Review: Phantom by Jo Nesbo

Phantom by Jo Nesbo
Publisher: Random House/Knopf
Publish Date: October 2, 2012

From the jacket:

When Harry left Oslo again for Hong Kong-fleeing the traumas of life as a cop-he thought he was there for good. But then the unthinkable happened. The son of the woman he loved, lost, and still loves is arrested for murder: Oleg, the boy Harry helped raise but couldn't help deserting when he fled. Harry has come back to prove that Oleg is not a killer. Barred from rejoining the police force, he sets out on a solitary, increasingly dangerous investigation that takes him deep into the world of the most virulent drug to ever hit the streets of Oslo (and the careers of some of the city's highest officials), and into the maze of his own past, where he will find the wrenching truth that finally matters to Oleg, and to himself.


Phantom kept me guessing the whole time I read it.  I haven't read every single Jo Nesbo book, but this was one of the best books I've read from him. Complicated but coherent, the plot incorporates and develops existing characters from his previous work while incorporating new and interesting characters.  Seeing the havoc that the drug Violin brings into the streets and people of Oslo as well as his beloved Oleg.  Harry has to comes to term with the results of leaving former love Raquel & her son Oleg and wonder whether sticking around might have helped Oleg.  Each discovery he makes and clues he uncovers bring him closer to a truth he might not want.  For me, the cherry on top of this delicious novel was the ending.  I love that Jo Nesbo was willing to go there.

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

From Amazon:

In The Keeper of Lost Causes, Jussi Adler-Olsen introduced Detective Carl Mørck, a deeply flawed, brilliant detective newly assigned to run Department Q, the home of Copenhagen’s coldest cases. The result wasn’t what Mørck—or readers—expected, but by the opening of Adler-Olsen’s shocking, fast-paced follow-up, Mørck is satisfied with the notion of picking up long-cold leads. So he’s naturally intrigued when a closed case lands on his desk: A brother and sister were brutally murdered two decades earlier, and one of the suspects—part of a group of privileged boarding-school students—confessed and was convicted.

But once Mørck reopens the files, it becomes clear that all is not what it seems. Looking into the supposedly solved case leads him to Kimmie, a woman living on the streets, stealing to survive. Kimmie has mastered evading the police, but now they aren’t the only ones looking for her. Because Kimmie has secrets that certain influential individuals would kill to keep buried . . . as well as one of her own that could turn everything on its head.

I loved Keeper of Lost Causes and have already pre-ordered this novel.  Can't wait for August 21, 2012.

Review: The Undertaker by William F. Brown

The Undertaker by William F. Brown
ASIN:B004NIFSVG
Published:  January 2011

   If a large man with a gun asked you to explain your obituary, I am sure you would comply..  When you realize, your deceased wife is dragged in to the mess, you might decide to investigate the matter.  Peter Talbott has no idea for the dangerous journey ahead of him in his quest to clear his wife's name. A couple days of poking his nose into the matter ends with Peter on the running from the law and the mob.  Searching for evidence to shore up his theory, Peter meets Sandy Kazmarcik.  Having dragged her into the mess, he feels obligated to keep her safe.  Her judo skills, street smarts, and good looks don't hurt either.  Stumbling onto evidence of the mob's financial affairs and a conspiracy in the Witness Protection program does nothing to ease Peter's fears.  Realizing he cannot trust anyone, Peter figures out a way to expose the conspiracy without ending up dead.

    Peter Talbott was a well developed character with a quirky (California style according to other characters in the book) sense of humor.  Sandy Kazmarcik was a great foil to Peter and their relationship didn't feel forced to carry a story arc. Some of the baddies were textbook villian -- hick sherriff, wily lawyer, etc.  The concept of the novel was well thought out and well played throughout the book. There were some minor editing issues and spelling errors that put me off a bit but overall The Undertaker was a fast paced read. If you like stories about government conspiracies with a dash of romance, this book is a quick and intriguing read. 

Review: Vanished in the Night by Eileen Carr

 

Title: Vanished in the Night by Eileen Carr
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: July 26, 2011
ISBN: 9781439183878
Pages:352

    Vanished in the Night begins with the discovery of human remains at a construction site in Sacramento, California.  When the police arrive to notify Veronica Osborne that the remains belong to her long missing brother Max, she is both saddened and relieved.  She finally knows what happened to her brother.  Panic takes over when she realizes that the officers suspect her father in the death which is quickly ruled a homicide.  She knows her father, George Osborne, is a hostile drunk with a history of abusing Max but she can't give in to the possibility that he might have killed Max.  Veronica decides to conduct her own investigation to protect her father and find out what happened to Max.  Her desire to keep her dad out of harm's way is only intensified by her annoyance and lust for the detective on the case Zach McKnight.  Neither does Zach expect to develop feelings for Veronica who utterly annoys him with her meddling in the investigation and refusal to let him do his job. As more deaths occur, the police delve into the past to figure out the killer's motivation and try to stop him.  The increasing danger of the case brings Zach and Veronica together.  This togetherness sets the killer off and he makes Veronica his next target.  Now Zach has to stop the killer before he gets Veronica.

Vanished in the Night is a pretty quick,enjoyable read; I read it in one day. We learn pretty early in the book who the culprit is but we are on edge waiting for him to finish his plan or be caught by the police.    The main characters are well written - Veronica as the eager to please child of violence and alcoholism and Zach as the reform school graduate turned cop.  The choices made by the characters seem in keeping with their personality as described.  The only detraction for me was some of the pop culture references and dated slang; all in all, this book was a great read for a summer's afternoon.


**This book was provided by the publisher Pocket Books in exchange for my honest opinion.**

Swag to the 4th Power

Miss Timmins School for Girls by Nayana Currimbhoy

From Amazon:

A murder at a British boarding school in the hills of western India launches a young teacher on the journey of a lifetime
In 1974, three weeks before her twenty-first birthday, Charulata Apte arrives at Miss Timmins' School for Girls in Panchgani. Shy, sheltered, and running from a scandal that disgraced her Brahmin family, Charu finds herself teaching Shakespeare to rich Indian girls in a boarding school still run like an outpost of the British Empire. In this small, foreign universe, Charu is drawn to the charismatic teacher Moira Prince, who introduces her to pot-smoking hippies, rock ‘n' roll, and freedoms she never knew existed.
Then one monsoon night, a body is found at the bottom of a cliff, and the ordered worlds of school and town are thrown into chaos. When Charu is implicated in the murder—a case three intrepid schoolgirls take it upon themselves to solve—Charu's real education begins. A love story and a murder mystery, Miss Timmins' School for Girls is, ultimately, a coming-of-age tale set against the turbulence of the 1970s as it played out in one small corner of India.


Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones

From the author's website

With the opening line of Silver Sparrow, “My father, James Witherspoon is a bigamist,” Tayari Jones unveils a breathtaking story about a man’s deception, a family’s complicity, and the teenage girls caught in the middle.

Set in a middle-class neighborhood in Atlanta in the 1980s, the novel revolves around James Witherspoon’s families– the public one and the secret one. When the daughters from each family meet and form a friendship, only one of them knows they are sisters. It is a relationship destined to explode when secrets are revealed and illusions shattered. As Jones explores the backstories of her rich and flawed characters, she also reveals the joy, and the destruction, they brought to each other’s lives.

At the heart of it all are the two girls whose lives are at stake, and like the best writers, Jones portrays the fragility of her characers with raw authenticity as they seek love, demand attention, and try to imagine themselves as women.

Donatella Cooks by Donatella Arpaia
From Amazon

Dubbed "the hostess with the mostest" by Zagats, Donatella Arpaia is a ubiquitous and striking presence on the national food scene. Literally raised in the business, she knows precisely what makes a guest feel welcome, whether in one of her wildly popular restaurants or one-on-one in her home. Yet every day she meets would-be home cooks—sophisticated, confident, successful women with discriminating palates—whose confidence evaporates at the kitchen door.
For these discerning diners, Donatella has written Donatella Cooks, a sassy, spirited guide to cooking and entertaining with flair. Writing with humor, wit, and practicality, she covers every element of a great evening, from super simple yet delectable food to the perfect music, drinks, and décor. Her foolproof recipes are brimming with bold flavor yet so easy to prepare even novice cooks can pull them off without breaking a sweat. Whether it’s a romantic dinner for two or a cocktail gala for dozens, Donatella Cooks has the winning formula for the perfect evening.

I've Read All of Her Books

One of my favorite authors as a teenager was Agatha Christie.  I'm pretty sure I have read all her books and collections.  Sometime late last century (love saying that), Brooklyn Public Library started revamping their collection of her work.  I was so exuberant; I think I have read every book published in the United States. I had a list so I wouldn't reread anything until I had read all the other books. 
Crooked House is still my favorite Agatha Christie story.





 
I don't really have a favorite between Miss Marple or Hercules Poirot, her two main detectives.  I like Miss Marple.  Everyone thinks she is a quiet, unassuming doddering spinster, but she is very with it.  No one can get anything past her.  My favorite Miss Marple book is A Murder Is Announced.









Hercule Poirot is somewhat different.  He is well traveled and had a successful career as a detective before retiring and becoming a private detective.  He is very confident in his abilities and has no problem flaunting his abilities.  My favorite Hercule Poirot book is Murder on the Orient Express. 




Her greatest mystery was her disappearance for 11 days in the winter of 1926.  After having an argument with her husband, she left home.  Her secretary found a note that she was going to another town.  Nobody could find her or get in contact with her.  Eleven days later she was found in a hotel under an assumed name and was either unable or unwilling to give any details of the preceding eleven days.  To this day, we have no concrete idea of what really happened.  Some people think she was trying to frame her husband for her murder; some think she just wanted a little privacy.  Whatever the reason, Agatha took the secret to her grave.

She is one of the best selling authors of all times, has had the longest running play, and many film adaptations of her novels.  Her detective Hercule Poirot is the only fictional character to have a New York Times autobiography.   All this from a woman who started her career trying to prove to her sister she could write better mysteries than the Sherlock Holmes series.

Do you have a favorite author?  Have you read all their books? 

Book Swag #3

My latest acquisition Silencing Sam, courtesy of Pocket Books:

 From Julie Kramer's website:

When a widely despised gossip columnist is found shot to death, TV reporter Riley Spartz must secretly investigate a case in which she becomes the prime suspect. Amid murder, our heroine discovers news and gossip have more in common than she ever imagined.

Trouble begins when Riley publicly clashes with newspaper gossip writer Sam Pierce, throwing a drink in his face, after he implies in his 'Piercing Eyes' column that she cheated on her dead husband. When clues to the rumormonger's homicide lead to her, Riley is charged with the crime. The police seem unwilling to look any further for perpetrators though numerous local news makers have reason for revenge - even motive for murder.

Meanwhile, competition between journalists increases with newsrooms facing financial meltdowns. While Riley struggles to interest her boss in a story about rural wind farm bombings and dead bats, a new Channel 3 reporter spikes the station ratings with exclusive stories about the headless homicide of an unknown woman whose decapitated body is found in a city park.

Riley must fight to stay out of jail, ahead in the ratings, and even alive in a killer showdown not fit for television audiences.

Review: The Keepers of the Rose

 

Title: The Keepers of the Rose by D. J. Dalasta
ASIN: B004U2VCII
Available via Amazon Kindle Store


    Hidden for three centuries on Oak Island off the Canadian coast, Captain Kidd's bounty has taunted treasure evaded treasure seekers.  Captain Kidd failed to hide the treasure prior to his capture for piracy.  He was able to pass the mission on to his son Captain Robert Ryder.  Ryder assembled a crew of architects and workmen to build a enclosure to ensure the treasure remained hidden from humans until the year 2012.  Why  2012?  Part of the treasure is vital to humanity's fate.  Several organization -- the CIA, Delega Corporation, and the Keepers of the Rose -- would love to be people with the knowledge and thus the most powerful on earth.  A path of bloodshed, betrayals, and clues that span centuries lead to the point where we begin to understand the secrets of the rose.
    I'm sure you've heard of the ancient Mayan predictions regarding the year 2012.  Rock and his crew realize that the bounty has clues to what the Mayans really meant with their 2012 predictions.  The immense power of the knowledge is further reinforced by the lengths the three groups go to secure the knowledge for themselves.  Who should possess the information that decides the future of humanity?
     If you like suspense and mystery with a touch of  Mayan prophesy lore, this is the book for you.  The book delves into Mayan prophesy and origins and gives an interesting idea of what could be if we were able to understand and harness the Mayan prophesy.  Makes you think.
  
*This book was provided by the author in exchange for my honest opinion.  *

The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg

Title: The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg
Publisher: Free Press
Published: March 2011
ISBN: 9781451621747
Pages: 416

Fjallbacka, Sweden is an idyllic fishing village.  Rich city folk pay tons of money for summer homes here.  People that live there rarely want to leave.  All is not as it seems though.  Small towns can hold big secrets.  You know the saying, "Two people can share a secret -- if one of them is dead."  Someone has taken that to heart.
Erica Falck returns to her hometown to settle her parents' estate after their death in a car accident.  She didn't expect to find the frozen corpse of her childhood best friend.  Despite all signs pointing to suicide, Erica feels like Alex wouldn't and didn't kill herself.
Patrick Hedstrom is the officer assigned to the case.  Hobbled by an incompetent supervisor,  he tries to uncover why someone would kill, and in Fjallbacka.  With ingenuity and some prompts from Erica, he works slowly but surely to solve the mystery.
The mystery is complicated by the fact that in a small town like Fjallbacka everyone seemingly knows each others business.  Can there be any secrets worth killing for?  Who would have such a secret?  Why murder now?  Horrific deeds come to life despite the best efforts of several people including the murderer to keep them hidden. 
There was lots of extraneous info  in this book.  The characters constantly repeating each others ideas or withholding information from each other.  There are several sections showing either Erica's or Patrick's angst regarding the other.  The multiple viewpoints, one of which isn't revealed until later in the book, can be very distracting.
Overall,  the book was well done.  The main characters were pretty well done and had pretty clearly defined personalities.  The plot was suspenseful and had several interesting twists.  It's a great beach read that keeps you interested but is low maintenance.  I look forward to reading the rest of the series. 

** This review was based on a book provided by the publisher.**