Although romances may be the traditional reads for February, I stuck with my favorite genres. This month, it's a new release of a cozy mystery (Never Enough), a violent crime thriller (Righteous Assassin), and a crime mystery by one of my favorite authors (Memory Man by David Baldacci).
And, if you haven't already, don't forget to enter the drawing for a signed, proof copy of Killer in the Retroscape. You only have until midnight, February 28. Whether you're already subscribed or new to the blog, you'll find complete instructions here: https://bit.ly/2FKtxtU
Never Enough by
Isabella Adams
Another Genre-Blending
Tale from the Pen of Isabella Adams
Never Enough finds the series protagonist, Dr. Andromeda
(Andie) Markos, her gal pals, and her wanna-be fiancé, Sean, embroiled in a
tale of family secrets revealed and addiction-driven drama. As with the two previous books in the series,
the camaraderie and unqualified support among the women is extremely well
portrayed. Likewise, the cultural constraints
of Andie’s Greek heritage strike home, the expectations of her mother and Andie’s
own conflicted feelings between old and new traditions being center stage. When you read the book, you’ll feel the muggy
days of this small, Florida, coastal town (Tarpon Springs), as well as the sand
between your toes. Adams paints these scenes
well. And finally, the author deals with
the topic of addiction with such an authoritative voice that I could not help but
suspect there is something autobiographical in the Dr. Markos’ character. But in guiding potential readers to this book,
things become murkier, as Adams bends the rules a bit on her chosen genre, a
cozy mystery, while putting emotional drama center stage. It’s a blend that gives the story a fresh
voice and can be engaging, if the combination works for you. Find the complete review or get more information from Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2WKJkyZ
Righteous Assassin: A Mike
Stoneman Thriller
by Kevin Chapman
A Familiar Crime-Thriller
Plot Implemented with Some Gruesome Action
Righteous Assassin features a dinosaur
of a police detective (Detective Mike Stoneman) who has seen it all. He’s partnered with a young, ambitious
rookie. Over the course of the story, he
develops a romantic interest in an intelligent, attractive woman. And of course, he has a brilliant, psychotic,
serial killer to chase. Sound familiar? If you’re a reader of crime thrillers, these
threads should be. And so, the question
becomes, how effectively are they implemented by the specifics of this book? For the most part, I’m happy to say, quite
well with one ‘it depends’ on the list. That
last factor is the author’s use of violence to provide much of the tension. You only need look at the first three
sentences of the book’s synopsis to know that rather bizarre deaths play an
important role in the story. The
descriptions of those assassinations are often explicit, which may make the
violence over-the-top for some readers. Be
forewarned. Find the complete review or get more information from Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2N7B7Rn
Memory Man by David Baldacci
A Taut Mystery Solved by a
Detective with an Unusual Gift/Curse
In a few reviews,
I’ve criticized books for portraying memory as if it was video; you find the
right episode and memory plays in vivid, accurate detail. For most of us, that’s not the case, not even
close. But for Amos Decker, the
protagonist of Memory Man, it is.
As a result of a vicious hit on a football field, Decker develops a
condition known as hyperthymesia
– the ability to remember every detail of every minute of every day. So, when the book begins with the brutal
murder of Decker’s brother-in-law, wife, and young daughter, the reader soon
realizes how this gift is also a curse.
The image of his slain family will never, ever leave his mind. Find the complete review or get more information from Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2Ept6UY
Another Genre-Blending
Tale from the Pen of Isabella Adams
A Familiar Crime-Thriller
Plot Implemented with Some Gruesome Action
A Taut Mystery Solved by a
Detective with an Unusual Gift/Curse
