Slow Burn by Ace Atkins

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On May 11, 2016

In Ace Atkins, Authors, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, Robert B. Parker, Spenser

Slow BurnRobert B. Parker’s Slow Burn

by Ace Atkins
Series: Spenser, #44

Hardcover, 304 pg.
G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2016

Read: May 5, 2016

On the Greenway, a carousel turned to calliope music. The two men approached me. They tried to act like they were shopping, but they were as unobtrusive as a couple of linebackers at a Céline Dion concert.

Say what you will about the relative merits of Atkins’ two current series, but you won’t get lines like that from Quinn Colson (maybe from Lille Virgil). (That’s not really the best line of the book — it’s just the one that requires the least setup)

We’re introduced to a new world here — the Boston Fire Department, and the Arson investigators in particular (but not exclusively). It’s a little harder for Spenser to work his magic here, at least at first, being very much a duck out of water. But, he keeps at it, and eventually things start falling into place — even if he makes one serious (and perhaps life-threatening) mistake early on. There’s a series of suspected arsons, but the proof is minimal, and it doesn’t push the investigators in the right direction — or any direction, really. The usual motives (fascination with fire, insurance money) don’t seem to be involved here.

I should add that the motive for the crimes is interesting, if misguided. I’d almost like to see a bit more of it explored by the good guys, but that’s not what this book is about.

Spenser and his allies do their thing, the way they always do (but fueled by a different donut source). The same ol’ charm, wise cracks, and fists eventually do their job. I think this one is a notch above Atkins’ last — a couple of notches below Atkins or Parker at their best, but better than Parker’s average. The fact that I have to work this hard to decide where exactly in the 40+ this one lies says something — it’s on the good end, I should stress — but it’s hard to distinguish this from the master himself, Robert B. Parker.

There’s some good fodder for long-time fans here — Marty Quirk has a new job, Frank Belson has a new boss (one not particularly taken with Spenser). Not only do we get a callback to Mattie Sullivan, but we get a couple from the more distant parts of Spenser’s past — A Catskill Eagle and Promised Land, one of my least favorites and one of Parker’s best. Atkins’ ability to use for the current narrative, comment on, and tap into fanboy nostalgia all at the same time is really something to watch.

Atkins is again feeling confident enough in his role here to make significant moves in Spenser’s life — not to mention Pearl’s and Sixkill’s. I’m not sure I’m crazy about the latter two, but I’m trusting Atkins. I’m pretty sure he has a plan regarding our favorite disgraced athlete that’ll pay off. Can’t help but wonder what Parker had in store for him, though.

Speaking of plans and things in store — it’s pretty clear that Atkins has a plan for Jackie DeMarco, too. I hope it takes a few books to pull it off, but I fear it won’t.

I’m very glad to hear that we’ve got at least two more of these coming, Atkins is really helping me stay in touch with an old, old friend. I smiled, I chuckled, I even laughed a couple of times, and I reminisced a little, while wondering just how Spenser was going to save the day. All in all, a good way to spend a couple of hours. Now I’ve just got to count down the months until #45.

—–

4 Stars

Giovanni Goes To Med School by Kathy Bryson

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On May 10, 2016

In Fiction

Giovanni Goes To Med SchoolGiovanni Goes To Med School

by Kathy Bryson

Kindle Edition, 70 pg.
Kathy Bryson Books, 2016

Read: May 7, 2016


Giovanni is an aspiring medical student and an ER scribe who just started working in the hospital morgue on the overnight shift, Astral is a first year resident with plenty of attitude; Rufus is Mrs. Harris’ rather large dog, temporarily in Giovanni’s care; Mrs. Harris was a patient of Astral’s that Gio helped with, and sadly, didn’t make it — but she just won’t shut up and leave Gio alone.

Yeah, you read that right.

There’s humor here, a little gore — and far more detail about the process that a decaying corpse goes through than I wanted to know — and a nice little story.

What isn’t there? Any real idea why Mrs. Harris is up to what she’s up to (there’s one explanation that seems to carry the day, but even it doesn’t fully work). In the moment it works — but when you put this down, it starts to nag at you.

It’s enjoyable enough, a quick read, and there’s a lot of potential here. I’m going to give this a tentative 3 Stars — because so much is left unexplained, so much is uncertain about what happens here, if we’re given at least a hint of some answers or explanations in the next one (or a good reason why we’re not given hints of answers yet), I’ll stand by it. But without that, there’s just too much uncertainty for me to strongly encourage anyone read this.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this from the author in exchange for an honest review.

—–

3 Stars

Perfect Family by H. Lovelyn Bettison

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On May 10, 2016

In Fiction, General Fiction/Literature

Perfect FamilyPerfect Family

by H. Lovelyn Bettison

Kindle Edition, 162 pg.
Nebulous Mooch, 2016

Read: May 5, 2016


Let me just get this out of the way, if this doesn’t make you think of an episode (I won’t say which) of Star Trek: The Next Generation you’re not paying attention. Bettison’s take on it is more satisfactory, however.

Bettison has given us a nice little piece of Magical Realism — Sadie and her husband, Kevin, have a cute little boy named Marcus, and a devoted golden retriever, Sammy. All in all, it’s a perfect family, a part of the perfect life that Sadie’s always wanted.

And then Marcus starts doing things that are beyond belief. As the reader learns about what Marcus’ abilities are and start to wonder where those abilities come from (as Kevin and Sadie are). But we also start to learn that their family isn’t quite as ideal as they might seem — but perhaps even more perfect, than Sadie realizes (that makes sense to me, and will probably make sense to anyone who’s read this).

There are parts of this book — when Marcus first displays his abilities, for example — that are disturbing, there’s some real dark times, too. In other hands, this could’ve been a very different kind of book — not that hopeful or anything, but borderline-horror. But that’s not what Bettison gave us — there’s life and love amidst the darkness.

On the one hand, I wanted more detail, more explanation, more exploration of Marcus’ abilities, but I’m pretty sure that if I got what I wanted, the story wouldn’t work as well as it did.

Give this one a read, you’ll be pleased.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this from the author in exchange for an honest review.

—–

3 Stars

Epic Book Battle from Future House Publishing Ends Today

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On May 10, 2016

In News/Misc.

Today’s the last (and best?) day of the Epic Book Battle/Sale/Event from Friends of the Irresponsible Reader, Future House Publishing.

They’re having a special sale in honor of Star Wars Day (a great sale on already low prices, I should emphasize) and being in business for a year. Go, check it out! There’s a chance at prizes, too.

Be sure to check out Got Luck and Guardians, in particular — I talked about them here and here, respectively. But all their books look promising.

GENRENAUTS Kickstarter

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On May 9, 2016

In Fiction, Genrenauts, Michael R. Underwood, Science Fiction

Genrenauts: The Complete Season One Collection/widget/video.html

If you read this blog regularly, you know I’m a huge fan of Michael R. Underwood’s Genrenauts series. If you don’t, take my word for it (or go read my posts on both novellas, the short story, and the audiobooks). Now, there’s the opportunity to back the production of the rest of “Season 1” of the series.

I encourage you to back it, buy the books, read the books, and then maybe back it at a higher level 🙂

I’ll try not to be annoying, but I will remind you about this a time or two in the next 29 days.

United States of Books – Close Range (Audiobook) by Annie Proulx

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On May 9, 2016

In Fiction, General Fiction/Literature, United States of Books, Western

Close RangeClose Range: Wyoming Stories

by Annie Proulx

Author: Teri at Sportochick’s Musings

2 Stars Book
4 Stars Narrators

Synopsis

Annie Proulx’s masterful language and fierce love of Wyoming are evident in this collection of stories about loneliness, quick violence, and wrong kinds of love. In “The Mud Below”, a rodeo rider’s obsession marks the deepening fissures between his family life and self-imposed isolation. In “The Half-Skinned Steer”, an elderly fool drives west to the ranch he grew up on for his brother’s funeral, and dies a mile from home. In “Brokeback Mountain”, the difficult affair between two cowboys survives everything but the world’s violent intolerance.

These are stories of desperation, hard times, and unlikely elation, set in a landscape both brutal and magnificent. Enlivened by folk tales, flights of fancy, and details of ranch and rural work, they juxtapose Wyoming’s traditional character and attitudes, confrontation of tough problems, prejudice, persistence in the face of difficulty, with the more benign values of the new west.

This collection includes:

  • “The Half-Skinned Steer”, read by Bruce Greenwood
  • “A Lonely Coast”, read by Frances Fisher
  • “People in Hell Just Want a Drink of Water”, read by Campbell Scott
  • “The Mud Below”, read by Bruce Greenwood
  • “The Blood Bay”, read by Campbell Scott
  • “The Bunch-Grass Edge of the World”, read by Frances Fisher
  • “Brokeback Mountain”, read by Campbell Scott

Review

The best part of the book as far as the stories go was Brokeback Mountain. A movie was made from that story and it won 3 Oscars. I never saw the movie so I can’t give a review on the differences between the two though. This story walks the reader through a relationship between two cowboys that last years. While written with a slow western pace it shows how these two love each other through the years and opens the readers heart to their love for each other and their families.

As for the other stories, I understand that there are many people in the world that love this type of writing and I am afraid to say it is not me. I love to read for pleasure and to escape reality. This book is written in a harsh, blunt, no nonsense style. It was for me too brutal and depressing regarding how women and family were treated.

The narrators were great but hearing it instead of reading it made it much worse for me because it was so much more vivid. I know the old days were very rough but yikes this was so graphic it had me cringing.

For all you people out there that like this kind of reading I am sure you would rate it much higher than I did.

So will you give this a try and form your own decision?

Saturday Miscellany – 5/7/16

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On May 7, 2016

In Books, News/Misc.

Before I get going today, I’d like to take a moment to say congrats to my oldest son, who is getting his AA today, well done, sir.

Now on to the 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. I DO NOT HAVE time for all these:

  • Zero K by Don DeLillo — It’s DeLillo, the very definition of a Must Read.
  • Everybody’s Fool by Richard Russo — wasn’t the biggest fan of Nobody’s Fool, but I don’t know that I’ve really stopped thinking about it in the 2 or 3 years it’s been since I read it. So yeah, will have to get to this one
  • Robert B. Parker’s Slow Burn by Ace Atkins — You know it’s a big week when Atkins is #3 on my list. This was another strong one — will try to get my post up next week about it.
  • The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan — a new series in the Percy-verse. Apollo is sent to earth as a regular teen, trying to get back to Olympus.
  • Blood Defense by Marcia Clark — the first of a new series by Clark. This time the hero’s a defense attorney.
  • Double Down by Gwenda Bond — I enjoyed the first book about Lois Lane, teen reporter. Expect this one’ll be better.
  • The Jewel and Her Lapidary by Fran Wilde — don’t care what this novella is about, really. Fran Wilde’s Updraft earned her enough credit to just get whatever has her name on it for a year or two.
  • Outriders by Jay Posey — Military SF with a synopsis that starts with the line, “Captain Lincoln Suh died on a Wednesday. And things only got harder from there.” How do you not give it a chance?

Lastly, I’d like to say hi and welcome to J. L. Gribble and Looseygoosey for following the blog this week.

(I looked and looked for a source on this one…would love to link to it)

May the 4th Book Battle

By

On May 6, 2016

In News/Misc.

I should’ve posted this two days ago, but this is one of those weeks where email that doesn’t look urgent (or from authors who I’ve talked about repeatedly here) gets ignored. Oops.

Friends of the Irresponsible Reader, Future House Publishing, are having a special sale in honor of Star Wars Day (a great sale on already low prices, I should emphasize) and being in business for a year. Go, check it out! There’s a chance at prizes, too.

Be sure to check out Got Luck and Guardians, in particular — I talked about them here and here, respectively. But all their books look promising.

Kill the Boy Band by Goldy Moldavsky

By

On May 6, 2016

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

Kill the Boy BandKill the Boy Band

by Goldy Moldavsky

Hardcover, 312 pg.
Point, 2016

Read: May 3 – 4, 2016

It’s not every day you get to be alone with a member of the most popular boy band ever.

Wait. Let me rephrase that.

It’s not every day you get to be alone with the biggest flop in the most popular boy band ever while he is blindfolded and bound to a hotel armchair.

The Ruperts were formed by the producers of the TV show, So You Think the British Don’t Have Talent? because they were about the same age and had the same first name. I should add, I can absolutely see this happening. They go on to become the biggest music stars on the planet. Again, I can absolutely see this happening. A group of four friends get a suite in the same hotel the band is staying at while filming a Thanksgiving special, and inadvertently kidnaps one of them. You know what? I can see it happening, too — at least the way Moldavsky writes it.

I hate books like this when it comes to writing about them — it is next to impossible to talk about them without ruining everything. Half the fun in this is seeing how Moldavsky reveals tidbit after tidbit during the story. How they accidentally kidnapped the Rupert, what ulterior motives might be at work here, why do we need to know the size of Apple’s bag? Seriously, I don’t want to say anything about the book beyond the hook.

What I can say is that it’s funny, it’s smart, it’s strangely heartfelt, satirical without being mean, celebratory without turning off the brain and its critical faculties. In the midst of telling a clever dark comedic story, Moldavsky blends in a commentary on fangirl culture, a critique of them, as well as a celebration of them. It’s very thoughtful when the book isn’t wickedly fun.

The characters were well-drawn, you can see them all very clearly in your mind. The dialogue rings true (even if I think some of the 80’s references will go over the heads of the target audience — I don’t care, I caught them — and enjoyed them). Moldavsky has a great ear, and I hope to see it displayed again.

Somehow I knew we were going to meet The Ruperts. I didn’t know yet if I would cry or scream or faint. And I know that sounds like the reaction you’d have while getting mugged or something, but getting mugged and meeting your idols was basically the same thing: a moment of pure hysteria where you lose our mind and all control. The Ruperts could do that to a person. They could do it to me. And I couldn’t care less.

For fathers of teenaged girls this will help you understand your daughters’ obsession(s) with bands, both the whys and the hows. It may also scare you (and even provide a little relief knowing that your Not-So-Little Princess is a lot like other Not-So-Little Princesses out there). I know it did all of the above for me.

Give this one a read, you’ll probably enjoy it.

—–

3 Stars

Dead is Best by Jo Perry

By

On May 5, 2016

In Charlie & Rose Investigate, Dogs, Fiction, Jo Perry, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

Dead is BestDead is Best

by Jo Perry
Series: Charlie & Rose Investigate, #2

Kindle Edition, 296 pg.
Fahrenheit Press, 2016

Read: May 2, 2016

You’d think that having given up the ghost I’d be beyond the grasp of my ex-stepdaughter, the parasite.

Sure, Charlie’s less-than-charitable assessment, doesn’t make it sound like death has mellowed him at all — or that we really want to spend a novel looking into the trials and tribulations of his ex-stepdaughter, Cali. (a quick aside: I loved Charlie’s rant about the pretentious names given to Cali and her peers, “Truth, Canyon, Druid, Turquoise, Vanilla and Road. Don’t tell me those are names–– they’re brands. “) But last time we learned that 1. Charlie has actually mellowed a bit, we just need more time to see it; 2. He’s generally right about his family; and it won’t take long before the reader will actually care about Cali. As difficult as she’ll make it.

Textbooks will tell you that Cali is a “troubled teen.” Which is a pretty vague, and a likely outdated, term. She’s a drinker, a drug user, defiant daughter (although once you meet her mother and current stepfather, you kind of get that) in trouble with the law. But it doesn’t take long once Charlie and Rose start to follow her for her to end up in more trouble than she — or anyone — deserves.

Once again, there’s very little that Charlie and Rose can do other than watch what’s happening and put two and two together in the almost vain hope that Charlie can do something about it. Rest assured, they do, and it doesn’t involve another near death experience (I was a little afraid they’d just be hanging around Surgical Centers waiting for the next opportunity to talk to another ghost). It’s hard to believe that a mystery series where no one knows that the main characters did anything works. But this does.

What can I say about Rose? She’s at once one of the most realistic dog characters I can remember reading lately (she doesn’t talk, narrate, have a point of view chapter, or communicate telepathically), and yet, as a ghost, is the hardest to believe. She’s such a good influence on Charlie, I’m glad whatever or Whoever brought them together after their deaths.

Charlie said something in the last book about death not being about learning anything or insight or growth, that he stays the same. I don’t believe it, he’s not the same guy. But it’s probably a good sign that he doesn’t realize it.

Something I should’ve mentioned when I talked about the previous novel, these chapter epigraphs are great. They represent a truly impressive collection of quotations about death, some funny, some thoughtful, just about all of them keepers. The book is worth the effort just to read these (but you should really focus on the rest of the book).

Perry’s freakishly short chapters make you think Robert Parker was prone to be long-winded and rambling, but they work. You could probably make the case that they’re a commentary on the transient nature of human life or something (if you wanted to, and I don’t). They keep things moving, really keep anything from dragging, and help you get how Charlie and Rose can jump from place to place with ease.

Funny, poignant, all-around good story-telling. Plus there’s a dog. You really can’t ask for more than that. It’s easy to see why people as diverse as Cat Warren and Eric Idle commend these books. I strongly recommend this one (and the predecessor).

—–

4 Stars

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