mookie1995
there's a good buck in that racket.
Mookie read the one with the dude who got all the tats (forget the name). Story telling is his strength. Gets in the details but makes it readable. Mookie approves
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Book Thread number ?
- Thread starter Probert
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Mookie read the one with the dude who got all the tats (forget the name). Story telling is his strength. Gets in the details but makes it readable. Mookie approves
leswp1
Well-known member
Re: Book Thread number ?
I felt like the story flowed a bit better in the DC than in A&D. Also that it was a bit more believable.
If you like that- read The Last Cato. On the same idea but IMHO way better story line. I love history and that had a bunch of interesting stuff in it. The end was a bit farfetched but it still is one of my favorite books like that.
ScoobyDoo
NPC
FadeToBlack&Gold
Microlot Marxist
Re: Book Thread number ?
Angels and Demons was OK until the end when "Professor" Langdon pilots a chopper with the anti-matter weapon, then jumps out of a helicopter and into the Tiber, surviving without a scratch. I'm sorry, but that's not even believable for James Bond.
Then there was The Lost Symbol, where Brown delivers unnecessary and comical prose on the massive size of the villain's wang.
Angels and Demons was OK until the end when "Professor" Langdon pilots a chopper with the anti-matter weapon, then jumps out of a helicopter and into the Tiber, surviving without a scratch. I'm sorry, but that's not even believable for James Bond.
Then there was The Lost Symbol, where Brown delivers unnecessary and comical prose on the massive size of the villain's wang.
mookie1995
there's a good buck in that racket.
Re: Book Thread number ?
umberto eco's Foucault's Pendulum is the bar for detail on historical stuff for mookie. reading that it felt like mookie was standing next to a guide as everything going on was mentioned from head to toe in detailed details
p). big book 
umberto eco's Foucault's Pendulum is the bar for detail on historical stuff for mookie. reading that it felt like mookie was standing next to a guide as everything going on was mentioned from head to toe in detailed details
p). big book
leswp1
Well-known member
Re: Book Thread number ?
Huh. I missed that one. I read one of his other ones. Will need to put that on my list.
umberto eco's Foucault's Pendulum is the bar for detail on historical stuff for mookie. reading that it felt like mookie was standing next to a guide as everything going on was mentioned from head to toe in detailed details
Huh. I missed that one. I read one of his other ones. Will need to put that on my list.
Re: Book Thread number ?
There is an "illustrated" version of The Davinci Code which is really cool, basically if he talks about a painting, sculpture, structure, or any other object or "clue" there is a picture of the item. It's about the size/weight of a textbook so it's not easy to lug around but does help connect the dots. I happened to get this version when I requested the book from the library and it was long before I owned a smartphone so it made the read that much more interesting.
leswp1
Well-known member
Re: Book Thread number ?
Not interested in that book/series/etc, but that is really cool. For those types of stories, I think that would enhance the reader's experience, to let them interpret it in their own mind. What do they see, what don't they see, etc.
Not interested in that book/series/etc, but that is really cool. For those types of stories, I think that would enhance the reader's experience, to let them interpret it in their own mind. What do they see, what don't they see, etc.
mookie1995
there's a good buck in that racket.
Mookie watches that movie often. Not read the book, but the story and characters mookie finds interesting. Movie flows too... perhaps if mookie read the book he would feel differently, but it is what it is.
Kepler
Si certus es dubita
Re: Book Thread number ?
FP is light and bubbly. The hard stuff is in the next aisle.
umberto eco's Foucault's Pendulum is the bar for detail on historical stuff for mookie. reading that it felt like mookie was standing next to a guide as everything going on was mentioned from head to toe in detailed details
FP is light and bubbly. The hard stuff is in the next aisle.
bostonewe
Short/Round
Re: Book Thread number ?
I read that in high school -- we watched the movie for some reason and I wanted to read the book after. It was pretty rough. tcbg started reading it 4 years ago, I'm pretty sure he finished it late last year.
Kepler
Si certus es dubita
leswp1
Well-known member
Re: Book Thread number ?
I must be weird. I loved it. Read it in a few days and reread it at some point.
I must be weird. I loved it. Read it in a few days and reread it at some point.
Re: Book Thread number ?
Read <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Only-Rule-Has-Work-Experiment/dp/1250130905">The Only Rule Is It Has to Work: Our Wild Experiment Building a New Kind of Baseball Team</a> by Sam Miller and Ben Lindbergh. Really interesting - I enjoyed this one a lot. Two Baseball Prospectus writers get themselves hired as "baseball operations analysts" to introduce advanced analytics to an indepdent league team. I also liked their honest assessments of the limitations of advanced stats (and the people involved), so it's appropriate for people on both sides of the coin.
Read <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Only-Rule-Has-Work-Experiment/dp/1250130905">The Only Rule Is It Has to Work: Our Wild Experiment Building a New Kind of Baseball Team</a> by Sam Miller and Ben Lindbergh. Really interesting - I enjoyed this one a lot. Two Baseball Prospectus writers get themselves hired as "baseball operations analysts" to introduce advanced analytics to an indepdent league team. I also liked their honest assessments of the limitations of advanced stats (and the people involved), so it's appropriate for people on both sides of the coin.
Re: Book Thread number ?
Recent Reads
The Lost Order (Cotton Malone #12) by Steve Berry The latest Cotton Malone finds him investigating the Golden Circle in a plot involving lost Confederate Gold and the Smithsonian. A bit unbelievable like a lot of Berry’s work but a good read.
Fields of Honor: Pivotal Battles of the Civil War by Edwin C. Bearss I enjoyed this book. It is exactly what it says it is on the book jacket a collection of battlefield tours conducted by former National Park Service Chief Historian Ed Bearss. Personally I have visited all the major battlefields that are covered in this book, some of the battles leading up to them that are covered in brief I have not, but I could see where if you have not visited Shiloh battlefield and only have a cursory or no knowledge of the battle you would have trouble with that section in this book as any other battle. Even for me some of the troop movements were tough to follow, for instance there are multiple generals in each army with the same name, General Anderson, Gordon, Davis for example so figuring out which is which is sometimes difficult. The same for units of states like Missouri and Maryland , the 20th Maryland was moving up, is this a Confederate or Union unit. This book is definitely tailored to the Civil War buff not a casual follower or newcomer to the Civil War.
The Yankee Years by Joe Torre, Tom Verducci So this book mainly covers the latter half of the Torre Yankee years despite the title, I’m guessing Torre covered those in his first book. I enjoyed it as he tells of the demise of the Championship teams, though still making the playoffs every year and the World Series occasionally. The disruptions in team chemistry from some of the players brought in, Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield and others including the most prominent A-Rod. The demise of the pitching specifically pitchers that were not ready for NY like Kevin Brown, Kei Igawa, Jeff Weaver, Randy Johnson and Javier Vasquez is also telling. Also the decline of his relationship with The Boss, which coincided with the decline in George Steinbrenner’s health and the turning over of the running of the team to other family members and confidants. Good book for a Yankee fan.
Dunkirk: The History Behind the Major Motion Picture by Joshua Levine Pretty good overview of the events leading up to the Dunkirk evacuation and how the evacuation happened. Tells it from several different viewpoints, soldier, politician, high command, ship captains and pilots in the RAF
Manhunt (Michael Bennett #10.5) by James Patterson Short Michael Bennett book shot about a terror event at the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Michael has to deal with FBI bureaucracy and a Russian consultant to try and track down the suspect. Ok
The Exile: BookShots by James Patterson (Goodreads Author), Alison Joseph A pretty good Patterson bookshot about Finn O’grady a former policemen in exile in London who receives a call from an ex-girlfriend who needs help. He reluctantly returns to Ireland to become involved in a mess he thought he had left behind as the bodies of his girlfriends family starts to pile up. Can he get to the bottom of it.
The Empty Throne (The Saxon Stories #8) by Bernard Cornwell My major issue with this book is the lack of warfare. Only a couple of minor skirmishes and a engagement at the end lots of internal politicking regarding Saxony and Mercia. It was interesting that really other than a couple of other instances two of Uthred’s children have a major impact upon the storyline. Still a very good read.
Killer Smile (Rosato and Associates #9) by Lisa Scottoline This book follows Mary’s “cold case” which was brought up in the last book and continues in this one. She is investigating the suicide of a young Italian who dies at an internment camp during WWII. Ironically this cold case becomes dangerous as Mary, other lawyers and people begin to get targeted. What is so unusual about this case? Good read
Befriend and Betray: Infiltrating the Hells Angels, Bandidos and Other Criminal Brotherhoods (Befriend and Betray #1) by Alex Caine, Daniel Sanger Interesting book about a professional informant who working with US and Canadian law enforcement infiltrates many different criminal gangs; Triads, KKK, Banditos and Hells Angels. The book mainly deals with his infiltration of the Banditos and Hells Angels. Interesting look inside the biker gangs and their rivalries with others.
Streams of Silver (The Icewind Dale Trilogy #2) by R.A. Salvatore I am not liking the second trilogy, I am reading them in timeline order not the order they were written., as much as the first. This is basically a quest of the 4 heroes of Icewind Dale; Regis, Bruoneor, Wulfgar and Drizzt to retake the ancestral homeland of the dwarf. Hunted by a vile assassin and wizards seeking to find the Crystal Shard from the first book of the series. The story just didn’t seem to flow as much and was choppy at times.
Last Call (Jack Swyteck #7) by James Grippando Decent Swyteck novel which mainly focuses on his good friend Theo. When a man from Theo’s past escapes jail it throws a whole series of events about the death of Theo’s mother years before into the limelight. Hunted by people who want to keep their secret, Theo and Jack seek to bring them to Justice.
Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS by Joby Warrick While this book is about the Rise of isis the bulk of the book tells the story of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi his early life in Jordan and then his rise as the most dangerous man leading the insurgency in Iraq. The last third or so of the book tells how his organization morphed into Isis after his death.
Twelve Hours (Dan Morgan #4) by Leo J. Maloney A short Dan Morgan story which finds him in New York attempting to stop a major terrorist attack in New York. Okay for a short story.
Surprise Ending by Jeffery Deaver Interesting short story about an author who is brought in by the police to try and come up with a plan to catch a criminal, good plot twist.
A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire #4) by George R.R. Martin If you are a fan of the TV show you probably will not like this as much as the first 3. Daenrys and Jon don’t appear and it has a lot of plotline and character development that was left out of the series. A lot of maneuvering and development in Dorne and the Sparrow and various religious orders. Also a lot of Brienne of Tarth. Ok but not as good as the first 3.
The People vs. Alex Cross (Alex Cross #25) by James Patterson This book follows the trial of Alex Cross who is on trial for killing members of the Gary Sonji cult. Of course he couldn’t solely do that but also be involved in the case that Sampson is working on involving the disappearance of young women who are being held and video is being sold on the internet of them. Pretty good book as the last few Cross books have shown improvement.
Deep Freeze (Virgil Flowers #10) by John Sandford In this book Virgil Flowers returns to the scene of a previous crime Trippton, nook 8 Deadline. A woman is found dead in the river and Virgil is called in to rule out foul play and also while he is there can he help a private investigator help find someone who is making X-rated Barbie’s. Typical Flowers book, lots of double entendre’s, fishing and wilderness talk and his unorthodox method of investigating. Good read
Recent Reads
The Lost Order (Cotton Malone #12) by Steve Berry The latest Cotton Malone finds him investigating the Golden Circle in a plot involving lost Confederate Gold and the Smithsonian. A bit unbelievable like a lot of Berry’s work but a good read.
Fields of Honor: Pivotal Battles of the Civil War by Edwin C. Bearss I enjoyed this book. It is exactly what it says it is on the book jacket a collection of battlefield tours conducted by former National Park Service Chief Historian Ed Bearss. Personally I have visited all the major battlefields that are covered in this book, some of the battles leading up to them that are covered in brief I have not, but I could see where if you have not visited Shiloh battlefield and only have a cursory or no knowledge of the battle you would have trouble with that section in this book as any other battle. Even for me some of the troop movements were tough to follow, for instance there are multiple generals in each army with the same name, General Anderson, Gordon, Davis for example so figuring out which is which is sometimes difficult. The same for units of states like Missouri and Maryland , the 20th Maryland was moving up, is this a Confederate or Union unit. This book is definitely tailored to the Civil War buff not a casual follower or newcomer to the Civil War.
The Yankee Years by Joe Torre, Tom Verducci So this book mainly covers the latter half of the Torre Yankee years despite the title, I’m guessing Torre covered those in his first book. I enjoyed it as he tells of the demise of the Championship teams, though still making the playoffs every year and the World Series occasionally. The disruptions in team chemistry from some of the players brought in, Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield and others including the most prominent A-Rod. The demise of the pitching specifically pitchers that were not ready for NY like Kevin Brown, Kei Igawa, Jeff Weaver, Randy Johnson and Javier Vasquez is also telling. Also the decline of his relationship with The Boss, which coincided with the decline in George Steinbrenner’s health and the turning over of the running of the team to other family members and confidants. Good book for a Yankee fan.
Dunkirk: The History Behind the Major Motion Picture by Joshua Levine Pretty good overview of the events leading up to the Dunkirk evacuation and how the evacuation happened. Tells it from several different viewpoints, soldier, politician, high command, ship captains and pilots in the RAF
Manhunt (Michael Bennett #10.5) by James Patterson Short Michael Bennett book shot about a terror event at the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Michael has to deal with FBI bureaucracy and a Russian consultant to try and track down the suspect. Ok
The Exile: BookShots by James Patterson (Goodreads Author), Alison Joseph A pretty good Patterson bookshot about Finn O’grady a former policemen in exile in London who receives a call from an ex-girlfriend who needs help. He reluctantly returns to Ireland to become involved in a mess he thought he had left behind as the bodies of his girlfriends family starts to pile up. Can he get to the bottom of it.
The Empty Throne (The Saxon Stories #8) by Bernard Cornwell My major issue with this book is the lack of warfare. Only a couple of minor skirmishes and a engagement at the end lots of internal politicking regarding Saxony and Mercia. It was interesting that really other than a couple of other instances two of Uthred’s children have a major impact upon the storyline. Still a very good read.
Killer Smile (Rosato and Associates #9) by Lisa Scottoline This book follows Mary’s “cold case” which was brought up in the last book and continues in this one. She is investigating the suicide of a young Italian who dies at an internment camp during WWII. Ironically this cold case becomes dangerous as Mary, other lawyers and people begin to get targeted. What is so unusual about this case? Good read
Befriend and Betray: Infiltrating the Hells Angels, Bandidos and Other Criminal Brotherhoods (Befriend and Betray #1) by Alex Caine, Daniel Sanger Interesting book about a professional informant who working with US and Canadian law enforcement infiltrates many different criminal gangs; Triads, KKK, Banditos and Hells Angels. The book mainly deals with his infiltration of the Banditos and Hells Angels. Interesting look inside the biker gangs and their rivalries with others.
Streams of Silver (The Icewind Dale Trilogy #2) by R.A. Salvatore I am not liking the second trilogy, I am reading them in timeline order not the order they were written., as much as the first. This is basically a quest of the 4 heroes of Icewind Dale; Regis, Bruoneor, Wulfgar and Drizzt to retake the ancestral homeland of the dwarf. Hunted by a vile assassin and wizards seeking to find the Crystal Shard from the first book of the series. The story just didn’t seem to flow as much and was choppy at times.
Last Call (Jack Swyteck #7) by James Grippando Decent Swyteck novel which mainly focuses on his good friend Theo. When a man from Theo’s past escapes jail it throws a whole series of events about the death of Theo’s mother years before into the limelight. Hunted by people who want to keep their secret, Theo and Jack seek to bring them to Justice.
Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS by Joby Warrick While this book is about the Rise of isis the bulk of the book tells the story of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi his early life in Jordan and then his rise as the most dangerous man leading the insurgency in Iraq. The last third or so of the book tells how his organization morphed into Isis after his death.
Twelve Hours (Dan Morgan #4) by Leo J. Maloney A short Dan Morgan story which finds him in New York attempting to stop a major terrorist attack in New York. Okay for a short story.
Surprise Ending by Jeffery Deaver Interesting short story about an author who is brought in by the police to try and come up with a plan to catch a criminal, good plot twist.
A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire #4) by George R.R. Martin If you are a fan of the TV show you probably will not like this as much as the first 3. Daenrys and Jon don’t appear and it has a lot of plotline and character development that was left out of the series. A lot of maneuvering and development in Dorne and the Sparrow and various religious orders. Also a lot of Brienne of Tarth. Ok but not as good as the first 3.
The People vs. Alex Cross (Alex Cross #25) by James Patterson This book follows the trial of Alex Cross who is on trial for killing members of the Gary Sonji cult. Of course he couldn’t solely do that but also be involved in the case that Sampson is working on involving the disappearance of young women who are being held and video is being sold on the internet of them. Pretty good book as the last few Cross books have shown improvement.
Deep Freeze (Virgil Flowers #10) by John Sandford In this book Virgil Flowers returns to the scene of a previous crime Trippton, nook 8 Deadline. A woman is found dead in the river and Virgil is called in to rule out foul play and also while he is there can he help a private investigator help find someone who is making X-rated Barbie’s. Typical Flowers book, lots of double entendre’s, fishing and wilderness talk and his unorthodox method of investigating. Good read
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Re: Book Thread number ?
Recent Reads Part 2
Two Kinds of Truth (Harry Bosch #20) by Michael Connelly Harry Bosch is working cold cases in San Fernando when the call comes in of a double homicide at a pharmacy. The department leans on the grizzled veteran to help them get to the bottom of it. At the same time one of his old cold cases is being reopened with new evidence pointing to anther killer. Another good Bosch effort from Connelly with a little Mickey Haller thrown in.
Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands (Lonely Planet Country Guide) by Danny Palmerlee, Carolyn McCarthy, Michael Grosberg, Lonely Planet Typical Lonely. Planet book. Helped me plan out my free time Quito before and after my Galapagos trip. and what to do on my free time in the Galapagos.
American Titan: Searching for John Wayne by Marc Eliot A good biography of the Duke, John Wayne, detailing his early struggles in life. His entry into the film world after an injury sidelined his football career and his long upward path to movie stardom. Interesting details of his relations with co stars and directors especially John Ford. It also plays on his politics and his activities during the McCarthy Era. Interesting fact that I did not know is that he did not serve in WW II. I had always figured that he at least served making propaganda films like many stars.
The Closer by Mariano Rivera A good biography about the greatest closer of all time. His early start in Panama. His signing as a pitcher even though he had limited experience on the mound. A short history of his journey thru the minors where his met future teammates like Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada. Then it follows his highs and lows as closer for the most recent Yankee Dynasty.
The Wright Brothers by David McCullough A nice effort from McCullough about the Wright Brothers early life, how they developed their gliders and their various versions of the Wright Flyers. How they put on exhibitions featuring flying to the public and inspired others to flight.
Black Skies (Dan Morgan #3) by Leo J. Maloney Another Dan Morgan adventure starts with the Secretary of being kidnapped in Pakistan. As the team and other US operators try to find him, the team may have uncovered a more sinister plot that will affect the whole US.
Fatal by John Lescroart Ok but not on par with a Dismas Hardy Book. This book is about a woman's affair with a man she met at a party that set a whole range of murders in motion affecting her friends and family.
Diary of a Succubus by James Patterson (Goodreads Author), Derek Nikitas Luckily this was a bookshots or I may not have finished it. A book. about a succubus trying to protect her "girls" from demons that are hunting them. Ok at best
Shutter Man (Jessica Balzano & Kevin Byrne #9) by Richard Montanari Interesting Byrne and Balzano novel. He appears to. have fast forwarded the plots as Jessica is now an ada and Byrne is alone on the police force. When people connected to Kevin's old neighborhood start to get killed he wonders if and how it is connected to his past. As he investigates will some of his old friends be implicated
The Ghost Mountain Boys: Their Epic March and the Terrifying Battle for New Guinea--The Forgotten War of the South Pacific by James Campbell Pretty good detaIled book on the battle for New Guinea and the soldiers who fought there. The ineptitude of upper command who refused to provide them with the materials they needed, equipment, malaria drugs and heavy firepower to assault the Japanese positions.
Recent Reads Part 2
Two Kinds of Truth (Harry Bosch #20) by Michael Connelly Harry Bosch is working cold cases in San Fernando when the call comes in of a double homicide at a pharmacy. The department leans on the grizzled veteran to help them get to the bottom of it. At the same time one of his old cold cases is being reopened with new evidence pointing to anther killer. Another good Bosch effort from Connelly with a little Mickey Haller thrown in.
Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands (Lonely Planet Country Guide) by Danny Palmerlee, Carolyn McCarthy, Michael Grosberg, Lonely Planet Typical Lonely. Planet book. Helped me plan out my free time Quito before and after my Galapagos trip. and what to do on my free time in the Galapagos.
American Titan: Searching for John Wayne by Marc Eliot A good biography of the Duke, John Wayne, detailing his early struggles in life. His entry into the film world after an injury sidelined his football career and his long upward path to movie stardom. Interesting details of his relations with co stars and directors especially John Ford. It also plays on his politics and his activities during the McCarthy Era. Interesting fact that I did not know is that he did not serve in WW II. I had always figured that he at least served making propaganda films like many stars.
The Closer by Mariano Rivera A good biography about the greatest closer of all time. His early start in Panama. His signing as a pitcher even though he had limited experience on the mound. A short history of his journey thru the minors where his met future teammates like Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada. Then it follows his highs and lows as closer for the most recent Yankee Dynasty.
The Wright Brothers by David McCullough A nice effort from McCullough about the Wright Brothers early life, how they developed their gliders and their various versions of the Wright Flyers. How they put on exhibitions featuring flying to the public and inspired others to flight.
Black Skies (Dan Morgan #3) by Leo J. Maloney Another Dan Morgan adventure starts with the Secretary of being kidnapped in Pakistan. As the team and other US operators try to find him, the team may have uncovered a more sinister plot that will affect the whole US.
Fatal by John Lescroart Ok but not on par with a Dismas Hardy Book. This book is about a woman's affair with a man she met at a party that set a whole range of murders in motion affecting her friends and family.
Diary of a Succubus by James Patterson (Goodreads Author), Derek Nikitas Luckily this was a bookshots or I may not have finished it. A book. about a succubus trying to protect her "girls" from demons that are hunting them. Ok at best
Shutter Man (Jessica Balzano & Kevin Byrne #9) by Richard Montanari Interesting Byrne and Balzano novel. He appears to. have fast forwarded the plots as Jessica is now an ada and Byrne is alone on the police force. When people connected to Kevin's old neighborhood start to get killed he wonders if and how it is connected to his past. As he investigates will some of his old friends be implicated
The Ghost Mountain Boys: Their Epic March and the Terrifying Battle for New Guinea--The Forgotten War of the South Pacific by James Campbell Pretty good detaIled book on the battle for New Guinea and the soldiers who fought there. The ineptitude of upper command who refused to provide them with the materials they needed, equipment, malaria drugs and heavy firepower to assault the Japanese positions.
Last edited:
Re: Book Thread number ?
Recent Reads
The Rooster Bar by John Grisham Interesting Grisham novel about a bunch of students at a diploma mill law school who figure they have nothing to lose by practicing law without a licens and hatching a plot to take down the hedge fund manager who owns their school and they feel has ruined their lives. Pretty good though parts of it are a little unbelievable.
End Game (Will Robie #5) by David Baldacci The latest Wil Robie book finds him and Jessica together again trying to track down the disappearance of their handler Blue Man in Colorado. Looking amongst the various hate groups in the area and delving into his past they must find if he is still alive and who abducted him. OK read
House Rivals (Joe DeMarco #10) by Mike Lawson Joe DeMarco may have met his match in this book he is pitted with political fixers like himself. Going out to the Dakota’s to help out an old friend of Speaker Mahoney’s he finds himself investigating a billionaire and his political fixers.
Ice Capades: A Memoir of Fast Living and Tough Hockey by Sean Avery As a Red Wings fan I loved Sean Avery when he played for my team and didn’t when he was playing against it. Interesting biography of a superpest the current answer to the goons of old. The player who seeks to annoy the other team and get them off their game and take unnecessary penalties. Very good look at the current NHL and the various differences between types of players and coaches. I still don’t know exactly how Sean feels about John Tortorella though. A unique character on and off the ice a good read.
Warriors of the Storm (The Saxon Stories #9) by Bernard Cornwell The latest in the Saxon chronicles finds Uhtred battling against the Northmen who have invaded Mercia again. This time he allies himself with his son in law to try and drive the Northmen from his land once and for all. Good read.
The Last Man in Tehran (Kyra Stryker & Jonathan Burke #4) by Mark E. Henshaw The fourth Red Cell book starts off with Haifa being infected with radiation by a bomb. Israel is out for vengeance against the Iranians who they hold responsible and being aided by a mole inside the CIA. Kyra is tasked with helping the FBI find the mole. When her suspicions run counter to the FBI’s she must place herself at risk to find out the truth. Good read.
The Halfling's Gem (The Icewind Dale Trilogy #3) by R.A. Salvatore Didn’t like the Icewind Dale Trilogy nearly as much as the intial trilogy set mainly in the underworld. This book follows Drizzt and Wulfgar’s pursuit of the assassin Artmis who has taken their friend Regis and is delivering him to be killed. The book is in essence a chase scene as they struggle to catch up before their friend is killed. OK
Yakuza Diary: Doing Time in the Japanese Underworld by Christopher Seymour This book is not a history of the Yakuza per se but a series of interviews conducted by the author of various Yakuza and what he observed by watching them. It was okay and some of the chapters and portraits of the Yakuza members were better than others.
Born to Run (Jack Swyteck #8) by James Grippando The latest in the Swyteck series finds him involved in National Politics when his father is tapped to be Vice President after the current one dies. When he gets a cryptic email that says I can make your father President he becomes involved in a case that may lead all the way to the top. Okay but kind of an unbelievable storyline.
The Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission to Sabotage Hitler’s Atomic Bomb by Neal Bascomb A very good detailed book about attempt to keep heavy water produced in Nazi occupied Norway from helping the German with their Atomic bomb research. It details the various Norwegian partisans who after escaping to London volunteered to go back and help the efforts and the people on the ground who helped despite the threat of retaliation. Several plans and actions were taken some successful and some utter failures as they struggled to delay any attempt by the Nazi’s to get the atomic bomb.
Lady Killer (Rosato and Associates #10) by Lisa Scottoline Another Rosato and Associates book that does not have any courtroom scenes and is very much Mary and little else of the law firm. One of the “mean girls” from Mary’s old school comes seeking her help. After the woman rebuffs her attempts to help her she disappears and Mary is thrown into tracking down the woman because by letting the woman down she has lost the trust of South Philly. Definitely not one of the better Rosato books.
Recent Reads
The Rooster Bar by John Grisham Interesting Grisham novel about a bunch of students at a diploma mill law school who figure they have nothing to lose by practicing law without a licens and hatching a plot to take down the hedge fund manager who owns their school and they feel has ruined their lives. Pretty good though parts of it are a little unbelievable.
End Game (Will Robie #5) by David Baldacci The latest Wil Robie book finds him and Jessica together again trying to track down the disappearance of their handler Blue Man in Colorado. Looking amongst the various hate groups in the area and delving into his past they must find if he is still alive and who abducted him. OK read
House Rivals (Joe DeMarco #10) by Mike Lawson Joe DeMarco may have met his match in this book he is pitted with political fixers like himself. Going out to the Dakota’s to help out an old friend of Speaker Mahoney’s he finds himself investigating a billionaire and his political fixers.
Ice Capades: A Memoir of Fast Living and Tough Hockey by Sean Avery As a Red Wings fan I loved Sean Avery when he played for my team and didn’t when he was playing against it. Interesting biography of a superpest the current answer to the goons of old. The player who seeks to annoy the other team and get them off their game and take unnecessary penalties. Very good look at the current NHL and the various differences between types of players and coaches. I still don’t know exactly how Sean feels about John Tortorella though. A unique character on and off the ice a good read.
Warriors of the Storm (The Saxon Stories #9) by Bernard Cornwell The latest in the Saxon chronicles finds Uhtred battling against the Northmen who have invaded Mercia again. This time he allies himself with his son in law to try and drive the Northmen from his land once and for all. Good read.
The Last Man in Tehran (Kyra Stryker & Jonathan Burke #4) by Mark E. Henshaw The fourth Red Cell book starts off with Haifa being infected with radiation by a bomb. Israel is out for vengeance against the Iranians who they hold responsible and being aided by a mole inside the CIA. Kyra is tasked with helping the FBI find the mole. When her suspicions run counter to the FBI’s she must place herself at risk to find out the truth. Good read.
The Halfling's Gem (The Icewind Dale Trilogy #3) by R.A. Salvatore Didn’t like the Icewind Dale Trilogy nearly as much as the intial trilogy set mainly in the underworld. This book follows Drizzt and Wulfgar’s pursuit of the assassin Artmis who has taken their friend Regis and is delivering him to be killed. The book is in essence a chase scene as they struggle to catch up before their friend is killed. OK
Yakuza Diary: Doing Time in the Japanese Underworld by Christopher Seymour This book is not a history of the Yakuza per se but a series of interviews conducted by the author of various Yakuza and what he observed by watching them. It was okay and some of the chapters and portraits of the Yakuza members were better than others.
Born to Run (Jack Swyteck #8) by James Grippando The latest in the Swyteck series finds him involved in National Politics when his father is tapped to be Vice President after the current one dies. When he gets a cryptic email that says I can make your father President he becomes involved in a case that may lead all the way to the top. Okay but kind of an unbelievable storyline.
The Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission to Sabotage Hitler’s Atomic Bomb by Neal Bascomb A very good detailed book about attempt to keep heavy water produced in Nazi occupied Norway from helping the German with their Atomic bomb research. It details the various Norwegian partisans who after escaping to London volunteered to go back and help the efforts and the people on the ground who helped despite the threat of retaliation. Several plans and actions were taken some successful and some utter failures as they struggled to delay any attempt by the Nazi’s to get the atomic bomb.
Lady Killer (Rosato and Associates #10) by Lisa Scottoline Another Rosato and Associates book that does not have any courtroom scenes and is very much Mary and little else of the law firm. One of the “mean girls” from Mary’s old school comes seeking her help. After the woman rebuffs her attempts to help her she disappears and Mary is thrown into tracking down the woman because by letting the woman down she has lost the trust of South Philly. Definitely not one of the better Rosato books.
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