Author: HCNewton Page 576 of 625

Dead Connection by Alafair Burke

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On June 24, 2014

In Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

Dead Connection (Ellie Hatcher #1)Dead Connection

by Alafair Burke
Series: Ellie Hatcher, #1


Hardcover, 336 pg.
Henry Holt and Co., 2007
Read: June 22 -23, 2014

I’ll be honest — it was this video that got me looking into this series. I figured an author with taste enough to help out the Kickstarter enough to get that video as a reward is someone I’d enjoy spending time with.

And, yeah, I was right. Ellie Hatcher, her brother, and her father’s dark past are right up my alley. Rookie detective, Ellie Hatcher, has been temporarily assigned to Homicide to assist with the investigation into a series of murders revolving around the client list of an online dating site.

Ellie’s career-driven, haunted by the murder of her father (which the Wichita police have declared a suicide), idealistic and in love with New York City. She came to the city to look after her brother, Jess, a would-be rock musician with questionable judgment in recreational activities. She works harder than she should, spends more time on cases than she needs to, and no personal life outside her brother. So when given the chance to work a Homicide, she throws herself into it.

It’s quite the case, too. There’s a sociopath, Russian mobsters, identity theft, crooked cops, and enough other ingredients to keep Ellie burning the midnight oil and the reader to keep the pages turning as fast as possible.

This was a very clever mystery — downright smart, in fact. I’d guessed the killer, because of story structure/dramatics not because of the whys and wherefores and the psycho-ness of it all. I did put all the pieces together slightly ahead of Ellie (like half a page or so), but by that point, Burke wanted the reader to.

There’s a moral flexibility to the plot’s resolution, to ensure justice is done that I frequently quite enjoy in fiction — but would hate in reality. Which is why I read fiction and not true crime, I guess.

I’ll be back for more, very soon.

—–

4 Stars

Dusted Off: Mark of the Demon by Diana Rowland

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On June 23, 2014

In Fiction

Mark of the Demon (Kara Gillian, #1)Mark of the Demon

by Diana Rowland

Mass Market Paperback, 370 pg.
Bantam, 2009
Read: August 15, 2012

Great mix of procedural and urban fantasy. Perhaps a little heavier on the fantasy than it needed to be, but that’s not really a knock. Some interesting characters–some that need a lot more fleshing out in future installments–a heckuva magic system, a great world, good locale in that world and a strong protagonist. Pretty much all you can want.

I really, really, really didn’t need the level of detail Rowland gives about the relations between Kara and the demon. That aside, a heckuva read.

Looking forward to more.

—–

4 Stars

Dusted Off: Greywalker by Kat Richardson

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On June 23, 2014

In Fiction

Greywalker (Greywalker, #1)Greywalker

by Kat Richardson
Series Greywalker, #1


Mass Market Paperback, 341 pg.
Roc Trade, 2006
Read: August 18 – 20, 2012

Wow. Great, great first chapter. Had me hooked on the book within the first few paragraphs and really didn’t let go.

Solid, solid read. Action, little humor, dash of romance, and a really good crew of likeable characters.

I had a couple of quibbles: There was one transition between chapters that involved a time jump, which (eventually) got enough explanation that I didn’t feel shorted, but it didn’t fit with the rest of the narrative style of the book. Too much of the book was Harper learning about the Grey–the world of magic/paranormal/etc., so it’s hard to see what future installments would be like.

Obviously, the series is pretty successful at this point, and this book makes it easy to see why, don’t think I’ve felt this way about a debut UF book since Rosemary and Rue.

—–

4 Stars

Saturday Miscellany — 6/21/14

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On June 21, 2014

In Books, News/Misc.

Odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:

    This Week’s New Releases I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:

  • Shattered by Kevin Hearne — The only reason I haven’t read the latest Iron Druid novel already is that UPS is taking forever to get it to me. Harry Dresden and Atticus in less than a month? (and Spenser a couple weeks before that!) It’s like Christmas, but better!
  • All Fall Down by Jennifer Weiner — I just read the info on this one right now, and while I knew I would be reading it (Weiner’s an automatic buy for my wife, and I’ve started reading them after her) — I’m really interested in this story of addiction and struggle. Drugs + Jennifer Weiner? This could be really, really good.
  • Top Secret Twenty-One by Janet Evanovich is out in hardcover, so I’ll get to it next year. But that means, that Takedown Twenty is out in paperback. Since I caught up with the series last year, it’s been a long time (for me) since I’ve spent time with Stephanie and the rest, has absence made my heart grow fonder?
  • Heirs of Grace by Tim Pratt — was originally published as a Kindle serial, now in hardcopy. Looks interesting, I’ll likely track it down.

Mind Scrambler by Chris Grabenstein

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On June 20, 2014

In Authors, Chris Grabenstein, F-J, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

sorry it’s been quiet here this week — sometimes that job thing requires more of me than usual, so reading (gasp!) and writing have to take a back seat.

Mind Scrambler (John Ceepak Mystery, #5)Mind Scrambler

by Chris Grabenstein

Hardcover, 352 pg.
Minotaur Books, 2009
Read: June 14, 2014

So, Ceepak and Danny find themselves in Atlantic City. Not for fun, of course, Ceepak wouldn’t go to a place like Atlantic City for vacation. They’re in town to help out a District Attorney in another state (spoiler territory for the previous book) by taking a deposition. Sure, they pass through a casino — where else can they stay in town? Before they can do anything, Danny runs into an old flame, Katie — who we last saw recuperating from an attempted murder — and Ceepak and Danny have stopped some slot machine players from being robbed. Katie’s dropped out of grad school and is working as a tutor/nanny for a couple of children whose parents make up a pretty popular (and family-friendly) magic act. Something’s bothering her, and she’d like to consult with Danny about something she’s found later that evening.

But, naturally, before the two of them can meet, Katie’s killed. I should say, that’s not a spoiler, Danny tells us this will happen on page 1 — and roughly 35 more times before it actually happens (well, okay, maybe only six times, I wasn’t counting). The tease at the end of the first chapter about her upcoming demise would’ve been far more effective if the chapter hadn’t started with a different one. Or having it repeated several times in the next few chapters. It’s a minor thing, but it began to lose its effect on me, and the tease at the end of chapter 1 was the most effective, and would’ve been moreso if that was the only one, I think.

Thanks to Ceepak’s connections, the two are allowed to assist in the investigation, and the two throw themselves into the investigation with a vengeance. I’m pretty sure this case is resolved far faster than is usual for the duo — Danny’s driven by guilt and by grief (he’d known Katie since childhood), Ceepak’s driven by whatever normally drives him, and wanting to help Danny (and probably to get home without incurring more charges to be billed to the DA).

Two things that kept me from enjoying this one as much as the others. The setting: on the one hand, I don’t think Grabenstein took full advantage of Atlantic City, but that’s partially due to the pace. But this is the second book in a row where Sea Haven hasn’t played too much of a factor, and it works against the series. Then again — good for the Sea Haven Tourism Board that the city has had a reprieve in murders.

Worse than that was how dense both Ceepak and Danny seemed to be this time — I spent a lot more time talking back to this book, not something I normally find myself doing with these two. The book starts with our victim wanting to talk to her old friend who’s a cop about something she found. So naturally, that’s where the investigation should’ve started — what did she want to talk about? But no, Danny really only thinks about it after they stumble onto it while pursuing another line of investigation. Our heroes also spend too much time following red herrings rather than seeing them for what they are. I expect more from these two.

At the end of the day, not my favorite in this series. But it was good enough to justify the time — Grabenstein’s style was as pleasant and engaging as always. The rapport between these characters was as good as ever, and I enjoyed seeing the person responsible for what happened to Katie get what they deserved, I liked her. Most of all though, the seed that got planted for upcoming books was tantalizing enough to keep me from spending too much time dwelling on what didn’t really work here.

—–

3 Stars

The Severed Streets by Paul Cornell (Updated)

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On June 17, 2014

In Fiction, Paul Cornell, Urban Fantasy

Update: A representative of Audible.com, emailed me to ask if I’d like to post a clip from the audio book with this review. Sounded like a good idea to me (no pun intended). The sample’s at the bottom of this post, give it a listen.

The Severed StreetsThe Severed Streets

by Paul Cornell

Hardcover, 416 pg.
Tor Books, 2014
Read: June 11 – 14, 2014

This Cornell guy can write.

I’m tempted to let that be all I say about this book. Won’t be (because I can’t help myself), but it’s tempting. The other thing I’m tempted to do is copy and paste the first three paragraphs of my London Falling review to start this one — I am a little annoyed to see that I spoke so much about the Bryant & May Peculiar Crimes Unit series last time, because the comparison really hit me repeatedly as I read this book. I hope neither Cornell or Fowler mind that comparison.

Straightaway, Cornell creates a world rich with atmosphere — the his depiction of the tension on the streets of London is visceral, and then when the first murder occurs, you start to wish for something a little less visceral. And that’s in the first handful of pages. Once the focus turns to the team of detectives, it takes almost no time at all to immerse yourself again in this world (one that I honestly was a little fuzzy on when I picked up the book, remembering everything about these characters took a page or two back with them). There’s a bit more esprit de corps amongst them now then when we left them in London Falling, they’ve spent more time together, are more familiar with each other — and, if nothing else, realize that they share something that no one else in the London Police does.

Now they’ve got their hands full, seeking a vicious killer that only they can see. One that seems to have connections to a popular protest movement (think the Occupy movement, but with masks) and maybe to Jack the Ripper. Add all those things together, and you’ve got yourself a real mess. To that, add multiple conflicting goals on the part of Quill and his team, a looming police strike, an overly-inquisitive media mogul, a meddling Security Service, and a city on the verge of riot — and you’ve got, well, I don’t know exactly what it is, but the word “mess” no longer can describe it.

This early in a series, I don’t have any strong emotional connection to characters — particularly in this series, which (to me) seems to lend itself to a distancing between reader and character. But when one of the team makes an unthinkable sacrifice, I realized that distance didn’t exist anymore for me, and I had to put the book down for a brief moment to think about what I’d just read. But I couldn’t keep it down for long and had to pick it up quickly — only to be hit with something worse not that long after.

Which is not to say that this whole novel is an emotional wringer, there’s more humor, more hope intrinsic to this book than its predecessor, while it doesn’t lose any of it’s edge. The celebrity cameo was hilarious in a book not typified by hilarity of any kind. And then it became more than a cameo, which was pretty cool — and then it became, brilliant. I mean, truly brilliant. And I really can’t say more about it than that without violating all sorts of my spoiler policies.

I want to say more about this book, and maybe I’ll come back and revise this later, but for now I’d better leave it at this or it’ll never get done. The Severed Streets is one of those books that will make you want to cancel plans, so you can spend more time with it. From the unnervingly impossible assassination at the beginning to the truly disturbing final sentence, and almost every point in between, this is a killer book — gripping, suspenseful, with no punches pulled on any level. Please let there be more of these soon.

—–

4 1/2 Stars

Dusted Off: The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross

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On June 16, 2014

In Fiction, Steampunk

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar (Steampunk Chronicles, #2)The Girl in the Clockwork Collar

by Kady Cross

Hardcover, 416 pg.
Harlequin Teen, 2012
Jul. 16-18, 2012

A rollicking good read — lots of action, humor, a splash of romance. On the whole, a sequel that surpasses it’s predecessor (though most of that was due to world-building, set-up, and whatnot).

Sure, there was plenty of rehashing key conflicts from the first book, more than was needed. But once you accept that, it’s easy to deal with.

The villain is convincing, the plot twist is easy to spot a few miles away, but it still works. I’m hoping there are many more of these to come.

—–

3 Stars

Dusted Off: Team Human by Justine Larbalestier, Sarah Rees Brennan

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On June 16, 2014

In Fiction, YA/MG/Children's Books

Team HumanTeam Human

by Justine Larbalestier, Sarah Rees Brennan

Hardcover, 352 pg.
HarperTeen, 2012
Read: Jul. 19-21, 2012

Much more than a Twilight spoof (although, that’s there) this is a heckuva read. Mel’s a spunky high schooler with a lot on the ball, her friends see her as a fixer, the one who can help them deal with whatever crisis they’re dealing with. It’s a role she relishes, it’s her way of identifying herself. Particularly this time, when she’s trying to stop one friend from falling for a vampire, while another is coping with her dad abandoning the family for a vampire lover. Vampires are pretty low on Mel’s list.

Mel’s a flawed hero, in an endearing way. She’s bullheaded, fierce, dives into things without looking, she makes mistakes, but picks herself up and charges back into the fray with a minimum of self-doubt.

The rest of the cast are almost as well-rounded, were I in high school, I’d love to hang out with them (they’d probably be a bit too wild for me, honestly).

A fun, emotionally-satisfying novel for teens and adults who don’t mind reading below their grade level.

—–

4 Stars

Saturday Miscellany — 6/14/14

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On June 14, 2014

In Books, News/Misc.

Odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:

    This Week’s New Releases I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:

  • Shield and Crocus by Micharl R. Underwood — my pick of the week, this looks wonderful. Super-hero + epic fantasy? The mail can’t get here fast enough. Really.
  • California Bones by Greg Van Eekhout — I’m not sure if I’ll ever get around to reading this one, but man . . . great premise.
  • The Rise & Fall of Great Powers by Tom Rachman — Rachman’s first book, The Imperfectionists was great — and I’m really looking forward to seeing how he follows it up.

The Intern’s Handbook by Shane Kuhn

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On June 12, 2014

In Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, Shane Kuhn

The Intern's Handbook: A ThrillerThe Intern’s Handbook: A Thriller

by Shane Kuhn
Series: John Lago Thriller, #1


Hardcover, 276 pg.
Simon & Schuster, 2014
Read: May 5 – 7, 2014

“Interns are invisible. You can tell executives your name a hundred times and they will never remember it because they have no respect for someone at the bottom of the barrel, working for free. The irony is that they will heap important duties on you with total abandon. The more of these duties you voluntarily accept, the more you will get, simultaneously acquiring TRUST AND ACCESS. Ultimately, your target will trust you with his life and that is when you will take it.

So says John Lago, in his unofficial handbook for employees at Human Resources, Inc. — a false front for an organization of hitmen. He Handbook is part memoir, part confessional, part how-to, part the reflections of a professional

Along with nice tidbits like this, we get to see John’s last assignment for HRI — he’s sent in as an intern at a prestigious law firm to identify a shady partner and eliminate him. Having reached the ripe-old age of 25, retirement is looming (hard to believe someone in their late 20s is an intern anywhere), and he’s determined to go out on top. But for the first time in his illustrious career — things don’t go well for John. And when that starts to happen, it goes bad fast and in several different ways.

Bad for John, good for us — because watching him try to navigate out of trouble, while maintaining his cover is a blast. John’s a real professional, and whatever misgivings are starting to creep into his subconscious, his instincts are sound. Alice — initially, a fellow intern and competitor, and eventually, more — isn’t exactly what she seems, but is a fun character no matter what angle on the character we’re seeing. The head of HRI, Bob, is exactly the kind of shady, manipulative scoundrel you’d expect the executive behind an army of paid assassins to be.

By page 3, I’d written in my notes “smart, funny, sharp — if he keeps this up, I’ll be happy.” He did keep it up, and did better, there was an unexpected genuine heart in this book (particularly the last couple of chapters). The voice was fitting (and great) — as a fan of movies like Grosse Pointe Blank and The Whole Nine Yards, John’s less-than-charitable musings on pop culture depictions of his field were quite amusing and had the ring of truth. The action scenes were well-written, you could see everything (usually from the edge of your seat). Recommended.

—–

4 Stars

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