Tag: From the Archives Page 6 of 28

Dusted Off: High Five by Janet Evanovich

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On December 16, 2013

In Authors, Fiction, Janet Evanovich, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, Stephanie Plum

High Five (Stephanie Plum, #5)High Five

by Janet Evanovich
Series: Stephanie Plum, #5


Mass Market Paperback, 317 pg.
St. Martin’s Paperbacks, 2000

One part Spenser, one part Lucy Ricardo, that’s the recipe for success that got Evanovich & Stephanie Plum to book #5 and it served them well here, too.

I found the mystery this time around more satisfying than most of this series’ cases have been–and the antics (while plenty amusing) are slightly less madcap than usual (which is a good thing).

Hive Five delivers a great mix of twists and turns, a little romance, plenty of laughs. Great read.

—–

4 Stars

Dusted Off: Cherry Bomb by J. A. Konrath

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On December 9, 2013

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

Cherry Bomb (Jack Daniels Mystery, #6)Cherry Bomb

by J.A. Konrath
Hardcover, 290 pg.
Hyperion, 2009

If you thought Rusty Nail was taught, action-packed, and gut-punchingly grisly, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. This picks up a couple of days afterwards and jumps into action almost immediately. Konrath seems determined to pick apart his heroine, to destroy her mind, soul, and body the way one of his serial killer characters would. And the series — and maybe Jack herself — is better off for it

I don’t know what to say about this that doesn’t veer into spoiler-territory, so I’ll just leave it as this–I lost sleep over this book, there was no way I was going to wait to finish this — and anyway, given the adrenaline this induced, it’s not like I could sleep anyway.

—–

4 1/2 Stars

Dusted Off: Rizzo’s Daughter by Lou Manfredo

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On December 9, 2013

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

Rizzo's DaughterRizzo’s Daughter

by Lou Manfredo
Hardcover, 304 pg.
Minotaur Books, 2012

Not the best of the Rizzo books, but it’s still one of the most compelling and honest (and brutal) books I’ve read this year.

Manfredo has never shied away from the ethical gray areas — this time he dives in further than before (and honestly, maybe veers to the more black than gray area).

The mini-cases that are featured here, alongside the two major cases, as perhaps more interesting than their counterparts and once again give you insight into the world of the NYPD as much as they give you something interesting to read. The procedure is authentic, the violence isn’t dazzling as it is in similar books, which makes it more brutal and more real.

Even though this wasn’t my favorite, what Manfredo has set up for the two Rizzos in blue can’t come fast enough for me. So glad I stumbled onto this series.

—–

3 Stars

Dusted Off: Rizzo’s Fire by Lou Manfredo

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On December 9, 2013

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

Rizzo's FireRizzo’s Fire

by Lou Manfredo
Hardcover, 304 pg.
Minotaur Books, 2011

It’s always tough to follow up a strong first book–and Manfredo isn’t the first author to come up a little shorter the second time around.

Still, it’s a solid read. Each page, each moment screams “authentic.” Not just because of what Manfredo used to do, though that certainly helps. The way that Rizzo and Cil have to juggle cases, call in and ask for favors, cut deals with all sorts of unsavory types, play politics, so on and so forth–if that’s not as close as you can get to reality, I don’t know what is.

The central case is less-than-gripping, but it’s still good to see solid procedure in a police procedural (even if our heroes cut a few corners). And I could sit and listen to Sergeant Rizzo tell war stories and share his philosophy of crime solving for hours.

Not a great book, but a really good one.

—–

3 Stars

Dusted Off: Rizzo’s War by Lou Manfredo

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On December 9, 2013

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

Rizzo's WarRizzo’s War

by Lou Manfredo
Hardcover, 290 pg.
Minotaur Books, 2009

Wow! Where has Manfredo been all my life? This was a gripping tale with great characters and just enough twists to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Sure, I have no way of knowing how authentically the characters, situations, and ethics of the NYPD detectives are depicted, but man, it couldn’t feel more authentic. You get the feeling you’ve been shadowing actual detectives for eleven months by the time you’re done.

Can’t wait for the sequels!

—–

4 Stars

Dusted Off: False Covenant by Ari Marmell

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On December 3, 2013

In Fiction

False Covenant (Widdershins Adventures, #2)False Covenant

by Ari Marmell
Series: Widdershins Adventures, #2

Hardcover, 281 pg.
Pyr, 2012

It doesn’t matter what Ari Marmell writes — whether the fantasy is YA or not — it’s gripping and intense. The only difference is the swearing and amount of blood.

Still reeling from the events of the first volume — the death of a close friend, a showdown with a demon, a burgeoning friendship with an up and coming star in the Guard (not a good move for a professional thief)– this adventure will push Widdershins even further and harder and will keep the pages turning ’til the jaw-dropping end.

Marmell has created a rich and elaborate world for Widdershins — the magic/mythology system, the thieves’ guild, it’s a soil that many volumes could be grown in, I certainly hope they do.

—–

4 Stars

Dusted Off: Thief’s Covenant by Ari Marmell

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On December 2, 2013

In Fiction

Thief's Covenant (Widdershins Adventures, #1)Thief’s Covenant

by Ari Marmell
Series: Widdershins Adventures, #1

Hardcover, 273 pg.
Pyr, 2012

Marmell’s first foray into YA is exactly what it should be–his kind of story, without the adult-y material, which he managed to do without feeling like he watered anything down. There’s some light moments–and some flat-out clever writing–but on a dime, Marmell can turn things dark and gruesome

Adrienne/Widdershins/insert-alias-here is a heckuva character — tough, but vulnerable; wise, yet naive; reckless, yet skilled–a good YA character. She’s good at what she does–maybe even great–but not perfect, which I really appreciated.

A good, solid fantasy in a package that’s smaller than a doorstop. I’ll be back for more.

—–

3.5 Stars

Dusted Off: The Conqueror’s Shadow by Ari Marmell

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On November 25, 2013

In Fiction

The Conqueror's ShadowThe Conqueror’s Shadow

by Ari Marmell
Hardcover, 448 pg.
Spectra, 2010

What a rollicking good read! This book has it all…great battle scenes; the fate of the world in the balance; wise crackin’ tough guys; wicked witches; ugly, brutish trolls; snarky demons…

Sure, it’s a story we’ve read/seen before–baddest of the bad guys retires, reforms (at least sorta), and has to come out of retirement to stop a new bad guy.

This telling of that familiar tale is done with panache and a clever trick or three to shake things up. Well done, and more than primes the pump for reading more in this world.

—–

4 Stars

Dusted-Off: Lunatics by Dave Barry, Alan Zweibel

By

On November 25, 2013

In Fiction, General Fiction/Literature

LunaticsLunatics

by Dave Barry
Hardcover, 320 pg.
Putnam Adult,2012

How does one write a book like this? First, you take a couple of characters, that while not exactly people you can meet each day, are close enough that you can buy them as characters in a novel. Then you put them in a relatable, if exaggerated, bad situation. Then you let that situation spin wildly, and hilariously, out of control and right into a worse situation–and let that one spin wildly, and hilariously, out of control and right into another–and repeat. Several times.

If you do that juuuust right, you might come close to capturing the brilliantly wacky madness that is Lunatics.

More than once, I laughed, guffawed, choked, chuckled, cracked-up, cackled, and did a spit-take. I’m sure my wife was as glad I was done with the book as I was disappointed it was over–a day and a half of my very loud reactions to this book were little more than she could tolerate.

Find yourself a nice, secluded little spot and read this. Soon. Sooner, even.

—–

4 Stars

Dusted Off: Old Man’s War by John Scalzi

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On November 18, 2013

In Authors, Fiction, John Scalzi, P-U, Science Fiction

Old Man's War (Old Man's War, #1)Old Man’s War

by John Scalzi
Mass Market Paperback, 362 pg.
Tor Books, 2007

I have to admit, I came to this with a degree of trepidation. I’ve really enjoyed Scalzi’s “lighter” works and wasn’t sure I was going to be able to get into his more serious SF. Boy, was I wrong. This was a blast–sure, not as funny as Agent to the Stars or The Android’s Dream, but it wasn’t supposed to be, it was still a rollicking good time–action, hard SF, and heart (even a couple of laughs)–everything you could ask for.

It starts out as sort of an inverse Ender’s Game, instead of kids being recruited to fight far-off aliens, we get senior citizens enlisting. Humanity’s colonies are spreading through the galaxy and running into all sorts of other species who are trying to do the same, and conflicts ensue. I can’t think of much more to say here without major spoilers.

Great cast of characters, believable future tech, creepy aliens, intense battles…fun, solid read, really looking forward to the sequel.

—–

4 Stars

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