reading this novel by David Baldacci for quite some time as for me the book looked too long. Unfortunately so it proved, it has taken me weeks to get through it.

I enjoyed parts of it but the plots seemed over complicated and the whole effect of the book was like overcooked food. It was good in parts though and I do like David Baldacci's books generally.

There is one particular scene when the hero Web London gets hypnotised that I thought was very good writing. On the other end of the scale, why was the hero called Web? I don't remember discovering that.

A suitable book for a very long plane journey. 7/10 for me.

Book Review: You’ve Been Warned by James Patterson and Howard Roughan

Read this novel on a very enjoyable trip home to England in April 2011. Was able to get a cheap copy from a charity shop, something I can't do in Doha!

This novel concerns Karen Burns who is a photographer who goes to New York and pays her way as a nanny for a young power couple.

She soon becomes embroiled in a mystery and is thrust into life threatening situations.

Worth the money I paid for the novel and a 7/10 from me.

Book Review: The Confession by John Grisham

Love John Grisham's novels. As ever this is set in the legal world as well as involving the questions of race and guilt and innocence.

An innocent man is just a few days away from being executed and it turns out that a dying man is actually guilty of the murder. The clock is ticking faster than normal for the innocent man Donte Drumm.

The guilty man is dying of a tumour and he confesses to a priest that he killed the girl Drumm is serving time for. Will the priest be able to travel cross country to the scene of the crime and convince the authorities to stop the execution. The guilty man keeps going AWOL and the priest struggles to keep on track in his quest for justice and to stop the execution.

Will he get there in time? You will just have to read the book!

9/10 for me for this novel.

Book Review: Dying to Tell by Robert Goddard

I was given this paperback by a host at a dinner party. Thanks Frank! I am currently reading (May 2011) all the Harlan Coben and David Baldacci novels but I broke stride in February 2011 to read this novel. I was glad that I did and I will certainly go back to read some of the other Robert Goddard novels too.

Lance Bradley's lazy life in Somerset is interrupted by the eccentric sister of his friend Rupe Adler. Lance starts out by travelling to London to find out where Rupe has disappeared to. This is just the start of a worldwide adventure that encompasses Japan and the USA. Spies and counter spies try to kill Lance and the book gets more mysterious before the mystery is finally solved.

The mystery of a document and the troubles it has caused soon becomes very apparent to Lance and the clues to the disappearance of Rupe too.

A good novel and 8/10 from me. Iwill be back for more Robert Goddard novels!

Book Review: Crossfire by Dick Francis and Felix Francis

Unfortunately for me this was the final Dick Francis novel that I had left to read. Have thoroughly enjoyed reading these books over the past 20 years or so. Read this one during March 2011 in Doha, Qatar.

 

Dick Francis novels generally are set in the horse world and this is no exception. His novels for me are very English and remind me of home very much. They are cosy reads. His autobiography is also well worth reading as he has had a fascinating life. I will miss him and his works.

 

Tom Forsyth is recovering from wounds that he received in Afghanistan and he is "forced" to live with his mother and stepfather. He is reluctant to be there at their racing stables and he soon discovers that his mother is struggling and being blackmailed. Tom uses his military training to help put the world to rights for his mother. All of this while coming to terms with his new life away from the military.

 

A great read and 8/10 from me.

Book Review: Worst Case by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

This is another in the Michael Bennett series (number 3) that I really like. The genial Irish American detective with the ten adopted children. Having read the other novels, it is great to catch up on Bennett's home life as well as the unfolding crime story.

The crime story is centred around someone kidnapping children with rich parents. His goal appears to be to find out if the parents know the price others pay for their lifestyle of privilege? If they get the answer wrong then he kills the child.

Bennett chases this criminal down in the full spotlight of the media. The heat is on and he is assisted by FBI agent Emily Parker. She links up in his romantic life too, as well as his housekeeper vying for his affections too, his home life is often as complicated as his working one.

Great stuff and 8/10 for me. Hopefully a new Michael Bennett novel will be out soon!

Book Review: The Woods by Harlan Coben

Really enjoyed reading this stand alone novel (ie not a Myron Bolitar novel) and I whizzed through the pages. Although this is a stand alone novel, Harlan Coben uses characters from other novels (eg Muse) so you feel some familiarity with the characters. Also, the settings for HC's novels all seem to be set around the same area so I am familiar with the area too.

Read this novel in May 2011 on my Kindle in Doha, Qatar.

The novel centres on a District Attorney called Paul Copeland "Cope" who's past revisits him. The woods in question hold dark secrets from the past that involve the disappearance or murder of Cope's sister, it is unfinished business. He reunites with an old flame from his youth to unravel the mysteries.

What he discovers via the links to the past and his Russian heritage change Cope's world around. I particuarly enjoyed the Russian angle and also the family parts.

Well worth a read and an 8/10 from me.

Book Review: Play Dead by Harlan Coben

This is Harlan Coben's first published novel so you have to give a little leeway here! If you want to read all of his novels then you are going to read it anyway. As a novel it is not great but it is nice to see how much someone learns as Harlan Coben very soon becomes a good then a great writer with later novels.

Having written that it is a readable novel and the plot is a trifle implausible but you can identify with the characters and appreciate the story as it unfolds. The world of basketball is well portrayed (I think!) and the dynamics of the Baskins marriage and Laura's career too is interesting.

Only a 5/10 for this one for me.

Book Review: Port Mortuary by Patricia Cornwell

I have read the Patricia Cornwell novels in order (Kay Scarpetta). However as I am up to date I only read one a year now. In my opinion the first half a dozen or so were brilliant then there seemed to be a few that were not as good and just felt like going through the motions.

The last few novels in the Kay Scarpetta series have improved and are getting back to the earlier ones that were on fire and a new genre in crime fiction.

Port Mortuary is the 18^th in the Scarpetta series. Her past catches up with her a bit in this novel. It also sees Scarpetta getting back to her day job after working for USAF for a while. On the return to her office, Scarpetta is also confronted with wrongdoings in her own workplace.

I enjoyed Scarpetta getting back with Marino and Lucy, that is good. Never convinced by Mr Perfect, Benton at all.

However an 8/10 for me on this one.

Book Review: The Innocent by Harlan Coben

A great stand alone novel by Harlan Coben. The tale of an ordinary guy who gets involved in a fight and accidentally kills the other man. He serves his time and when he comes out he meets the love of his life. She gets pregnant, he is about to move home and he seems now set for life.

However, all is not what it appears with his wife. She is pulled back into her past life. Will Matt and Olivia survive all the challenges that they are subjected to? Who are the good guys? Will good triumph over evil?

I really enjoyed this novel, 9/10 from me.

Book Review: Caught by Harlan Coben

A reporter corners a child abuser and puts him in the media spotlight. He then disappears and presumed dead. It looks like the father of a victim has killed him. The reporter, Wendy moves on to the story of a missing girl that is gripping the country. She looks to be taking great strides in her journalist life. Then the wheels come off of her wagon.

Secrets from long ago are uncovered that shake Wendy's world. Her story on the child abuser become less sure and she has to adjust to the new discoveries. She appears to have set up an innocent man.

Well worth the read to find the truth.

7/10 for me on this Harlan Coben stand alone novel.

Book Review: First Family by David Baldacci

A follow on from the Simple Genius novel by David Baldacci, featuring Sean King and Michelle Maxwell, this novel reaches to the top of US society with kidnapping at a children's birthday party at Camp David. King and Maxwell help the first lady to try and recover the child.

As ever there are twists and turns along the way, with plenty of action too. There is also the question in the background with Sean and Michelle get it together as well?

A pretty good read for me, as enjoyable as ever and a 7/10.