February's Book Reviews and Previews

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