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Unfolding at A Frenetic Pace, Being Told in Two Tenses at Once…Past and Present…”The Black Book”, by James Patterson

It is quite a quandary when one is accused of murder and they cannot remember a single detail of the incident. And, that person was also caught up in the shooting and sustained near fatal injuries. Such is the premise of the story line in The Black Book by James Patterson. Author Patterson has been a very prolific mystery writer with several series over a period of several years. In this book, Billy Harney comes from a family of cops in Chicago, and has the ethic that he will do anything to excel at his job.

Avid readers have, at times, become disenchanted with Patterson’s work, claiming that he was basically just pumping out books for royalties and not giving much attention to the structure and intensity of the plot, as he did in Along Came a Spider, and Kiss the Girls. However, The Black Book seems to have revived their enthusiasm for Patterson’s work. Even Patterson himself admitted that The Black Book was his best work in years. The plot is said to unfold at a frenetic pace, being told in two tenses at once……past and present. Even the most adept fans thought they had figured out the end of the book, only to find that the actual ending was a complete surprise and was excellently delivered.

Most of the time, Patterson’s books are checked out of the library by many readers, because they do not feel the commercialized mysteries are worth buying. However, The Black Book has changed their minds….. they are just hoping they do not have to wait another several years for another block buster mystery. The Black Book left its readers wanting more.

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Was it Suicide, An Accident or Murder???…”Man Overboard”, by J.A. Jance

Man Overboard is a fast moving suspense thriller full of action on every page. J. A. Jance keeps her readers guessing as to where the story is heading. Her storyline is full of cyber bullying, betrayal, intrigue, suspicious deaths and manipulation.

Roger McGeary’s gets an all-expense paid cruise and he’s having the time of his life on it. That is until he falls over the balcony of his suite. Was it suicide, an accident or murder? The panama police called it a ‘misadventure’ to cover their bases. But Roger’s Aunt Julia isn’t happy with that and she wants answers. So she calls on Rogers’s childhood friend Stuart Ramey and his security team to solve the mystery.

Stuart, Cami, and Ali, part of High Noon Enterprise online security firm, soon find out they’re dealing with a killer who is targeting victims who lost parents to suicide and is attempting to drive them to the same tragic end. And on top of it all…the killer isn’t working alone…

Man Overboard is the 12th book in the series, and although you don’t need to read the others to be able to follow the characters…it will make you want to listen to the others.

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Dangerous Little Lies We Tell Ourselves Just to Survive…”Big Little Lies”, by Liane Moriarty

It seems like any other school fundraiser, but P&C Trivia Night at the local public school in Pirriwee ends with disaster. Author Moriarty is known for her knack for creating main characters who are so believable that any one of us could know them as a next door neighbor, or a friend at PTO.

Big Little Lies is a complicated, yet also simple, story of ordinary people who end up in an extraordinary situation. The reader knows that one character will not be living at the book’s end, but they have no clue as to which character, until the very end of the book. Will it be gregarious, passionate Madeline, who does not use her “filter” if confronting a foe, especially her ex-husband or his new, younger wife. Will it be Celeste, the town beauty who can stop small town traffic with her looks, and the sight of her two energetic twin boys. Or, will it be the young newcomer, Jane, who is a very young single mom, who the others have decided to mentor. The reader finds out after reading through the “brilliant take on ex-husbands, second wives, mothers and daughters, school booard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive”.

Moriarty writes books that keep the reader page turning into the wee hours of the morning, just too good to put down. The film adaptation, by David E. Kelley, tells the tale of three mothers of first graders, whose seemingly perfect lives unravel to show the truth…… even to the point of murder. The film stars Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and Shailene Woodley.

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In the Midst of Thousands of Tourists, There is a Psychotic Mass Murderer on the Loose…”Cross the Line”, by James Patterson

In American author’s James Patterson’s 24th in the Alex Cross series, readers will not be disappointed! In his usual way of writing, Patterson incorporates headlines out of the current events happening today. The book takes place in Alex’s own city of Washington DC, where crowds and chaos reign. And in the midst of thousands of tourists, there is a psychotic mass murderer on the loose.

Alex gets a call about a driver being shot as he drives on Rock Creek Park. Just as Cross begins his interrogation with this new case, another call comes in that is hitting too close for comfort. The Washington chief of detectives, who happens to be Alex’s wife’s boss, has been murdered. He was also Alex’s former boss. The plot expands to include several suspects, two high profile cases, a panicked city, and their leader has been snuffed out, leaving chaos.

The differences in opinions on the cases cause great strain in the marriage of Alex and his wife Bree. She is in the middle of a catch 22 in trying to save her marriage while at the same time scrambling to stop the murderer from striking again. Another cog is thrown into the mix when an entire group of criminals are massacred in a warehouse that they were utilizing as a meth lab. The killer, who speeds around DC on a fast motorcycle has made himself the judge, jury, and executioner. Alex and Bree must out think the psycho before he includes them both in his evil plan.

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Student by Day…Off the Grid by Night…”Night School”, by Lee Child

American author, Lee Child presents his 20th book in the Reacher series of international mystery and suspense. In the 90’s only about 10% of the population was using the internet, so orders to operatives were actually kept secret! At the same time, it is amazing how such organizations were able to function. Reacher is called into service by disguising him as attending school, but of course by that same night, he is off the grid.

The questions abound as the team researches a Jihadist sleeper cell in Hamburg, Germany, where they overhear a Saudi courier whisper to a CIA plant…… “the American wants a hundred million dollars”. That is when all the questions begin……who is the American?……..What is he selling? ………… And to whom? The fear is, that if they do not get their man, there will be world terrorism of epic proportions.

From readers who previewed the book, it was said that it is literally a page – turner to see what will happen next! One of their favorite scenarios is when Reacher and his female sergeant encounter Neo-Nazis who attack them. Even though it seemed a bit unrealistic, the readers still enjoyed envisioning the female sergeant kicking the butts of the attackers. One rather comical comment was about the fact that actor Tom Cruise, who is not a tall person, will play the role of 6’5″, 250 lb. Reacher………seemed like an error in casting to that reader.

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A Cold Case Can Become Hot Very Quickly…”The Wrong Side of Goodbye”, by Michael Connelly

In his latest Harry Bosch series, author Michael Connelly proves Harry is still in the criminal tracking business, even though he has retired from the LAPD. Without advertising any willingness to take on new cases, Harry is still called upon for his professional services. He takes a job with the San Fernando Police Department as a reserve officer, but still gets caught up in a very dangerous case involving a serial rapist. It is a cold case, but as the reader will find out, a cold case can become hot very quickly when the perpetrator of the crime is not happy being tracked down. Even in a small town police department, the cases can be very tense, unpredictable, and dangerous.

At the same time that Harry is on the heels of the serial rapist, a very wealthy magnate has requested that he find a daughter, with whom he had no relationship. The wealthy man is dying and wants to find the daughter because she is the sole heir to his vast fortune. Unfortunately, the man dies before meeting his daughter, but Harry is still under contract to find her and secure her safety until she receives the proceeds of her inheritance. Of course, this proves to be very dangerous for all involved.

One reviewer wrote…….”I often compare reading good books to old fashioned trains leaving the station. Once I can hear the steady chug and hum as it hustles down the tracks, I know there is going to be one great ride of a story.” Some have been known to finish the book in one day……truly a page-turner.

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Perfect Storm of Greed and Corruption…”The Whistler”, by John Grisham

American author, John Grisham has sold over 300 million copies of his books since writing The Pelican Brief in 1992. His newest offering is The Whistler, which he calls a bit of a different style than he usually writes. He has enlisted the character of Lacy Stoltz, who is an investigator for the Florida Board on Judicial Conduct. She is a lawyer who responds to complaints about perceived dishonest judges. In being called upon to investigate a certain judge who has been accused of skimming millions from Indian owned and operated casinos, she quickly realizes that this particular investigation could prove to be very personally dangerous. But, she did not expect it to be deadly.

The 493 Indian casinos in the United States make more than any regular casino……..they gross more than $30 billion (from 2015 figures). And, they have different rules……they pay no taxes, and 90% of their money is in cash. Grisham saw this as a “perfect storm” of sorts for greed and corruption to surface. Since corruption, thrills, and suspense are sellers in novels, Grisham’s combination should be a winning combination for another award winning book. He has had 28 consecutive number one best sellers on the New York Times fiction bestseller list. His wife, Renee, convinced him to put a different spin on The Whistler. She told him, “to stop preaching, get off your soap box and just write a legal thriller”. So, that he did…….with none of the usual serious social injustices incorporated. In recent interviews, Grisham has hinted that there might be a Lacy Stoltz sequel or sequels.

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Almost More Than One Person Can Handle…”Escape Clause”, by John Sanford

Author John Sanford is best known for his fictional mystery series involving the Prey series and latest, the Virgil Flowers’ series. In his newest book, Virgil Flowers is faced with two so-called storm fronts that he must handle. In the one case, two very rare Amur tigers have gone missing, and the fear is that vicious poachers have stolen them to sell at a premium to unscrupulous people who in turn use the various dismembered body parts for traditional Chinese medicine. As if that was not enough, Virgil’s girlfriend, Frankie, has a sister named Sparkle who has brought immeasurable trouble to herself and in turn to Virgil and Frankie. Almost more than one person can handle……can Virgil do it?

As one reviewer puts it……”there is no shortage of action that includes plenty of blood, guts, gore and bawdy language”. Not a book for anyone other than adults. The conclusion of most who were given the chance to preview Escape Clause, gave it high praise and very highly recommended the read as well.

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In Extreme Situations…How Do You Respond?…”Rushing Waters”, by Danielle Steel

We all watched in horror as Hurricane Sandy destroyed area after area in New Jersey and New York. It seemed surreal actually watching such a violent act of nature uprooting and ruining people’s lives and health. American author, Danielle Steel creates a fictional account of a hurricane of horrific proportions striking the densely populated area of New York City. She weaves together many characters from several different walks of life, to demonstrate how people personally react to extreme situations.

I have always wondered why some people choose to refuse to evacuate from threatened areas when the evacuation orders are given. Author Steel gives the back story of some such people, and how their decisions affect their safety or harm. Others characters are among those who must deal with trying to patch up those who have been injured, or in the worst cases, report deaths to anxiously awaiting family members. Some characters are unlucky foreign visitors who have gotten caught up in the storm drama.

Hurricane Ophelia does not discriminate against any victims. The wealthy, the poor, the students, the medical teams……. all suffer the chaos of the storm. It is up to those individuals to decide how they will respond. “Keenly observed and brilliantly told, this is an unforgettable story that proves that while life can change in an instant, even the darkest storm can bring forth courage, resilience, unexpected joy, and new life”.

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Shy, Dyslexic…”Damaged”, by Lisa Scottoline

With anti-bullying being a contemporary anthem these days, the 15th in the Rosati & DiNunzio novel is very timely. Patrick O’Brien is the target of those who are so cruel to their fellow students. Patrick, who is 10 years old, is shy, dyslexic, very small for his age, and does not defend himself against the bullies. In an unfortunate set of events, he is accused by a nefarious teacher’s aide of Patrick stabbing him with scissors. The male aide sues Patrick’s guardian (his grandfather), and the school board. Mary DiNunzio is called to defend the ten year old. Patrick would never harm anyone.

Mary DiNunzio was just about to walk down the aisle when the complicated and emotionally draining case was presented to her. She immediately became very emotionally involved, to the point of finding herself fighting her associates, her fiancé, and social workers to defend and care for Patrick.

The story has many upsetting twists and turns as though ripped from current headlines. As if the abuse that Patrick has encountered from the aide isn’t bad enough, having to announce it to the public through court is very traumatizing to both Mary and Patrick. Then, the nasty opposing lawyer attempts every trick in the book to try to remove Mary as the boy’s attorney. “Starting slowly, (author) Lisa Scottoline, expertly stokes the boiler to the bursting point”. Readers will immerse themselves in Mary’s sweet-talking attempts to rescue this ten year old boy who is in danger of being lost to a world of trouble.

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