Sunday, August 28, 2022

An Honest Living by Dwyer Murphy

 

An Honest Living by Dwyer Murphy

Rating: 3 stars

Summary: A aimless attorney meanders around New York City working low level cases for little money. He becomes involved some kind of book theft, or something with authors that is stolen, supposedly. 

Comments: I love crime reads. It’s an outstanding website. Rich in atmosphere. Light on plotting. Or maybe it was me. I love Boyles darker catholic version of Brooklyn 

https://smile.amazon.com/Honest-Living-Novel-Dwyer-Murphy-ebook/dp/B09KGJ49NB/ref=sr_1_1?crid=L9FHZSYLWTKC&keywords=dwyer+murphy&qid=1661698851&sprefix=Dwyer+%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-1


Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Heat 2 by Michael Mann and Meg Gardiner

 



Heat 2 by Michael Mann and Med Gardiner

Starred review: 

Summary: Those of you familiar with the original Heat movie, this is the prequel. Cops and robbers glamour. 

Comments: Written somewhat like supporter Winslow, this is probably the novel of the year. Smoothly written with Lenny of pazzz. It’s that good. Meg Gardiner….big win.  

https://smile.amazon.com/Unti-Heat-Prequel-Michael-Mann-ebook/dp/B075WQM6PR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2C4J2JMLHMQPK&keywords=heat+2&qid=1661347507&s=digital-text&sprefix=Heat+2%2Cdigital-text%2C203&sr=1-1

Saturday, August 13, 2022

No Plan B by Andrew Child

 

No Plan B by Andrew Child

Rating: Stared Review 

Summary: Jack Reacher strolls into a small Colorado town and witnesses a women get pushed into a moving bus. A teen boy runs from an abusive foster mother. A private prison run by goons is up to something Child blends all together.

Comments: Andrew Child takes the Reacher novels into a new category by taking different story arcs and making a nifty little tie in to the entire plot. Well done. Highly recommend.

https://smile.amazon.com/No-Plan-Jack-Reacher-Novel-ebook/dp/B09PMZ93DT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3G7QFZ48X94O4&keywords=no+plan+b+lee+child&qid=1660425149&s=books&sprefix=No+plan+%2Cstripbooks%2C348&sr=1-1

Tuesday, August 9, 2022

Bad City by Paul Pringle

 

Bad City by Paul Pringle

Starred Review

Summary: A LA Times investigative journalist gets a tip concerning a doctor and his girlfriend. Over several years highs his own bosses to uncover cover ups corruption at USC and the Times bosses to cover for the university.

Comments: A very true story of cover ups the highest levels of American universities. This is a page turner. Highly recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/Bad-City-Peril-Power-Angels-ebook/dp/B09CNFDYQ8/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3777LK216R5B9&keywords=paul+pringle&qid=1660050393&s=books&sprefix=Paul+pringle%2Cstripbooks%2C245&sr=1-1

Wednesday, August 3, 2022

Neighborhood of Dead Ends by Stanton McCaffery


Neighborhood of Dead Ends by Stanton McCaffery

Rating: 5 stars

Summary: When a women with little income receives a letter of eminent domain, from a very crooked Mayor of a town in the corrupt New Jersey, she tries as mightily as a poor person can to fight for her neighborhood.

Comments: A somewhat over the top plot, but the pace and the wild ride are sure fun. A relatively short read you can fly through.

https://www.amazon.com/Neighborhood-Dead-Ends-Stanton-McCaffery-ebook/dp/B09H3PGWGM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1VBEC7R9MX1N0&keywords=neighborhood+of+dead+ends&qid=1659530519&sprefix=Neighborhood+of+dea%2Caps%2C81&sr=8-1


Sunday, July 31, 2022

When The Lights Go Out by John Vercher

 

When The Lights Go Out by John Vercher

Rating: Stared Review

Summary: Xavier Wallace has severe damage to his head from years of MMA fights. While training with a younger man he severely beats him. He can barley manage his life when a opportunity to fight again and redeem a suspension comes up. As Xavier looks to navigate his training, his father a white man with a hate filled past is dying in a care home.

Summary: A complicated emotional book to describe doesn’t do justice on how great this novel is. Vercher doesn’t pull punches in his second novel. You will be gut and head punched by this novel. Story telling at his finest. Comparisons do not justify his writing, but think Eli Cranor and S. A. Cosby. Must read author. 

https://www.amazon.com/After-Lights-Out-John-Vercher-ebook/dp/B09FPC1MNH/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2OFYLMJBV4575&keywords=john+vercher&qid=1659268190&s=digital-text&sprefix=John++ver%2Cdigital-text%2C85&sr=1-2


Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Three Fifths, by John Vercher

 



Three Fifths by John Vercher

Rating: 5 stars

Summary: Two young men that were childhood friends go on different life paths. When Aaron is released from prison Bobby picks him up to take him home. On the way a fight breaks out and there paths once again meet in a devastating way.

Comments: Like a bad reader and a bad reviewer that I am, I skipped the debut of Vercher. The staying power of Vercher is loud and I finally got to it. Holy cow did I  waste a year. Great hardcore noir crime novel. Vercher can outright tell a character driven novel. Highly recommended. Now reading his sophomore novel set in one of my favorite cities, Philadelphia. It a barn burner already. 

https://smile.amazon.com/Three-Fifths-John-Vercher-ebook/dp/B07QK1DL4M/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1NKOQSL3BJLR4&keywords=three+fifths&qid=1658922094&s=digital-text&sprefix=Three+fifths%2Cdigital-text%2C81&sr=1-1


Sunday, July 24, 2022

A Friend is a Gift You Give Yourself by William Boyle

 


A Friend is a Gift You Give Yourself by William Boyle

Rating: Stared Review 

Summary: When a widowed women who was married to a high level mobster, shot on their front steps, is asked by a lonely older neighbor for a little companionship she fleas to her estranged daughters house to seek refuge. Little does she know what waits there for her.

Comments: I have now finished all of Boyles novels. Boyle is writing at the highest level. Read his work, you will not be disappointed.

https://smile.amazon.com/Friend-Gift-You-Give-Yourself-ebook/dp/B07GRHZ1RX/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3HV527X9YB8EV&keywords=William+boyle&qid=1658690338&s=digital-text&sprefix=william+boyle%2Cdigital-text%2C111&sr=1-4.  

Friday, July 15, 2022

The Midcoast by Adam White

 

The Midcoast byAdam White

Rating: Starred review

Summary: Andrew returns to the town in Maine where he grew up and worked to teach at the high school and coach the girls LaCross team. Andrew here’s a story about the local lobster family he has a past with he digs deeper into there past and there crime roots.

Comments: Propulsive character driven narrative told from four family members story. Unique page turner. Well done Mr. White!


https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B09FNZSNGR/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0

Sunday, July 10, 2022

Rook by Stephen G.Elannou

 


Rook by Stephen G. Eoannou

Rating: 3 stars

Summary: A fictionalized account of a 1960’s serial bank robber who was afraid to go into the bank and do the actual robbing, who he left up to his gang buddies. The co robbers became upset he would take no chances inside so they quickly turned on him when a job goes bad and they kill and injure a bank guard in New York City.

Comments:  Being the planner, the thinker, and the get away driver doesn’t make dreams come true.