Book Review: Cross Fire by James Patterson (Alex Cross 17)

Alex Cross is getting married to Bree but you cannot sit back and enjoy the ceremony. Two assassinations of Washington DC's hierarchy postpones the nuptials. The victims are a corrupt congressman and a shady lobbyist. Then the killer starts to take out other undesirable politicians.

Is the criminal doing everyone a favour? Hardly, he is a murderer and Cross is on the trail.

Cross is assisted by FBI agent Max Siegel who Cross battles with for control of the case. With the wedding pressure, the case and dealing with Siegel, Cross has his hands full. Then he gets a call from his greatest adversary Kyle Craig.

Craig is coming for Cross and his intention is to take out Alex Cross and his family. How can Craig get so close to Cross's family. Cross already had his hands full and now has Kyle Craig hounding him down too.

A great page turner and very much a return to form for James Patterson's Alex Cross novels. I look forward to the next one when it is published.

9/10 for me on this one.

Book Review: Worth Dying For by Lee Child (Jack Reacher 15)

I enjoy reading my yearly dose of Jack Reacher, the Lee Child hero drifter. Mr Tough Guy.

This novel sees Reacher taking on organised crime in there is plenty of action to keep you interested in this novel. He is in small town America and the Duncan family control everything. They have gradually gained control of the transportation business in the area and they have everyone in the community in their grasp. The town folk are terrified but that is the way things are.

Then step forward Jack Reacher.

He takes on the Duncan family and their henchmen. They are no match for Reacher and he keeps one step ahead of the game. There is plenty of violent action here! However, there is also a mystery in the background too, why happened to the little adopted Asian girl all those years ago? How is that connected to events today?

I enjoyed this novel for the two main strands of the story. The relentless grinding down of the Duncan's power and the solving of the mystery of the little Asian girl from years ago.

The next Jack Reacher instalment is out on 29 November 2011 and I will be getting my Kindle copy ASAP!

9/10 for me for this novel.

Book Review: I, Alex Cross by James Patterson (Alex Cross 16)

After a couple of recent diversions for Alex Cross novels – one trip to Africa and the other a historical dip back into the Cross family history 100 years before, we are back on track with this novel.

The novel opens with Alex Cross's niece being murdered and he is out to find the killer with a vengeance. This time it is personal. However he soon discovers that he is up against some important and dangerous people who have carried out this crime. There are also many more victims.

Cross and his girlfriend Brianna Stone (herself a detective) move into the shady world of fantasy laced with crime.

How will Cross take down his niece's killer? This novel has many twists and turns before we discover how he does.

Getting back to form for me 7/10.

Book Review: Second Son by Lee Child (A Jack Reacher short novel)

This is a Lee Child book that seems to be a growing trend in publishing and that is to issue short novels as Ebooks and I read this one on Kindle.

This book as ever with Lee Child features Jack Reacher the tough guy, but in this one he is still a child, the second son of a US Marine based on Okinawa island. He is used to moving around a lot and he therefore has to fight a few battles along the way to get himself and his family a quiet life wherever they go.

In this new place, Reacher takes on the bully and solves a mystery for his father too. We also learn something of Reacher in his family and his childhood.

A nice read although quite a short novel (it is priced accordingly too), and as I understand it this is only available as an Ebook.

8/10 for this enjoyable short read.

Book Review: 9 Dragons by Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch 14)

I enjoyed this novel because 1. It is written by Michael Connelly; 2. It is written about Harry Bosch; 3. It is partly set in Hong Kong where I used to live in 2000/2001.

Harry is investigating a Chinese shopkeeper's killing in Los Angeles with his Chinese detective sidekick. It soon becomes clear that the victim has been paying protection money to the Triads. Harry keeps pushing the envelope and the Triads get nasty. They kidnap his daughter Maddie who is living with his ex-wife Eleanor Wish in Hong Kong.

Harry rushes to Hong Kong and with the assistance of some friends there and clues from the kidnap video he is able to track down the whereabouts of his daughter. Harry very heavy handily goes after rescuing his daughter.

His impetuousness leads to a family tragedy and much changed personal circumstances for Harry. He does not seem to be in control of events in parts of this story.

Another great book from Michael Connelly and I cannot wait for the next Harry Bosch instalment called the Drop that is released for me on 25 October 2011, I will be on line to Kindle to get my copy! It will be the top priority read for me.

This novel, well a 9/10 for me.

Book Review: Black Notice by Patricia Cornwell (Kay Scarpetta 10)

A ship that docks in Richmond from Belgium is found to contain the remains of a stowaway, in a locked and sealed container. Kay Scarpetta does the autopsy but this does not identify the cause of death or the John Doe. However, a tattoo on the victim leads Scarpetta to Interpol and their headquarters in Lyon in France. She is told there to go to a Paris morgue where she receives more evidence.

She then has to return back to Virginia to carry out a mission that could scupper her career and puts her and her closest friends and family at risk.

Scarpetta has immersed herself in her work since her lover Benton Wesley was killed. It appears that her life is in chaos with Marino taking a walk on the wild side and her niece Lucy also living outside the norm too. Scarpetta's office is subject to some political shenanigans and also some mysterious thefts have occurred around the morgue.

There are many matters for Kay Scarpetta to contend with and this is a better novel, especially without Benton.

7/10 for me.

Book Review: Sail by James Patterson and Howard Roughan

For some reason I was not looking forward to reading this book but it spoke to me from the bookshelf and I was pleasantly surprised. It is a good page turning adventure read with plenty of suspense and action.

It concerns a mother facing her failings in the past and trying to reconcile her life with her three children and their uncle. They decide to go on a voyage on their yacht for two months. The dysfunctional family set off and unknown to them their stepfather is set to kill them all and inherit all the money that the mother has, that is in excess of $100 million.

The boat is sabotaged and they endure storms and many nightmarish episodes. However it does bring the family together and forces the truth out into the spotlight.

We see good triumphing over evil and it is a satisfying read.

8/10 for me.

New Book Release: The Drop by Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch)

The latest in the Harry Bosch series by Michael Connelly is released today. I will be getting my Kindle copy as soon as possible.

Make sure that you get your copy now too!!!

Book Review: Angle of Investigation by Michael Connelly

Three fantastic Harry Bosch stories to read while I wait for the Drop to be published (I read the Angle of Investigation on 15 October 2011).

The first of the stories is a Christmas heartwarmer that combines Harry's tenacity with his love of jazz. He also gets a free Christmas dinner too.

The second story is about fathers and Father's Day, again a touching piece from Michael Connelly and again featuring Harry Bosch.

The final short story and the title book allows Harry to be with Kiz Rider again and to go back right to the beginning of his cop life and tie up a loose end in the Unsolved Crimes Unit.

Enjoyed reading them all and 8/10 for me.

Book Review: 7th Heaven by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

This is the 7th in the Womens Murder Club series (the clue is in the title!!!) and I found this one to be a thoroughly entertaining read. There are four members of the Club and the main character is Lindsay Boxer who works for SFPD.

In this episode a pair of serial killers is on the loose and Lindsay and her fellow cops are endeavouring to track them down. In parallel to this plot there is another storyline concerning the death of a well known son of a rich man. This gives one of the other members of the Murder Club to her day in court as a member of the prosecution.

It is not only these two storylines but it is also what happens to the characters that also concerns us. In this episode we are not disappointed with the challenges in their lives. Lindsay's love life moves on seemingly for the better but she has doubts. Her role in SFPD is changed too at her request then she considers she may have made an error of judgement.

These personal issues are left hanging for the next novel and I cannot wait for number 8!

This novel I feel is better than the last couple in the series.

9/10 for me.

Book Review: The Last Precinct by Patricia Cornwell (Kay Scarpetta 11)

Dr Kay Scarpetta has to leave her home after she is attacked there by the killer Chandonne and the police are continuing to investigate the attack. She goes to stay with an old friend who it is discovered has been subpoenaed to appear before a court that is investigating Scarpetta for murder.

Scarpetta knows that she is being set up and finds it difficult to trust anyone. One of Chardonne's alleged victims, a woman in New York, is looked at more closely by Scarpetta and Jaime Berger the New York prosecutor and it comes to light that maybe Chardonne is not the killer at all. Then it is called into question whether Chardonne killed any of his alleged victims at all?

As the fog clears it becomes clear that the real killer has been setting Scarpetta up for years and she is in real danger. How does she escape?

A better novel for me and 8/10.

Book Review: 6th Target by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

I am enjoying these series of novels and this is the 6th out of ten (so far as at August 2011). I like the characters in the Women's Murder Club and it is interesting to see the changes in their lives. I also like the setting of San Francisco that I have visited once.

This novel concerns a killer on a ferry boat. There is no doubt he is guilty of the killings but is he sane or insane? I liked the way the novel played on this theme and put forward very well the questions that both sides in the resultant court case played their cards.

The other case that was part of this novel was a child abduction. This was a bit weaker I thought but again I enjoyed the way that the facts revealed themselves and the killers were hunted down.

The women's lives are on the move again. Yuki changes sides in this novel, Claire gets a bad case of lead poisioning and a little surprise, Cindy moves apartment to the block from hell and Lindsay gets what she wants at work but then realises she doesn't want it, she also gets Joe too but is also wondering about this relationship too. Lindsay appears to be at a crossroads so I will just have to read on to book seven to see how it pans out.

8/10 for me.

Book Review: Alex Cross’s Trial by James Patterson and Richard Dilallo (Alex Cross 15)

This takes a leap back in time to the early 1900's when the USA was a very different place to now. America was still segregated on colour and the black man was oppressed and discriminated against.

A Washington DC lawyer called Ben Corbett takes on an assignment from the President to face up to injustices down south. Corbett returns to his southern home town and uncovers disgraceful prejudice and violence, with the spectre of the Klu Klux Klan on the warpath.

Ben has the help of Abraham Cross one of Alex Cross's ancestors. Alex Cross learns of the story from his Nana Mama (grandmother). We get to learn a bit of the Cross family history and also a depiction of some US life at the time.

Not really a full Alex Cross novel for me as he is hardly in it at all and also we learn nothing of his family life moving on either. If you are expecting a novel with Alex Cross bona fide novel then you will be slightly disappointed. However if you want a good yarn of good triumphing over evil with a historical flavour then this is right up your street.

A 7/10 for me because I missed Alex Cross.

Book Review: 61 Hours by Lee Child (Jack Reacher 14)

This novel opens with Reacher on a bus trip with some senior citizens that crashes into a ditch in a South Dakota. The scenery is full of snow and it will be some days before a replacement bus is available.

The passengers are forced to stay with the residents of Bolton. Reacher of course is not allowed to rest and he is recruited to help out in the local police department solve a murder. The town of Bolton has a top security prison on the outskirts and this recent addition has brought lots of visitors to the town.

The police department appears not to be able to cope with the new demands and is currently protecting an elderly woman witness. However, if all of the sirens at the prison go off then they will have to abandon their witness.

Reacher of course is the knight in shining armour who provides extra protection to Mrs Salter. The snowy weather does not help the situation either but it adds to the eeriness of the novel and the loneliness of the setting.

The 61 hours refers to an event that is going to happen but we are not quite sure what that is, so we have to read on. This is linked however to the local biker gang who want to get to Mrs Salter who Reacher is protecting.

I enjoyed the atmosphere of the book, the snowy wilderness and being trapped in a town made me feel uneasy. There is no love interest in this book but I was on edge for a lot of the read. There is a cliff hanger ending to this novel too!

A 9/10 for me.

Book Release: Seizure by Kathy Reichs

The latest novel by Kathy Reichs is released tomorrow.

Be sure to get your copy!!!



Book Review: The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch 14 and Mickey Haller Book 2)

This novel sees Mickey Haller recovering from his wounds (see the Lincoln Lawyer) and he is also coming off his addiction to painkillers too.

His workload is increased when his friend defence attorney Jerry Vincent is murdered and Haller takes on his cases.

One of the high profile cases he takes on is a Hollywood mogul who is accused of murdering his wife and her lover. He has nine days to prepare for trial. However, Vincent's laptop has been stolen and Haller believes his old friend has a "magic bullet" to use on the case in court.

The book ties in with Harry Bosch, who is investigating the murder of Jerry Vincent. Bosch warns Haller that he could be the next victim after Vincent, Haller is therefore also able to help Bosch in this investigation too. The FBI become involved and interested in the murder and the court case, further complicating matters.

As revealed in previous novels, Bosch and Haller are half brothers. The interaction and switches between the two half brothers is fantastic and Connelly spins the novel really well. It really is an un-put-down-able novel.

A 9/10 for me on this one!

Book Review: Blowfly by Patricia Cornwell (Kay Scarpetta 12)

Dr Kay Scarpetta is now in Florida rather than Virginia looking for a bit of peace. However she is soon embroiled in another series of murder investigations.

Scarpetta lends the limelight in this novel more to her irritating niece Lucy. The novel also sees the return of some earlier characters including Benton Wesley (how little I missed him) and the killer Chardonne.

Chardonne has escaped from prison and is back on the killing scene, even at the end of the novel he has not been caught so there is an opening for more from him in later novels.

Patricia Cornwell seems to be losing her way with the Scarpetta novels, a brilliant start with Postmortem but then the next few do not quite meet the dizzy heights then plunge down the scale.

This is 6/10 for me and that is being generous.

Book Review: 5th Horseman by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

This is the fifth installment in the Womens Murder Club series. I enjoyed the first couple of novels and now I am reading them as I like the characters and I want to know what is going on in their lives. So it was good to catch up with Lindsay, Claire, Cindy and now Yuki.

As ever, personal tragedy affects one of the Club and the women all pull for each other. There are a number of threads or stories that run through the novel. One concerns a hospital malpractice and the court case that goes with it. This was pretty good although the ending seemed a bit rushed and weak. However the story in the telling was entertaining and maintained my interest.

The other part of the story that seemed to me to be unconnected concerned a couple of strange lovers who were killing escort girls. This story ended part the way through the novel and although it was quite interesting it too ended a bit abruptly.

Not as good as the earlier novels in the series.

7/10 for me.

Book Review: The Last Detective by Robert Crais (Elvis Cole 09)

This was a really enjoyable book to read. We learn more about Elvis's childhood and his time in Vietnam. His past comes back to haunt him when his girlfriend's son is kidnapped. Elvis is on the case with gusto and is soon embroiled with the bad guys in his efforts. Joe Pike of course is there to help him but Joe is still recovering from his injuries from the last Robert Crais outing.

Elvis's relationship with Lucy his girlfriend is pushed to the limits, not helped by the return of her ex-husband on the scene. A man who hates Elvis Cole. Elvis ingratiates himself with a policewoman and together they are able to push the case on.

I enjoyed the read but unfotunately I guessed the real reasons behind the kidnapping very early so the outcome was pretty much a known outcome for me. This is a pretty unusual occurrence for me as I usually wander round in a fog until the last few pages.

8/10 for me.

Book Review: Cross Country by James Patterson (Alex Cross 14)

One of Alex Cross's oldest friends home becomes the murder scene, it becomes up close and personal for Cross. The action soon moves to Nigerian underworld figures and Cross follows the trail to Africa.

Cross follows all the leads but he is out on a limb away from his family and the support that he can get at home from Washington police, the FBI and John Sampson.

A terrifying gang of young Nigerian teenagers carries out the crimes at the dictate of a War Lord. Cross is on the chase to bring him down, but the Tiger is on the loose.

I enjoyed some of the other novels moving the action to the West Coast or to London but this didn't really work for me with Cross in Africa. The novel was a bit disappointing really. However some of the earlier and subsequent novels were back to form. I love the books and I also enjoy the progression of time in Cross's personal life. His family were pretty much absent in this novel too.

Only a 6/10 for me on this one.

Book Review: Season of the Machete by James Patterson

This is one of the early James Patterson novels and in common with most of his writing before the 1990's it is not a very good book. I did not particularly enjoy reading this and struggled through so that I have some sort of complete-ism on James Patterson's novels. I want to read them all apart from the children's novels.

This novel concerns two serial killers Damien and Carrie Rose carrying out a series of murders for the mafia on a Caribbean island and they have a trademark machette to leave with the murder victims so that it looks like locals have killed the victims. There is only one person who has been able to identify the murderers and his life is then in danger.

I got lost at times with this book and I would not recommend anyone to read it unless you want to read all of the James Patteson novels like me!

3/10 for me.

Book Review: Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child (Jack Reacher 13)

This novel was published in 2009 and I read this in Dubai in 2010. I enjoy the Reacher novels and in some ways I would like to be him, the drifter rolling into town and then rolling out again helping people out in a tough guy way.

Reacher is an ex-army policeman who wanders from place to place and in this novel we find him in New York City. He is on the subway and he recounts that suicide bombers are usually shown to be very nervous and he notices the signs with one of his fellow passengers. How will Reacher tackle this problem as the train gets closer to Grand Central Station.

Needless to say, Reacher gets embroiled in a bigger picture than just this scene on the subway. The writing here is good, you follow Reacher around and vividly see the world through his eyes. You need to read this novel to see Reacher track down and take out the bad guys, leaving the novel in a better way than he found it.

8/10 for me for this one.

Book Review: The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly (Mickey Haller 1)

I must confess that when I read that this novel was not about Harry Bosch I was a little disappointment. However after a few pages of reading I soon forgot about this prejudice and thoroughly enjoyed the read of this!

Mickey Haller is a defence attorney working in Los Angeles. He works out of the back of a Lincoln car, hence the title of the novel. He works for some shady but colourful clients including drug dealers and gangsters.

The main case in this novel concerns realtor Louis Roulet who is accused of assault and attempted murder who appears to be innocent and set up. However this facade soon disappears and Connelly leads us clue by clue through a fascinating read.

The case also links up with a convicted former client of Haller who proves to be innocent while Roulet shown to be a guilty man.

Mickey Haller's father (and Harry Bosch's father!!!) was a lawyer too and there is also some family background in this novel too.

This novel has also been made into a very good watchable film too that is probably out on DVD now (July 2011), but my wife and I both enjoyed this at the cinema in Doha.

9/10 for the novel (and probably 8/10 for the film)

Book Review: The Jester by James Patterson and Andrew Gross

A little bit of a surprise for me this novel. I was expecting the usual Patterson novel of crime and mystery. However, this was a different kind of book, more of an epic tale. It concerns a jester called Hugh in France in 1098 who started out as an inn keeper who went on the Crusades.

We follow Hugh on his adventure to the east where he fights for the Christians but fate delivers him a holy relic that he does not realise the value of.

Upon his return to France after many months of travelling he meets with tragedy in his life and he sets out upon revenge and restitution in his life and the lives of his fellow villagers. A really nice tale if a little long.

8/10 for me.

Book Review: Chickenfeed by Minette Walters

This is what is termed a Quick Read and I read this in a couple of hours or so on a Friday afternoon.

The story is set in the 1920's about a couple who are compelled to get together then get engaged by the thinking of the time. Both of them seemingly trapped and the woman has a mental disorder that makes her clinging and possessive.

The man tolerates her for a while then he realises that he should not be with the woman and he finds new love. Tragically he cannot get out of his old relationship and this leads to a terrifying climax for the book.

I enjoyed the read and the language of the 1920's in England, I thought it was well done. Then to find out that the story was based on fact made it so much more poignant.

8/10 for me and please Minette Walters write some more books!!!!

Book Review: Point of Origin by Patricia Cornwell (Kay Scarpetta 9)

A body is found in a farmhouse destroyed by fire. Dr Kay Scarpetta the Chief Medical Examiner is called onto the case and discovers that the body has been the victim of a violent crime. At the same time, Carrie Grethen who nearly took out Scarpetta in a previous book has escaped from the psychiatric hospital that was holding her. She is on the run and no one knows her whereabouts.

However, one person is in contact with Grethen and that is Scarpetta who is contacted by the killer by email and it is clear that Scarpetta is the intended next victim.

Benton gets killed in this novel and Scarpetta has to deal with that trauma too. Her lover gone.

Will Grethen hit her target? Will Scarpetta be able to cope with the double traumas of being hunted and losing her lover.

Unfortunately this is one of the Scarpetta novels when I feel that Patricia Cornwell lost her way.

6/10 for this one.

Book Review: Hostage by Robert Crais

This is a stand alone novel by Robert Crais. I thought that I would miss Elvis Cole and Joe Pike, but I didn't, this was great to read.

As the title implies this involves a hostage situation. A store robbery goes wrong and the three young criminals hold up in a house that is owned by an accountant for the Mob. And his two young children are taken hostage too.

Add to this the local police chief who has been in a hostage situation that has gone wrong before. He has come to the suburbs for a quiet life and now he finds himself back in the spotlight. How will he cope with the hostages and the Mob. How will his personal relationship with his wife change by this experience?

A great book but the ending could have been a bit better.

Still, 9/10 for me.

Book Review: The Overlook by Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch 13)

This novel was published in 2007 and features the LA Detective Harry Bosch and is written by the excellent crime writer Michael Connelly.

Bosch links back with FBI agent Rachel Walling but he also has a new police partner called Iggy Ferras who Bosch has to show the ropes. They are called to investigate the murder of medical physicist Stanley Kent on the Mulholland Drive overlook (a wonderfully evocative place for someone like me from England!). However the FBI turn up and try to scare Harry off the case by claiming that it falls under the heading of national security.

Agent Walling also discovers that there has been thefts of radioactive caesium from the hospital where Kent worked. However she is working with the FBI and she stone walls Harry too. This makes him even more determined to solve the case.

However, there are links to terrorism and dirty bombs that were probably the news at the time in the mid 2000's. Bosch bends the rules a bit and circumnavigates the FBI. However this does not help the career of his young partner Ferras, but Bosch has always been one to solve cases despite the fallout.

A good novel for me and 8/10 for this one.

Book Review: Double Cross by James Patterson (Alex Cross 13)

We are now into the novels with the word Cross in the title, we have moved on from the nursery rhymes. The start of this novel sees Cross with his practice of psychology and a routine life of patients and analysis. He has a new great love in his life, Detective Brianna Stone.

However a new master criminal starts a string of murders in Washington DC. The whole City is on edge. Each new murder gives new clues and new challenges for Cross to put the pieces together.

The killer craves attention and plays to an audience, the action is played out very much in the public eye. This publicity fuels the media and the hysteria spreads to the public at large. How can Cross bring him down and restore some normality to DC life?

Book Review: 4th of July by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

This for me was two stories welded into one. The first one was more interesting but unfortunately it was a the smaller portion of the book. This concerned Lindsay Boxer the SFPD detective being sued by the parents of two young rich thugs who Lindsay had defended herself against. She had killed one and put the other one in a wheelchair. Lindsay had also been drinking at the time of the incident. The court scene and the moral dilemnas were really well done but this was over much too quickly.

The second story concerned Lindsay recovering from her injuries and living at her sisters summer home. She stumbles upon a series of murders in the little seaside town. This part was OK but not as strong as the other part of the story. It was a bit Lindsay on holiday but she can never get away from her job type of tale.

The Women's Murder Club were not really part of the story and felt very much bolted on although they do appear to have a new member.

A bit disappointing really after the first three novels in this series and too contrived.

7/10 for me.

Book Review: Nothing to Lose by Lee Child (Jack Reacher 12)

This novel was published in 2008 and is written by the English author Lee Child but as ever it features the American ex-army cop Jack Reacher. The drifter with no fixed address who comes into town and cleans up mess.

In this novel he comes to the town of Despair in Colorado that gives him the kind of welcome that is colder than cold. He gets run out of town but vows to return once he has licked a few wounds.

He starts to uncover why the town of Despair is so unwelcoming and he gets a love interest along the way. His usual hard man tactics are called upon and his investigators nose leads him to the truth behind the poor welcome.

At times you can feel the suspense and the danger but you are OK as Reacher is in control but not before a few blows are given and taken too.

I enjoyed this novel and I like the Jack Reacher series.

I would give this one 8/10