Fiction - The Irresponsible Reader

edited by Vern Smith

DETAILS:
Publisher: Runamok Books
Publication Date: July 1, 2022
Format: eARC
Length: 258 pg.
Read Date: May 23-26, 2022

What is Jacked?

Run Amok Books is a indie press from New Jersey, and they’ve recently launched a crime imprint. Jacked is their “inaugural anthology,” with 20 stories of all sorts of Crime/Thriller Fiction on display.

There’s some gritty realism, there’s some noir, there’s a police procedural/samurai mash-up set in the 80s, and there’s even a “cozy espionage” (a subgenre I learned was a thing in this book). You’ve got stories featuring cops, bikers, hipsters, thrill-seeking teens, kids just trying to survive, a mechanic, addicts, rookie publicists, and rookie criminals.

Some were harrowing. some were bleak, some made me grin, several shocked me, some depressed me, some made me recoil, and I didn’t really know how to react to a couple of them.

Basically, no matter how particular your Crime Fiction Taste is, you’re going to find at least one story in here that’s going to appeal to you.

Stories that I Have to Talk About

I thought about writing a sentence or two about each story but decided that never works out well for anyone—the post becomes too long to read and to write. Also, there are a handful that I’d end up ruining by saying something (a shocking twist in a 6-page story doesn’t carry an impact when you know it’s coming).

Looking over my notes, I found myself singing “One of these things is not like the others,” when I came to “Nick Flaherty and the Body in the Lab” by Anne Louise Bannon. While you get all sorts of things in an anthology, this seemed more unlike the rest than any other story. So it stands out just for that—but I think this would’ve stood out to me regardless. I like the protagonist’s style, the narrative voice, and the world that Bannon created here. This is a spin-off of her Operation Quickline series, and I’ve added the first one to my “Buy This” list.

I really should pay more attention to titles, I know (I really only think of them in retrospect). But sometimes it pays off—there’s a better than even chance that I’d have rolled my eyes at Matt Witten’s “The TikTok Murder” if I had. I’m an old crank, I can’t take TikTok seriously—and the murder of an up-and-coming TikTok star isn’t going to get me excited. But the single note I wrote about this when I was finished was “this is exactly what I wanted to read today.”

“Samurai ’81” by Andrew Miller is one of the best concepts I’ve run across this year—you’ve got a young LAPD detective being mentored by an older, but not that-jaded detective. Not just in how to be a better homicide detective, but in being a Japanese-American detective in the early 80s. Then you throw in modern-day samurai—with the swords and everything. Who puts these things together? And how isn’t this a series already? (seriously, I have money ready to spend)

I had to limit myself to these—there are another half-dozen I could go on about.

So, what did I think about Jacked?

As with just about every anthology, in this Whitman’s Sampler of Crime, there are going to be a couple of stories that you’re going to want to spit out after taking a bite. I won’t name those for me—because I know there are those people in the world who like those orange creams or cherry cordials, even if I don’t understand them. Percentage-wise, they were smaller than I’m used to in a collection as eclectic as this one.

But even the worst story was so well-written, so well-executed that I can’t write it off as bad, just…very not-for-me. But the rest were absolutely worth my time—every single one was a well-written short story and I could see where it would rise to the top of a submissions pile. Jacked is one of those collections that I’m going to remember for a while.

If this anthology is any indication, Run Amok Crime is one to keep an eye on as are every one of the contributors.

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions expressed are my own.

Movieland by Lee Goldberg: It’s No Walk in the Park for Eve Ronin

By HCNewton

On June 30, 2022

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

Movieland

by Lee Goldberg

DETAILS:
Series: Eve Ronin, #4
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Publication Date: June 20, 2022
Format: Kindle Edition
Length: 329 pgs. 
Read Date: June 21-22, 2022

“It’s hard enough solving a case without the victim working against you.”

“Now you know how I feel.”

Eve walked alongside her sister across the parking lot. “What do you mean?”

“Patients almost never do what we tell them is best for their health and then complain when they just get sicker or their injuries don’t heal. It’s incredibly frustrating.”

“So you’re saying what we do is futile.”

“All it takes is one win, one life saved, and all the other bullshit doesn’t matter.”

What’s Movieland About?

The way that Lee Goldberg describes Malibu Creek State Park in this book makes ti seem like something he created just to have a setting for this book. Exhaustive research (Duck Duck Go +45 seconds) shows me that he didn’t make it up and that he barely scratched the surface of what a great place that must be. Sadly, if Goldberg has Eve Ronin and her partner, Duncan Pavone, at the Park, it can only mean one thing: someone’s been murdered there.

Before Eve got promoted and assigned to Lost Hills station, causing upheaval in Duncan’s life, he’d been trying to tie together a series of cases of shootings (at buildings, cars, that kind of thing) around the Park. He was convinced it they were related, but once he started mentoring Eve through high-profile murder cases, that got put on the back burner. But now, his gut tells him that those shootings and this shooting are related.

The LASD brass doesn’t want to hear it–they want the two focused on the murder and preventing the media storm that’s brewing around it–also, they want this all to come to a quick resolution so the Park can be reopened and people will be willing to use it again.

This is, of course, when things get complicated.

The Victim as a Hurdle

The victim’s girlfriend is an activist blogger well-known in the area for taking on developers, local politicians, celebrities–and the LASD. She was also injured in the attack. She might be the only person who is more skeptical of the Department than Eve. Zena’s convinced that her girlfriend either was killed to silence her or that Zena herself was the intended target and the wrong person was killed.

Zena doesn’t trust the Sherriff’s Department to find the murderer, she assumes they’re not that interested, either. She has her own list of suspects and lashes out at them on the blog she works for, muddying the waters and serving as a distraction to the avenues of investigation that Eve and Duncan want to pursue.

This is a great dynamic to see play out in the book–I don’t remember seeing this a lot in fiction, but seeing the way media attention (however well-intended) makes it hard for the police to do their job properly is a great way to ratchet up the tension.

Is Eve Learning?

“When I start investigating a homicide, I go all-in.”

“You become obsessed.”

“I become focused,” she said.

He shook his head. “You can’t sustain that, physically or emotionally. I keep telling you that. The way you’re going, I’ll outlive you.”

I’ve talked before about Eve’s reckless, pursue-the-case-at-all-costs mentality, and how that’s not sustainable–Duncan’s been on her for quite a while, too. From the way she reacts after this conversation, he might be getting through to her. Then again, action is her default position, so who knows how well it’ll stick.

She also might be paying attention to what he (and others) have been saying about the way she interacts with people, how she plays politics–and tries to apply it.

Basically, Eve’s learning. Goldberg said from the beginning that this was about a rookie detective learning, making mistakes (and we see the blowback from past mistakes here–as well as new ones), and growing into a seasoned detective. Bosch was fully formed when we met him. Ditto for John Rebus, Renee Ballard, Walt Longmire, Jesse Stone, and so on. We really don’t see that many detectives learning their trade. I love this aspect of it.

Frank Belson Redux?

“Is there a way to broach it that won’t offend all of them?”

“Nope, so I’ll handle it,” he said.

“Why you?”

Duncan got out of the car with a groan, clutching his right knee. “Because I’m lovable and retiring and you’re abrasive and sticking around.

I finally put my finger on it while reading this book–Duncan Pavone is Goldberg’s version of Sgt. Frank Belson, from Parker’s Spenser series without the cigar. He’s closer to Ron McLarty’s portrayal in Spenser: For Hire, actually. He’s a slob, getting food on every item of clothing, he doesn’t seem to be incredibly interested in the job, etc. But he doesn’t miss a thing, he’s doggedly stubborn, and will do what it takes to close a case. (he’s also quick to make a caustic and/or cynical comment, and will dole out unsolicited advice like it’s his life purpose).

Knowing that when this book opens that he was 2 weeks away from retirement (which makes him impervious to political pressures, incidentally) cast a shadow over everything in the novel. Eve’s a great character, but I’m really starting to think that Duncan’s the guy to watch in this series.

So, what did I think about Movieland?

“How old so I to be before people stop offering me life lessons?”

“It’s not age, it’s experience.”

“There’s another one,” Eve said, but with a smile, to show there was no bitterness or anger behind the remark.

“It won’t be long, Eve. You’ve crammed more experience into the last few months than most detectives I know have in decades.”

It shouldn’t be this way, but I always end up liking an Eve Ronin book more than I expect to going in–and I’m always champing at the bit for the next one. This is no exception. The Eve Ronin books are one of my favorites in the last couple of years. Movieland is the twistiest, most complex case she’s dealt with, there’s a harder edge to this novel, and fewer reasons to grin or chuckle.

That is not a complaint, it’s a description. Nor does it mean that this is harder to read–Goldberg doesn’t do that–the action moves quickly, his style is deceptively breezy, and the characters pop off the page.

At this point, I’m really invested in these characters and can’t wait to see what’s next for them.

The book also features someone who might be Michael Connelly’s most misguided fan. That was a nice little treat.

Readers of this series probably don’t need the encouragement to read this, but here it is. People who are looking for solid police procedurals with engaging characters and great plots would do well to hop on the Eve Ronin train now (or jump back to book one, Lost Hills).

4 1/2 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

PUB DAY REPOST: The Lost by Jeffrey B. Burton: Mace and Vira Race the Clock to Find a Kidnapped Girl

By HCNewton

On June 28, 2022

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

I was interrupted more than usual while writing this post by one of my dogs seeking attention. “Could I give you scritches later, girl? I’m trying to talk about fictional dogs,” is a strange mind space to be in.

The Lost

by Jeffrey B. Burton

DETAILS:
Series: Mace Reid K-9 Mystery, Volume 3
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: June 27, 2022
Format: eARC
Length: 288 pg.
Read Date: June 16-17, 2022

What’s The Lost About?

Mace and his dogs are moving in different circles after the events of The Keepers, and get called to help the FBI look for a missing mother and daughter—they were kidnapped after a home invasion went wrong. Their husband/father, financier Kenneth J. Druckman, was beaten and left behind. It’s up to Mace and Vira to give them a lead.

Sadly, it doesn’t take long for Vira to find the mother’s body on Druckman’s land, or for her to act like Druckman did the killing. It’s not like Mace can just point at the billionaire and shout, “J’accuse!” He’s going to need to find more than the word of his young dog—he also needs to help the FBI (if he can) to find the five-year-old girl before it’s too late.

Kippy Gimm (now a detective) and the rest of Mace’s dogs are, of course, in on this, too.

Non-Mace Perspectives

Typically, I’m not a fan of a first-person narrated book frequently switching to the third person—usually the killer. It doesn’t turn me off of a book, but I really don’t enjoy it. Burton, however, has done a better job of it in this series than most authors. I don’t know that I can say that I’ve enjoyed every instance of it—but, unlike most, in the previous two books in this series, those sections have added to the novel.

That really doesn’t sound like a compliment, but it was one.

In The Lost, most of those scenes/chapters are essential. The way this novel is set up—and the crimes perpetrated by the various criminals involved (and there are a handful)—necessitates that we see things from several perspectives that aren’t Mace’s. There’s just no way that he can find this information (he doesn’t require it, but the reader is going to demand to know what’s going on)—and it’d take months of investigation after these events for the FBI to figure some of this out (assuming they’d try).

The later in the book we get, the better these non-Mace portions get. Particularly those from the daughter’s point of view, they brought a lot to the table and got me really invested in these characters.

I still think I’d prefer more Mace and less of everyone else in future books in the series—but The Lost really shows that this approach can work. It also underlines how good at it Burton is.

So, what did I think about The Lost?

I’m not sure how the space is given to the non-Mace perspectives in this book compares to the previous novels, but it’s significantly more—that alone makes this novel feel different. The fact that many/most of those sections of the book take place prior to Mace’s involvement with the Druckman family also contributes to that feeling. I appreciate the fact that Burton’s doing things in Book 3 to make sure the series doesn’t get in a rut.

Sure, it’d be a fine rut to get stuck in and I’d have gladly read more books that were structurally similar to The Finders and The Keepers.* But I’m glad Burton made the step now and didn’t wait until he needed to shake things up.

* I read The Keepers a year ago and didn’t get the title until right this moment. I’m not too proud to admit that.

I’m not sure that we needed to learn about Kippy’s job woes at this point—it didn’t have an impact on this book, as FBI-centric as it was. It might have been better to talk about her difficulties with her new assignment when it’d have a bearing on the plot, and wouldn’t risk feeling like a repeat when it does come up. It’s not a good position for her to be in—I don’t want to minimize that—I’m just not sure the reader needed to get that information now, I don’t know what we’re supposed to do with it. As complaints go (and I think it’s the only one I had with this book), that’s a pretty minor one.

The pacing on this is strong—we hit the ground running with Mace and Vira at the beginning and we really don’t stop. There isn’t a lot of time here for contemplation and rumination—it’s not a breakneck speed, but it’s a steady jog. Again, it shows that Burton’s doing something different in this book.

I feel like I’m spending too much time talking about how different The Lost is from the other books—and I don’t mean to harp on it, I’m just commenting on the various ways it is. I don’t know that readers who aren’t writing about the book are going to spend that much time thinking about it—I think they’ll note the freshness of it, they’ll feel the overall effect, though. I’m not saying it’s better or worse than the other two, just appreciatively different. And that’s a nice thing.

As always, any time spent with Sue, Maggie May, Delta Dawn, Vira, and Billie Joe is a boon. They’re a fun pack of animals to read about—and I’m already looking forward to their next adventure. Mace and Kippy are good, too—but we all know who the stars are here.

This would be an okay jumping-on point to the series, I’m not sure you’d get the full idea of Vira’s special talents—but that’s okay, it’s not required to appreciate the books. The important thing is that mystery readers—particularly the dog-loving kind—jump on to the series at some point.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.

4 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions expressed are my own.

A Wash of Black by Chris McDonald: This is How a Series Should Start

By HCNewton

On June 27, 2022

In Chris McDonald/Frost, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

A Wash of Black

by Chris McDonald

DETAILS:
Series: DI Erika Piper, #1
Publisher: Red Dog Press
Publication Date: January 27, 2020
Format: Kindle Edition
Length: 218 pg.
Read Date: June 17-18, 2022

What’s A Wash of Black About?

A year ago, DI Erika Piper was assaulted in the course of her duties, she survived, but it was close. It’s her first day back to work, and it’s a doozy.

A famous actress has been murdered and her body was essentially left on display. It’s a recreation of a very famous scene from a movie she starred in—the same way her character was killed. Well, almost. The film version departed from the novel it was adapted from on a couple of points—this crime scene is loyal to the book. The publicity around this case is going to be huge—as will be the pressure to solve this quickly.

Is this a personal grudge against the actress disguised to throw off the police? Is this a crazed fan paying a gruesome tribute to the actress/movie/novel? Is this someone working off some other twisted purpose hiding it beneath the spectacle?

This killer isn’t satisfied with one murder—and soon it appears the killer has Piper herself in their sights.

DI Erika Piper

Piper arrives in this book nearly fully-formed, sure, there’s room for development and growth in the books to come—but as a character, she’s fully fleshed out. She has a past (that we get a glimpse of), well-established relationships with fellow detectives, her superiors, crime scene investigators, coroner, and so on—as well as a full personal life.

Frequently we get these layers a little at a time with a series like this, and only after a few books, do we get to see the character’s entire world (or at least a good deal of it). McDonald doesn’t go that route, we could be reading the 4th or 8th book in the series, not the first. I don’t mind taking the former route with a character—and I understand why authors might make that choice—but I love it when an author successfully pulls off what McDonald did here.

She might be physically ready to come back to work, but she’s not fully ready on the psychological front (it’d be easy to argue she never will be). I don’t think she came back too soon, but she has some work to do on that front, and it was great to see a character actually do that work rather than the typical “detective does just enough to get the shrink to sign off on their return to duty.”

I particularly enjoyed the relationship Piper has with DS Liam Sutton. They work so well together, and their interactions and rituals bring this part of her world to life. I’m hoping to see more of that in the books to come.

A Mistake or a Red-Herring?

I don’t know about you, but I frequently find myself talking back to books when characters are making mistakes. Boy howdy, did I mutter at Piper a lot about one thing. There’s a witness that I (based on my extensive training and experience as a reader of procedurals) figure should’ve been talked to right away. And Piper and the other detectives ignore them.

Now, was this an oversight on McDonald’s part? Should Piper have tracked this person down? Is this a red herring designed to trip up readers like me?

I’m going to assume it’s the latter—although it could also be a sign that Piper’s a little rusty. Either way, it drove me nuts.

So, what did I think about A Wash of Black?

I had such a great time with A Wash of Black. It hit the spot just right—well-executed and satisfying. It’s not reinventing the wheel, there’s nothing revolutionary about it. It’s a solid, confident police procedural that delivers all the twists and complexity that the genre demands—with a good cast of characters, an engaging protagonist, and a compelling killer. You don’t need to be flashy or to subvert conventions or anything when you get everything as right as this one does.

I said it above, but it bears repeating—there’s no indication that this is the first in the series—or a debut for the novelist. McDonald approaches this with the assurance of an established writer. It shouldn’t need to be said, but just to be safe, I will—this is not the same kind of book as his Stonebridge Mysteries, and it takes no time at all to see that. Don’t go looking for anything cozy here.

I’m eager to come back for the second, Whispers in the Dark, in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, I heartily recommend this to you.

4 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

Holy Chow by David Rosenfelt: Keeping the “Semi” in Andy’s Semi-Retired Status

By HCNewton

On June 24, 2022

In Andy Carpenter, David Rosenfelt, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

Holy Chow

by David Rosenfelt

DETAILS:
Series: Andy Carpenter, #25
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: July 5, 2022
Format: eARC
Length: 304 pg.
Read Date: June 20, 2022

What’s Holy Chow About?

About a year ago, Rachel—a new widow in need of a companion—came into the Tara Foundation’s dog rescue facility and fell in love with a Chow Chow named Lion (who reciprocated)—Andy remembered her fondly. Then she calls out of the blue with a favor—will Andy take the dog if she dies and her stepson, Tony, can’t/won’t take the Lion?

Andy says of course he will. Within a week, Rachel’s been murdered and Andy learns more about this woman. She was rich, in an eye-popping kind of way, and Andy is told to come to the will reading. He’s confused by this, but assumes it has to do with taking possession of Lion (just in an unusual way). The reading is interrupted by the police coming to arrest that stepson for her murder.

Andy visits Tony and decides to take his case—for solid, evidence-based reasons, and not at all because he seems like a nice guy, his Great Dane mix had recently died and he’s excited to take Lion. Okay, that’s not true—Andy smells something off about the case, but it’s (naturally) because Tony’s a nice, dog-loving guy.

The police and prosecution are presenting this as a case of an heir being angry at the size of their inheritance. But Tony doesn’t have a history of being that interested in money. Andy wonders if the murder might have something to do with the fact that Rachel had been taking an interest in her late husband’s company’s day-to-day activities lately. Or is there maybe something else afoot?

It’ll take the combined efforts of Andy’s firm, The K-9 Team, and the Bubeleh Brigade (the retirees-turned-hackers that Andy uses from time to time) to get to the bottom of this.

When Will They Ever Learn?

I’m not wondering why prosecutors don’t immediately drop the case when they hear that Andy has taken on a client. He does have a few guilty verdicts on his record. Although, you would think they’d require the police to tighten up their cases and make sure there aren’t any threads hanging once Andy requests discovery.

But what I wonder is that given his track record, why they don’t take him seriously when he calls the FBI, DEA, Homeland Security, or any other three-lettered agency. (note: I wonder similar things when Joe Pickett starts meddling in non-wildlife issues). I’m not saying they need to roll out the red carpet or anything for him—don’t let Andy Carpenter, of all people, call any shots. But he shouldn’t have to rely on favors from a friend of a friend or threats to get someone to take him seriously anymore.

How does no one have this conversation:

Agent 1: Hey remember that guy who tipped us off to that terrorist organization and saved all those lives a couple of years ago?
Agent 2: That lawyer with the hot wife and the scary bodyguard, sure. Didn’t he also tip us off to the smuggling ring last Winter?
Agent 1: Come to think of it he did.
Agent 2: Why are you bringing him up?
Agent 1: Well, he’s got this theory about _________ now.
Agent 2: Might be worth sitting down with him, looking at his theory.

Although, some of that threatening and calling in favors can make for entertaining scenes. So, y’know…

So, what did I think about Holy Chow?

Andy Carpenter #25? That’s a mind-boggling number. I know it wasn’t that long ago that I read #24, but I don’t think it registered. So, does the Andy Carpenter series have anything new up its sleeve? (I’m tempted to make an old dog/new tricks joke here) I won’t rule it out, but we don’t see much new here.

But that doesn’t make this stale, either. There’s a comfort and a reassurance in knowing Andy’s behavior while the jury deliberates, the fact that Pete and Vince are going to bust his chops and put their food on his tab, that taking a walk with his dogs will help Andy come up with an idea, and so on.

I’m not trying to take a shot at anyone here, but where this feels comfortable and not tired and repetitive is that Andy has settled into these patterns—this is his life. He’s not, say, constantly second-guessing his choice of career (as much as he complains about it), he’s not trying to decide between a sexy Homicide Detective love interest and a lethal and hot Security Specialist love interest after 30+ books. Just to come up with some completely random example that no way could be describing any particular series.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that the twenty-fifth novel in this series might not have a lot that’s new, there’s still a lot of fun to have. And, we might get a glimpse of a different side of a long-running character (a continuation of something from Citizen K-9)

The humor is still present and sharp, the courtroom antics are fun (maybe a little subdued this time compared to others because of the case), and you can’t beat the time hanging with these characters. Both the solution to this case, the reveals involved, and the resolution are as well-delivered as always.

Readers new to the series or those who’ve been around since 2003* will find plenty to enjoy in the pages of Holy Cow. A good time should be had by all.

* Or at least since Open and Shut, no matter when they read it.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.

4 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

We Are Legion (We Are Bob) (Audiobook) by Dennis E. Taylor, Ray Porter (Narrator): Big Laughs and Big Ideas Litter this SF Adventure

By HCNewton

On June 21, 2022

In Audiobook, Science Fiction

We Are Legion (We Are Bob)

by Dennis E. Taylor, Ray Porter (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Series: Bobiverse, Book 1
Publisher: Audible Studios
Publication Date: December 26, 2016
Format: Audible Original
Length: 9 hr.,  56 min.
Read Date: June 10-5, 2022

What’s We Are Legion (We Are Bob) About?

Bob Johansson is a nerd—he’s both into SF and actual space travel, and the technology we’re developing to study space—he’s also come into some pretty good money by selling off his software company. Just as you start to like the guy, he’s killed in a freak accident—and he wakes up 117 years in the future.

Between cryogenics not really working out the way anyone intended, some change in governmental policies, and a bunch of other stuff better described in the book—Bob finds himself as a sentient AI, a possession of a post-USA government. Assuming he functions well enough to pass some training, Bob’s destined to control a space probe—one capable of making duplicates of itself (himself?).

Bob and his clones are charged with finding new planets for humans to colonize—a task made urgent after events that happen after the initial launch.

The Tone

What I haven’t said anything about there is the tone—this is a comedy. There’s interstellar travel, combat, death, destruction, and the threat of human extinction—but Bob and his clones are a hoot and they’ll keep you grinning and chuckling throughout.

It’s not a comedy like Adams—it’s more along the lines of John Scalzi or Scott Meyer—there’s a decent plot and a mostly serious story with actual stakes—but the characters are ridiculous and/or consistently funny and quirky.

How was the Narration?

I thought the description I read for this book had promise, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to give it a try until I saw that Ray Porter was narrating it. A no-longer active book blogger had told me Porter was her favorite narrator, and I thought he did a fantastic job with Winslow’s The Dawn Patrol. His involvement convinced me.

I’m so glad it did—he was great. I think I would’ve enjoyed this with most narrators or in text form, but something about Porter’s narration and characterization of the clones added just the right element to an already fun book. Part of the conceit of the book is that the clones have slight (but noticeable)-to-significant variations in personality. I think making some of those with the slight variations noticeably different in the first-person narration is a great achievement—it’s hard to describe, I realize. You need to hear it for yourself.

So, what did I think about We Are Legion (We Are Bob)?

I don’t have a lot to say about this, sadly, it’s one of those I wish I could say a lot about. I had a lot of fun listening to it, and couldn’t wait to get back to it when I walked away.

It had just the right amount of seriousness to keep it from being nothing but jokes, and you really got invested in all/almost all the clones—that level of investment in AIs is rare for me. Bob (well, the Bob that woke up an AI) and his several clones are nothing but fun.

I spent most of the book thinking that as much fun I was having, I probably wouldn’t continue. But by the time I finished, I knew I’d be back for more. I’ve read/listened to a little more SF this year than I normally do, and it’s books like this that are fueling that.

3.5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions expressed are my own.

The Lost by Jeffrey B. Burton: Mace and Vira Race the Clock to Find a Kidnapped Girl

By HCNewton

On June 20, 2022

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

I was interrupted more than usual while writing this post by one of my dogs seeking attention. “Could I give you scritches later, girl? I’m trying to talk about fictional dogs,” is a strange mind space to be in.

The Lost

by Jeffrey B. Burton

DETAILS:
Series: Mace Reid K-9 Mystery, Volume 3
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: June 27, 2022
Format: eARC
Length: 288 pg.
Read Date: June 16-17, 2022