Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo ( Alex Stern #1)

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many books in the last few years have been touted as "Harry Potter for adults", but I think Ninth House is the closest I have seen. It is gritty, dark, magical and pretty dang cool.
Leigh Bardugo the highly popular creator of the YA Grishaverse, shows here that she is a writer who can write for anyone.
Ninth House takes place at modern day Yale.. I know at first you are like, yawn, wake me up when it's over. But, once you read the first sentence, you realize that this Yale is way different , more spooky and mysterious than you have imagined.
Ninth House is about a young women named Galaxy Stern or Alex. She has been brought to Yale because she can see things others cannot. Namely, dead people or Grays. You see, at Yale there are a bunch of secret societies that deal with various magical and occult properties and they have some very famous alumni, George W. Bush, Jodie Foster, Anderson Cooper and others. The 8 Houses are watched or policed by Lethe House. Lethe are the caretakers, making sure that nothing goes wrong or the houses abuse their power.
There is magic here. Not only in Bardugo's writing, but in the magic system that sheb has built using these real locales.
Alex arrives at Yale fresh from some pretty horrible stuff in California to be trained as Lethe's new "Dante". Her "Virgil", Darlington, (Daniel Arlington) the previous Dante is to train her, so that one day he can take his place and train another in her stead. There is an "Ovid" named Dawes who supports them and helps with any knowledge they might need, and a "Centurion" who is an investigator with the police department. One who doesn't believe in magic or what he is there in case something happens that involves harm to the outside world.

Well. something happens. A town girl is found murdered on the grounds of Yale and it is up to Alex to find out why and if the Houses are involved. There are wonderful and eerie surprises in this book, which you need to discover on your own. But, Alex's journey is a hard one with turmoil and death on all sides, not to mention some pretty badass magic that gets directed at her.

Pick this up. You will enjoy it, but be warned this isn't a young adult book and Bardugo's characters have scars, lusts and colorful language galore.

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The Magic of Recluce by L E Modesitt ( The Saga of Recluce #1)

The Magic of Recluce by L.E. Modesitt Jr.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have had the first 7 or 8 of this series on my bookshelf since 2000. All first editions and signed at a book signing I had LE Modesitt at. And never read them.
Finally got the itch to start. Glad I did. I am still a little confused about reading order and chronological order but I'll go with what the author says. Read in published order.
The Magic of Recluce is really good and the authors magic system is new and interesting for a change. The story concerns Lerris a resident in Recluce is bored with all the order and perfection. As such, not knowing what he wants he is given two choices. Exile or Dangergeld. He chooses the latter and is shipped if to neighboring Candar where it isnt so perfect and too he needs to undertake a journey.
In Modesitt's magic system there is order which is black and chaos which is white. Very involved but makes a lot of sense.
Lerris learns much and comes to an understanding of of who and what he is in a very readable take.
Onto The Towers of Sunset!






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Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff ( The Nevernight Chronicle #2)

Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Godsgrave is a true work of art! Godsgrave picks up 8 months after the closing events of Nevernight and we discover Mia has a new destination, the Collegium.

One thing I loved about Nevernight was the storytelling and Kristoff keeps it up. The book itself is split into 3 parts and I absolutely love how part 1 tells the story of here we are now but let me also tell you how we got to now, this is told through flashbacks. To me it is never hard to follow the past and present story lines because each one is very unique. I also love how the flashbacks do not overstay their welcome, it has a precise story line and ends.

As for the present story and plot, Godsgrave amps up all the action and drama by 100. Kristoff writes some of the best action scenes ever, period. They are gripping, exhilarating, and downright gruesome. Every action scene is vivid and well detailed and that is all thanks to Kristoff's incredible writing style.

Now the plot stays it's course from Nevernight, we are still after those that ruined Mia's life, however we now join a Collegium rather then a school for assassin's. Man did I love the Collegium in this book! The new characters were all fleshed out, some likeable some not so likeable. However I do have to tell myself when it comes to Jay Kristoff books I really need to not get so attached to the characters because well you will just have to read the book to find out. The new characters add a fresh new feel to the book to the point that we get to see a more softer side to Mia that we really didn't get to see in the first book, so I appreciated that. Seeing a softer side to Mia really showed some great character development and there definitely was quite a bit of character development throughout this book. The Collegium is also where we get to see all the action take place. Like I said before these action sequences were epic. They all weren't the same either and what I mean by that is, we didn't have just big blood bath battles. Like a true Colosseum in Rome, their were games, chariot races, and of course blood baths.

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Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff ( Nevernight Chronicle #3)

Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What can I say about this series. I am so sad that it has come to an end. Raunchy, wonderful, crude and addictive. Definitely not for the faint of heart. But what a creation. Mia Corvere and all of the others are simply brilliant characters that you care for and root for and yes, cry for. With the lush world building that resembles ancient Rome and Venice, with their various locales, are just astounding. If you like your fantasy dark and gritty and full of angst and wonder; pick up Nevernight and start the adventure.

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The Russian by Ben Coes ( Rob Tacoma #1)

The Russian by Ben Coes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ben Coes is one of the best thriller writers going today and with this new series, starring one of his regular characters from the Dewey Andreas book, the future is bright. This was fun, at some points it bordered on the incredible, but still fun. Let's put it this way. I don't think even Jack Reacher would stand a chance against Rob Tacoma.
Plus with an ending that promises more, we will have to see what's next for Calibrisi, Katie, Rob and Dewey.

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Into the Fire by Gregg Hurwitz (Orphan X, #5)

Into the Fire by Gregg Andrew Hurwitz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Long live Evan Smoak! After Orphan X's last adventure it left one wondering where author Gregg Hurwitz had left to go. But, it just goes to show that Hurwitz is much more clever than I.
Orphan X #5 is REALLY good. But, could this actually be the last mission for X? He seems to be moving that way and as his fans we sincerely hope not.
In Into the Fire, X is considering hanging it up after one more Nowhere Man mission and much internal dialogue to the point on what it would be like to be "normal".
With that, Evan receives the now normal call to help from someone who is already running from those trying to kill him. Max Merriweather is a down on his luck guy who promised his older brother that he would deliver a package to a lawyer if anything ever happened to him. With the older brother's death by torture, Max starts the quest to fulfill an obligation only to be chased and almost killed. Not knowing where to turn, while running he runs into the last X helpee and is given THE number to contact the Nowhere Man. In his typical fashion, X handles the problem fairly quickly, but it seems that that there are others involved and much to Evan's surprise and consternation, each head killed sprouts two more. Knowing that Max will never be safe until the job is completely done, Evan forgers ahead into some of his most harrowing experiences yet. Add the reliable standby's of Mia, Peter, and Joey not to mention a new addition Dog, and you are in for a wild ride.

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A Dangerous Man by Robert Crais (Elvis Cole, #18; Joe Pike, #7)

A Dangerous Man by Robert Crais
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Elvis Lives!
I have been reading Robert Crais for over 20 years now. I have told hundreds of people about him, Elvis Cole and Pike. These are consistently great in every way and when a new Pike or Elvis book comes out, make time because you won't want to put it down.
A Dangerous man is no different. There is everything you would want from this book. Great characters, humor and tremendous action scenes. Bad cowboys, lowlife thugs, the Witness Protection Program, Federal Marshall's and of course one dangerous man in Pike.
The story begins on a normal day after Pike does an errand at his bank. Moments after finishing, the young bank teller leaves for lunch only to be kidnapped in broad daylight with no on noticing.. except Pike.
Pike saves her and a chain of events occurs that no one could see coming. With the help of the intrepid Elvis Cole, Pike and Elvis unravel a 20 year old mystery and in the process meet some bad dudes. But, none can hold a candle to Pike.

If you haven't discovered these books, pick up The Monkey's Raincoat and start! Now! Today! and read them in order.. You will love these books.

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Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett ( The Founders Trilogy #1)

Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book. “Foundryside” is an amazingly smooth read. Very well written with characters that you really care about. Very original and tremendous world building as well.
Bennett has developed an innovative magic system along with some exquisite world building. The city of Tevanne has hints of a great past of imperial dynasties ruling the land and now profits through the sale of magic. Merchant houses compete against each other and is the primary source of political intrigue in the novel. The magic system is truly unique. Through a process called ‘scriving’ various products, machinery, and devices are imbued with special magical scripts which tell objects how to defy reality. Imagine an elevator in a mine shaft which is scrived to ignore gravity and naturally “fall up”. Part of the fun in reading Foundryside, is discovering how these rules work. While the merchant houses grow wealthy due to selling and controlling scrived products, there is an active underworld which operates by manufacturing knock-offs of their own. All of this creates an impressive world for the characters to play in.

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Holy Sister by Mark Lawrence (Books of the Ancestor #3)

Holy Sister by Mark Lawrence
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Books of the Ancestor by Mark Lawrence are three of the finest fantasies that I have read in a long time and Holy Sister was amazing. Lawrence can write with the best of them and his characters are real. This is the type of book that at times you have to put down because you care so damn much.
Holy Sister is the continuing story of Nona Grey and the story of the Corridor and the Convent of Sweet Mercy and the battles with the Scithrowl who want to invade and take over everything in their path.
This review will not do justice to the book in part because I hate to give spoilers. But, Nona has been at Sweet Mercy for a decade now and while still learning, has become formidable in her own right. The book alternates between events three years in the past where the second book in the series, Red Sister, ends and present day from the point of view Nona and those around her. The battle scenes are intense and the worldbuilding first rate. I also dare anyone with a beating heart to shed more than a few tears during this book. Especially a dramatic scene with dear Sister Pan that shows Lawrence's brilliance.
READ THIS SERIES! You will not regret it.

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Tear It Down by Nick Petrie ( Peter Ash #5)

Tear It Down by Nick Petrie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Peter Ash, has grown restless after recuperating at his girlfriend’s house from an accident. He’s having trouble adjusting to civilian life. June suggests that he go and help her friend Wanda Wyatt, a combat photographer, because she’s having a little trouble with vandalism at her home in Memphis. Once Peter gets there, he finds out that Wanda is in a whole lot of trouble that could get her killed. Someone is looking for something they believe belongs to them, and it’s in the house Wanda bought after returning from an assignment overseas. They’ll stop at nothing to get it back, even if it means killing Wanda to get her out of the house.

Eli Bell helped rob a jewelry store against his better judgment. He wants to play the blues, but can’t seem to get his life together. After robbing the jewelry store, he finds himself in trouble with a local gangster named King Robbie. Robbie wants what’s his, and he’s coming after Eli to get it. Eli decides to steal a truck from an ex-marine who let him. Not only has he got King Robbie on his tail, now Pete is looking for him too.

Pete is faced with a battle on all sides, so he calls in his friend Lewis to help clean up the mess in Memphis before someone gets killed.

You cannot put this book down. It also gives you a look at the seamier side of Memphis and the poverty that abounds in many southern cities.

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Light It Up by Nick Petrie ( Peter Ash #3)

Light It Up by Nick Petrie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nick Petrie and Peter Ash are good. Many have compared Ash to Jack Reacher and it is a good comparison, but it feels that Ash is more real. He has flaws and while being formidable is still vulnerable.
Book 3, Light It Up, did not disappoint. Petrie just keeps up the high standard that has made this series a must read. In Light It Up, Peter is helping a friend and his daughter out by being a guard for the money and product that is now a staple of the Colorado economy. Marijuana growing and distributing. It is while guarding a large shipment of cash that Peter and his group are ambushed, with many people dying. As we have come to know, Peter won't let things go until he solves the problem or avenges a friends death. Which are both present in Light It Up.
Throw in Lewis, and Junie, and this book hits all the right notes.
Well worth the read.

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The Terminal List by Jack Carr ( James Reece #1)

The Terminal List by Jack Carr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Really enjoyed this book. Jack Carr is ther real deal. You can tell by the incredible amount of detail that this is a like the author himself has lived. What is really interesting is that the are certain parts of thre book that are redacted. Which is both frustrating and cool.
The story is concerned with James Reece a SEAL commander, well respected by his troops and a staunch family man. While on deployment he and his men are sent on a bad mission from higher up. Eeveryone is wiped out except from James and one other. Shortly therefater, he come to find out that he has a brain tumor that has been causing excruciating headaches.
Returning home, bad things begin to happen. Boozer the other soldier, suposedly commits suicide and then a group of mexican thugs shoot up his home killing his wife, little girl and unborn son. realizing that this can't be coincidental.
After some digging, Reece finds a conspiracy that reaches to the highest levels of government. But, all Reece wants is revenge for his family and his men.
This book hums!



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Burning Bright by Nick Petrie ( Peter Ash #2)

Burning Bright by Nick Petrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read Nick Petrie’s The Drifter last year and was impressed to say the least. So, I picked up book #2 in the Peter Ash series, Burning Bright when it came out in paperback. It has sat on my “to read” shelf awhile and I finally decided to get on it.
I am so glad I did! It is rare for the 2nd book of a series to surpass the first but this book does it in spades. Great characters, great scenery and great dialogue make this one of my favorite books so far this year.
Our protagonist, Peter is in Northern California hiking among the giant redwoods and trying to keep his PTSD and claustrophobia at bay.
In a chance encounter with a large,hungry bear forces Peter to climb a tree to get away.
Once up the tree he discovers a climbing rope leading up.. so he follows it and another and another until he comes upon a makeshift tree platform with a young women on it pointing a gun at him.
Are you hooked yet?
Peter comes to find out that June Cassidy I hiding from men who would do her harm. In fact, as he is learning this they hear the searchers far below and need to get away or face certain death.
Petrie writes a killer story about a tough investigative reporter, Junie, who is trying to discover why these men want her and if it’s connected to the death of her brilliant l, computer scientist mom.
Turns out that Junie’s mom developed an algorithm that could tilt the balance of power in favor of who has it.. something people are will to kill for.
With the help of Peter, Junie’s investigation uncovers more than she bargained for including a crazy military contractor, an assassin with a penchant for hanging it up, Peter’s friend Lewis, and even Junie’s reclusive former billionaire father, nicknamed the Yeti and self learning technology and you have a great book. Petrie also brings to light the plight of many of our brave soldiers who after having returned from combat in the middle east are have a difficult time rejoining society. Their issues are poignant and instructive and should be all of ours concern.
With two more Peter Ash books already available my April will be a happy place indeed!


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The Demon Crown (Sigma Force #13)

The Demon Crown by James Rollins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

James Rollins is one of those standbys that you can read and it is like visiting an old friend. With this, the 13th Sigma Force book, he blends his trademarks of the mysteries of history and action with great characters and a story that moves along at a great pace.
Taking on the mystery of who James Smithson was and why he left his fortune to a fledgling country in the United States to build up a center of scholarship and learning in the Smithsonian Institution, a Japanese industrialist looking for revenge, ancient, deadly wasps and a new dynamic in Gray and Seichan's relationship, this book has everything.
It will keep you up reading and the scholarship presentred is fascinating.

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The New Iberia Blues by James Lee Burke ( Dave Robicheaux #22)

The New Iberia Blues by James Lee Burke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you love James Lee Burke, and you love Dave Robicheaux and company, you will love The New Iberia Blues. As good as the last book in the series, Robicheaux, and in some ways better. TNIB is a welcome addition to the canon of work of Burke. His books never get old, mainly because of the writing. Burke is a master of language and mood. His characters breathe and bleed and are entirely human.
What's not to love?

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Bones by Jonathan Kellerman ( Alex Delaware # 23)

Bones by Jonathan Kellerman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bones begins with a guy buying the contents of a foreclosed storage unit only to find an bunch of junk magazines, newspapers and crap. Except at the bottom of a bag of trash is a beautiful wood box with what appears to be polished finger bones inside of it.
Soon after a corpse is found is a protected marsh area of LA with it's right hand cut off. Soon 3 other bodies are found in the marsh as well with a similar disfigurement. But unlike the first one they have been there awhile.
Enter Milo and Alex and a newcomer, Moses Reed to the equation. In the course of their investigation, they run up against a fanatical marsh conservationist, pot head high school boys, millionaires and a twitchy, nervous estate manager.
All signs point to the estate manager especially after he bolts and is unable to be found, but things aren't what they seem. Especially after his millionaire bosses and their prodigy, piano playing son disappear. It turns out that things have been going on for a while and the evil they encounter has no bounds.

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Artificial Condition by Martha Wells ( Murderbot Diaries #2)

Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Murderbot is just fun. I can't really say more than that. These are not hard science but oh so fun.. In Artificial Condition, Murderbot now a "free agent" after leaving his group from All Systems Red , is trying to find out if it really killed 57 people in an earlier incident or if there are other answers. It secure passage to the mining planet where the incident happened on a Bot driven freighter with a great AI named ART.
Upon arrival Murderbot poses as a security consultant to a group of researchers who are having difficulties getting their research released back to them from a corrupt company, and with the help of ART our "hero" must find out what really happened to itself as well as protect his clients from getting killed by the corrupt company.
Good stuff and the conversations between Art and Murderbot are classic.

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Compulsion by Jonathan Kellarman ( Alex Delaware #22)

Compulsion by Jonathan Kellerman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It is rare for an author to keep a consistent level of excellence going for years. But, Jonathan Kellerman seems to have been able to do it so far through Alex Delaware #22, Compulsion. This was a very good Delaware. Milo, Robin and Alex are old friends and with newcomers, Petra Conner and Raul Biro, you really have quite the group.
In Compulsion, you get two mysteries for the price of one. The story begins with a Bentley being found with what appears to be a blood stain. But, the car was just borrowed and returned after being cleaned up. Soon, a young woman on the way home from a bar, runs out o gas and is picked up in a gorgeous, expensive car, driven by a rich older woman, only to never be seen again and like the Bentley the car is returned to where it was borrowed from. No damage, nothing strange.
It turns out that the cases are linked and take Alex from the high desert of California to the streets of Manhattan.
Things are not what they seem and it could be an old murder was the catalyst for all of it.
On the other hand, a convicted killer is trying to make a plea deal by saying he knows where the bodies of others are buried and the Chief orders Milo to help find out the truth. It's been 16 long years and a young man's parents are looking for closure on what happened to their son. Though not involved with the other case, it still is hair raising and will test Milo and Alex's belief in the human race.

Twists and turns abound and this is one of the really good ones in this series. So, glad I began reading them again and can't wait for #23.



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All Systems Red by Martha Wells ( Murderbot Diaries #1)

All Systems Red by Martha Wells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this on a lark, and man was it fun. Murderbot is cool! We tend to think of half human/half machine constructs as perfect, unfeeling constructs. Not so for Murderbot. It (since there is no gender) has thoughts, feelings, and even enjoys a good drama series on the entertainment feed.
This is just a novella, but so well done and really make you want to know murderbot more.
In All System's Red. Murderbot is the SecUnit on a exploration survey with a group of scientists when things start going wrong. Murderbot, having hacked it's governor can't be compelled to do anything, but rather chooses to do things which is unique. Conspiracies are afoot and things aren't adding up fortunately Murderbot is there.
Read this!

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Sins of Empire by Brian McClellan ( Gods of Blood and Powder #1)

Sins of Empire by Brian McClellan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love these books. They are so good and McClellan's writing and world building is so assured. If you haven't read the prequel trilogy to this one. Run out and get it now! the Powder Mage trilogy is amazing and after reading the first volume of Gods of Blood and Powder, Sins of Empire, I think its going to be a wild ride.
SoE takes place years after the events in the powder Mage trilogy. Lady Flint (Vlora) and her confidant Olem are back with their Riflejacks in a mercenary capacity in Fatrasta across the sea. They have taken a contract with the Lady Chancellor in Landfall to put down the Palo uprising in the backwaters of the country.
Meanwhile, a large obelisk is discovered in the swamps outside of the city and it gives off strange vibrations and feeling to those around it, driving many crazy.
In a bit of political subterfuge, the Lade Chancellor redirects Lady Flint and her army to Landfall to root out a Palo agitator, Mama Palo, who has been actively stirring up trouble in the mainly Palo held Greenfire Depths. Did I mention the world building? The vision of the Depths is genius.
Throw into the mix, Mad Ben Styke, a hero from the Fatrastan Civil War who is now labeled a traitor and his Mad Lancers disbanded, a scret police force called the Blackhats that are led by their own meglamaniac, and just maybe some old friends from the previous trilogy and you have one hell of a book.
McClellan weaves his threads of story lines in a wonderful way. The warp and weave bringing to life this incredible world and those who inhabit it. Just when you think you have some things straight an Kez fleet shows up wanting the Obelisk and will do ANYTHING to get it.
This is bloody good fun! Read it now!

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Obsession by Jonathan Kellerman ( Alex Delaware # 21)

Obsession by Jonathan Kellerman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Really enjoying catching up with Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis. Just fun, easy reads.
In Obsession, Alex reacquaints himself with a former patient that he had as a child. Tanya Bigelow. Tanya's step mom, Patty, has died of cancer but before she died, she told Tanya that she had done a terrible thing. Unable to reconcile this with what she knew as the best mom a girl could have as well as a stellar nurse who served with Milo's significant other, Rick Silverman, it is out of character as well.
To put the girl's mind at ease, Milo starts doing some digginbg around the places where Tanya grew up as a child with interesting consequences. People start dying and sordid details emerge from around one of the neighborhood's that Patty and Tanya lived. Did Patty really do something? Through a series of twists and turns and innuendo, clarity emerges and it is not what anyone would have thought.
Very good book.

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Gone by Jonathan Kellerman ( Alex Delaware #20)

Gone by Jonathan Kellerman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Really glad that I started reading good old Alex Delaware again. Plus, I think I have at least 10 more to catch up!
In Gone, a couple of theater students stage a fake abduction and end up in trouble with the law. Enetr Alex Delaware to interview the girl, Michaela, about why she did it. Work done, or so he thinks. Alex turns to other things until Milo calls with the news that Michaela's body was found.
The whole acting / theater scene of aspiring actors is brought into focus with the thread that other acting students had gone missing over the years and it seems the one common thread is a freeform theater study group led by woman named Nora Dowd who is the third member of siblings who own a lot of property and seem to be a little off kilter.
With all of the supposition of what the siblings are up to as well as another case of disturbed psychiatrist that Alex helped prove guilt and his on again/off again with both Robin and Allison and Gone is one of the more gritty series entries.


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Rage by Jonathan Kellerman ( Alex Delaware #19)

Rage by Jonathan Kellerman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Over 20 years ago, I never missed the opportunity to read the newest Alex Delaware. Then, for some reason I just kinda quit. So after a long hiatus, I'm back and glad I am. I have missed Kellerman's writing and the likes of Alex and Milo.
In Rage, Delaware receives a phone call from a troubled young man who 8 years previously with another kid, kidnapped and killed a toddler. Having just been released the young man, Rand, wants to meet and talk with Delaware who consulted on the earlier murder case. Delaware agrees only to be stood up. Later he finds out from Milo that the young man was killed that night.
Flashbacks to the earlier time as well as the new investigation moving forward dominate the story line.
Once Milo and Alex start digging, things just start to not add up and there are more questions than answers that stretch back to the original murder. Through sheer perseverance and much hypothesizing, the duo begin to make sense of the convoluted timeline and come to realize that there well may be a serial killer on the loose. Thrown into the mix is Alex's relationship with another Psychiatrist as well as the possible reemergence of Robyn, and things are getting interesting.
Looking forward to reestablishing my relationship with these two.

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The Autumn Republic by Brian McClellan ( Powder Mage #3)

The Autumn Republic by Brian McClellan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There is not a lot I can say about this series except I am so sad that this part is over. The Powder Mage Trilogy, ( Promise of Blood, The Crimson Campaign and The August Republic) were so good.
This is what fantasy is all about. Creating different worlds and magic systems that resonate and imbue the reader with a sense of wonder and dare I say it... This is so cool!
These books have it all. Great characters, tremendous story line, mortals fighting Gods and humor, love and tragedy in all it's forms.
No spoilers.. Just trust me and give it a try.. You won't be disappointed.












































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































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Shadows of the Dead by Spencer Kope ( Special Tracking Unit #3)

Shadows of the Dead by Spencer Kope
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you haven't discovered Spencer Kope and his Special Tracking Unit series, you are missing out. I was lucky enough to receive a ebook ARC from Netgalley for the purpose of this review.

There are a lot of really good thriller writers out there. Greg Hurwitz, Nick Petrie, Ben Coes and now it's time to add Kope to the list.
His thrillers are unique. His hero's aren't larger than life, they can't go toe to toe with Dewey, or Reacher or Peter Ash, but they don't need to. Kope's protagonist, Magnus "Steps" Craig, a professional tracker for the FBI has a secret. He can see everyone's shine. Every person leaves a residue, when he walks, or touches something. All of these shines have a different and distinct color, and just like DNA no two are the same. His ability to see shine is from his childhood where he got lost in the woods and actually died from hypothermia. After being brought back to life, he could see the shine.
Quite handy for a tracker of killers. The only people "in the know" are his partner Jimmy and the FBI Director.
In Shadows of the Dead, women are being abducted and "fixed" because they are broken. This fixing comes in the form of casts made of their faces and then those casts being placed in mannequins and posed in lifelike situations. Then, the women are killed.
In the course of their investigation, they come to find out that an individual known as the Onion King, is responsible.
The story moves along, with great forensics, the dark web and characters you cheer for as they hunt for the killer. One extra benefit of shine is that Steps can tell if a person is still alive by the look of the shine. Which becomes increasingly important as another women is abducted and they must find her before her fate matches all the others.
If you haven't discovered this author, Pick up book 1, Collecting the Dead and enjoy. Kope has the professional background as a criminal analyst to give a believability to his work which can sometimes be lacking in other writers.

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The Wild One by Nick Petrie ( Peter Ash #5)

The Wild One by Nick Petrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Nick Petrie is stellar and his Peter Ash series is one of the finest series out there. These books are well written with well drawn characters that you genuinely care about.
In The Wild One, Peter is trying and failing to control his PTSD from the war. Unable to escape from the dreams if people who died underbid watch, Peter takes a job from a wealthy woman whose grandson is missing with his father who is accused of killing his wife
who is her daughter. The real story however is that she did overed secret files that would prove damaging to the powerful in Washington DC.
The job is in Iceland and as Peter arrives it becomes quickly apparent that someone powerful doesn't want him to succeed.
The action begins immediately in this book with the scenes alternating between current day and 12 montgs previous where the child, Oskar and his parents, Erik and Sarah are in the throes of trying to expose the powerful. Much to their own danger.
In Iceland, Peter comes to find the relatives if Erik and Oskar and to see if they are hiding with family. The brutal beauty that is Iceland is on full display as is the powerful loyalty of family.
This book is not to be missed.

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The Crimson Campaign by Brian McClellan ( Powder Mage#2)

The Crimson Campaign by Brian McClellan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one fine series. If you love unique magic systems, well drawn characters and great world building, you will love these books. McClelland seems to have the gist of writing and creating that Sanderson does.
The Crimson Campaign though a little more grim than Promise of Blood, was still a great story.
With three distinct story lines running through the narrative, you would think it would get convoluted and messy, but that is far from the case.

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Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan ( Powder Mage #1)

Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This... was... awesome! It is such a nice surprise when you pick up a fantasy and you read a few pages and you become hooked. Time ceases to exist, you are immersed in a world other than this one and you marvel at the author's imagination. Magic, Muskets, Gods and tremendous writing. Promise of Blood should be on every serious reader of fantasy's must read list. This is that good.

The book opens with a military coup that takes power away from the King of Adro. We find out the reason why is that the King was imminently going to pretty much sign over the country to Adro's enemies, Kez. Tamas and his co-conspirators cannot let this happen, knowing that if they do it will be a tremendous blow to the people and pretty much enslave them to a foreign power. While successful in the coup, there are other matters afoot. Tamas wlll shortly face traitors, treachery and near death in his fight to free the people, but the real magic here is the magic systems that are employed with great skill by McClellan. In his world there are Powder Mages, those who can ingest gunpowder and by so doing increase everything from strength to the path of a musketball and its velocity. Very reminiscent of Sanderson's Mistborn, but entirely different. We also have people who are Knacked, or Privileged who have their own magic, with the Privileged the more powerful.
In the course of the story, we meet Tamas son, Taniel a Powder Mage in his own right, like his father. His companion is a "savage" girl named Ka-Poel who is MUCH more than she seems.
Are you intrigued? Because that is all you get from me.
Get this book. You won't be sorry.



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Just Watch Me by Jeff Lindsay ( Riley Wolfe #1)

Just Watch Me by Jeff Lindsay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Long live Riley Wolfe! Riley Wolfe is a thief, but not just any thief. He is the best in the world. But, it seems that he may be in a bit of a rut. There are no challenges. Everything is to easy. The answer? He has to find the unstealable. Something that he might fail at.
This is the premise of Just Watch Me. A very fast moving and well written book by Jeff Lindsay of Dexter fame. Riley is a complex character. There is nothing that will stand in the way of his objective:
If he has to kill,maim, or hurt it is just part of the job, which can also be a real sign of someone playing without a full deck.
In Just Watch Me, Riley has become who he is due to events that shaped him when he was young. Being bullied was part of his daily life and he had a father that died when he was young with a mother that kind of checked out. His father always told him to "not be a sheep, but be a wolf", this lesson kicks in in his teenage years and will carry him through life even with a name change to reflect the new found philosophy.
In researching the impossible heist, Riley finds that the Iranian Crown Jewels are coming to the States. With the best security that money can buy and a troop of the Republican Guard from Iran. It can't be done. Or can it?
We follow Riley in his planning which involves some pretty nifty disguises as well as his love of parkour to relax and think. One of the coolest things about this book is that Riley loves his music while thinking and Lindsay has been kind enough to let us know what he is listening to. So, if you have Amazon Music, Apple Music or Spotify handy while you read, you can really immerse your self in Riley's world.
In the course, of the heist, Riley will kill, break hearts and bank accounts. With the help of a beautiful master forger and the backstory of an FBI agent hot on his trail, Just Watch Me was well worth reading.

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