Rock of Ages by Timothy Hallinan

 

Rock of Ages by Timothy Hallinan

Rating: 3 stars

Summary:

Junior Bender is asked by a local aging mobster to get his stolen investment back from a local rock concert tour made of past rock star's. Bender must also entertain his teen daughter and delves into his career while teaching the expert burglar trade to her. 

Comments: Plenty of woke references to plot the book to be sure Hallinan shows his bonafides to the readers that need such reference to there reading. Bender never really gets to use his skills, but suddenly becomes and investigator.

https://www.amazon.com/Rock-Ages-Junior-Bender-Mystery-ebook/dp/B09BTX64PY/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2VX907NYPFQ4E&keywords=rock+of+ages+hallinan&qid=1646050803&s=books&sprefix=Rock+of+ages%2Cstripbooks%2C93&sr=1-2

Something Wicked by David Housewright

 

Something Wicked by David Housewright 

Rating: 4 stars

Prolific Minnesota crime writer brings back Rushmore McKenzie surviving a almost fatal shooting. Now recovered he is bored and his long time partner asks him to look into a the death of a friends very rich grandmother. Although it seems straightforward McKenzie finds otherwise.

Comments: A nifty crime novel with a very Agatha Christie style ending. Housewright does Minnesota crime writing a great service. 

https://www.amazon.com/Something-Wicked-McKenzie-Cities-Novels-ebook/dp/B09CNFPK1B/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2Y5KWF3S6ZMW7&keywords=Something+Wicked&qid=1645014631&sprefix=something+wicked+%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-5

First Born by Will Dean

 

First Born by Will Dean

Rating: Starred Review

Summary: A twin sister living a quiet safe and prepared life in London is called by her parents that her twin sister is dead in New York City. She rushes to New York to console her parents and grieve her awful murder. 

Comments: Dean is amazing suspense writer. Never saw a major twist coming and the pages flip almost by themselves. Totally absorbing and shocking. Must read novel of the year. 

https://www.amazon.com/First-Born-Novel-Will-Dean-ebook/dp/B09JPKNT4N/ref=sr_1_1?crid=194G60HVQVVTP&keywords=will+dean+first+born&qid=1643978550&sprefix=Will+dean%2Caps%2C236&sr=8-1

Dirt Creek by Haley Scrivenor

 

Dirt Creek by Haley Scrivenor

Rating: Starred Review

Summary: A small town in the outback of Australia is fractured when a young girl on her way home from school with her best friend goes missing. The investigation centers around a group of families interwoven and told from different character point of view.

Comments: A  brilliant crime novel that goes bleak and dark with horrible consequences. It a no win crime novel told from various characters with a nifty ending told from the characters. Highly recommend for those who have read those great out Outback crime novels.

https://www.amazon.com/Dirt-Creek-Novel-Hayley-Scrivenor-ebook/dp/B09CNDX9WK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1PHG260VULRSE&keywords=Dirt+creek&qid=1643579208&s=digital-text&sprefix=dirt+creek%2Cdigital-text%2C136&sr=1-1

Rafferty’s Last Case by Larry Millett

Rafferty’s Last Case by Larry Millett

Rating: 5 stars

Summary: Rafferty is in the final stages of life. While almost completing his final case he is viscously stabbed in the back in his apartment. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson come to town and along with Rafferty’s best friend Thomas and they dig through the investigation of a very corrupt City of St. Paul police and government of three homicides.

Comments: Another wonderful Minnesota crime novelist. I will be back reading Millett for sure. 

https://www.amazon.com/Raffertys-Last-Case-Minnesota-featuring/dp/151791311X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PFAMWMTF00CU&keywords=Rafferty%E2%80%99s+last+case&qid=1643104431&s=books&sprefix=rafferty+s+last+case%2Cstripbooks%2C87&sr=1-1

 

Every Cloak Rolled in Blood by James Lee Burke

 

Every Cloak Rolled in Blood by James Lee Burke

Rating: Stared Review

Summary: Successful writer Aaron Holland Broussard is tangled in emotion of the sudden lose of his daughter. He is haunted by her ghost. When he has his barn door painted with a swastika it sets in motion events that will expose the drug culture on Montana.

Comments: Lots of ghost and goblins. Equal part ghost story and crime novel. Do you talk to the dead? 

https://www.amazon.com/Every-Cloak-Rolled-Holland-Family-ebook/dp/B09JPH6XHJ/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2RZMP6X3A3LZ4&keywords=james+lee+burke&qid=1642165735&s=books&sprefix=James+Lee+burke%2Cstripbooks%2C212&sr=1-3

  

I Am Not Who You Think I Am by Erik Rickstad

 

I Am Not Who You Think I Am by Erik Rickstad

Rating: 5 stars

Summary: A teen boy who witnessed his father commit suicide with a shotgun starts to question his father death. The path leads him to many family secrets and his own downfall.

Comments: A peel the onion back suspense novel that has some serious shocks to the system.  A  very compelling read. Highly recommend.

https://www.amazon.com/Am-Not-Who-You-Think-ebook/dp/B0829G7B1V/ref=sr_1_3?crid=SRKA3UJGBQWD&keywords=eric+rickstad&qid=1641209825&s=digital-text&sprefix=Erik+ri%2Cdigital-text%2C84&sr=1-3

Blacktop Wasteland by S. A. Cosby

 

Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby

Rating: 5 stars

Summary: A family man who adores his wife and young children is trying to make a go of the family life and leave his past behind. When he looses a contract to take care of a fleet of cars and lead an honest life he chooses to make one last heist to pay a mounting debt. No one was expected to get hurt and the promise of a quick score was to tempting.. 

Comments: The debut novel by Cosby that I regretted reading sooner. Hard core chaotic crime novel of bad or worse decisions to be a good guy. Cosby doesn’t waste time with long drawn out scenes. He gets right to the hard truths and flips the readers pages. Highly recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/Blacktop-Wasteland-Novel-Shawn-Cosby-ebook/dp/B07WCYQZ4Y/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1SOL2WOBSCXDV&keywords=blacktop+wasteland&qid=1640876042&s=digital-text&sprefix=Blacktop%2Cdigital-text%2C85&sr=1-1

Shifty’s Boys by Chris Offutt

 

Shifty’s Boys by Chris Offutt

Rating: Starred Review

Summary: The second stunning novel featuring a Mick Hardin who is still recovering from a wound suffered during a IED blast. Set in the rolling hills of Eastern Kentucky where someone might say Hidy to you as a fine greeting. Mick is asked by a local woman who’s son is found dead in an apparent bad drug deal. Th local cops don’t care and Micks gotta find something to do before is return date with the army. 

Comments: The second splendid crime novel with Offutt featuring Mick Hardin and equally important Linda, and super organized character Johnny Boy. Superior dialog places you deep in the Kentucky hills with plenty of scenes starting or ending with song birds. Robbins being the most spectacular North American bird. Since I like a birds this was a great setting for me. Highly highly recommended. I hope to see more Mick Hardin. This is an incredible series. 

Side Note. I once traveled this area and still remember it’s beauty and deep rolling hills and twisting curves. Incredible.

https://smile.amazon.com/Shiftys-Boys-Mick-Hardin-Novels-ebook/dp/B09JV4B6G4/ref=sr_1_10?crid=120XLNAYRFCCN&keywords=chris+offutt+books&qid=1640873499&s=digital-text&sprefix=Chris+offutt%2Cdigital-text%2C128&sr=1-10

2021 Year In Review

 So many great reads this year.

Here’s three that stood out.

William Boyle’s. Shoot The Moonlight Out 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08VJLDBL5/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0

Lighting Strike by William Kent Krueger

https://www.amazon.com/Lightning-Strike-Novel-OConnor-Mystery-ebook/dp/B08LDWY46J

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead

https://www.amazon.com/Harlem-Shuffle-Novel-Colson-Whitehead-ebook/dp/B08QMZC2PM/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Harlem+shuffle&qid=1636040976&sr=8-1