The Great China Zoo by Mattew Reilly

The Great Zoo of China by Matthew Reilly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Matthew Reilly is an author that writes "cool thrillers". They are pure fun and highly cinematic and they have some pretty spectacular scenes that require super human luck, strength or skill, but that just makes it more fun. If I had a criticism it would be that he uses language that he really doesn't need to. He is a better writer than that and the books would still be just as good.
In The Great Zoo of China, Reilly explores a really big story. China wants to be known, special like the US. They realize that in order to be looked at differently they must have a tourist destination, a la Disneyland. Hence, The Great Zoo of China. But this is no ordinary zoo. It is big and populated by big creatures thought to be myths. Dragons! In typical Reilly fashion, man is fiddling with things better left alone and in doing so opens a Pandora's Box of terror. These dragons are lean, mean and highly intelligent. A tour group of VIP's getting a first look at the zoo before it opens, gets far more than it bargained for and the cliffhangers and narrow escapes abound.
If you like fast paced thrillers with the "cool" factor.. Read Reilly and just go with it, yes, there are a lot of impossible escapes and scenes but it is fiction. Have fun with it.

View all my reviews

David Weber's Safehold Series. #1 Off Armegeddon Reef

Off Armageddon Reef by David Weber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have looked at this book so many times in stores and in libraries. Picked it up and read a little and let it fall by the wayside. This time I picked it up and read and couldn't put it down. This is very well done. Combine the epic history spanning world building of Asimov's Foundation and add Patrick O'Brien to the mix and you have the beginning of the Safehold series. I am so excited that I have more story to read.
The story is epic and human and all things that make for great adventures in reading.
I cannot recommend this highly enough. Well Done Mr. Weber!

View all my reviews

The Thieves of Legend!! Richard Doetsch is a modern master!!

Okay. If you love well written, fast paced thrillers with a touch of real history laced into it with ancient mysteries a la Indiana Jones. Then, Richard Doetsch is for you. I am very sad that I have now read all of his books. They are that good. Thieves of Legend is the latest book in his Michael St. Pierre series and it is stellar. Each book in the series has ancient legends that become reality and it is up to his incredibly real characters to face enormous odds to stop some very bad things from happening. Doetsch also has two stand alone novels that have locales from his St. Pierre series, but are completely their own which are fantastic, "Half Past Dawn" and "The 13th Hour". I wish I had the money to make all of his books into movies. You will not be disappointed in any of these books. I can't wait for the next book from this welcome new voice in thriller fiction.

The Escape by David Baldacci (John Puller #3)

The Escape by David Baldacci
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have long been a fan of David Baldacci liking some of his series more than others. The character of John Puller was introduced in Zero Day and followed by The Forgotten. When I first heard about John Puller it appeared that Baldacci was trying to ride the Jack Reacher wave. Boy, was I mistaken. Even though Puller has many of Reacher's similarities, the differences are stark. Puller, no offense intended, is a smarter, better Reacher. John Puller is still in the military as an investigator with CID, he come from royal military blood with a legend for a father, and a brother who is in prison for life for treason at Leavenworth. Intrigued yet?

The Escape is the one of Baldacci's best books yet, and the best book in the Puller series. Suffice it to say, Puller's brother escapes from prison, and is a genius in his own right who was being groomed for big things before his fall from grace. But, what if everything wasn't as it seemed and there is more at play than one man's guilt or innocence. This is the framework of The Escape and without giving away any spoilers, this is a book that you will enjoy. Intelligent, and well written with twists and turns and a fascinating look at the inner workings of the nation's intelligence apparatus.

You cannot go wrong with the John Puller series or the Will Robie series from Baldacci. You will not be disappointed.

View all my reviews

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (Five Star)

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was an amazing book. One of the best I read this year. Very original, very well written and the characters are engaging and make you care about them and the world they inhabit. Very different in a very good way. Not your typical dystopian young adult novel. There are great things in store for Leigh Bardugo.

You can also feel comfortable with your teen son or daughter reading this. There is no language and there is a touch of romance, but nothing that is out of bounds for the 12-18 crowd. Adults will love this as well and will be ready for the next adventure. I am just glad that it's sequel, Siege and Storm and the final book in the trilogy, Ruin and Rising are out and ready to enjoy.

Word has it that Ms. Bardugo is working on a new series based in this same fantasy world.

View all my reviews

Dark Spies by Matthew Dunn

Dark Spies by Matthew Dunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is Matthew Dunn's 4th book featuring Will Cochrane. It took awhile for me to discover Dunn. I would always look at Spycatcher (the 1st in the series) and pick it up and mentally add it to the "to be read" shelf in my head. This is what happens, after a while the dominant thought will be to read said book. I was blown away. Dunn is a good writer, but it is his humanity with the character of Will Cochrane that impresses. I thoroughly recommend that you read the series in order. Each book builds on the story that is this incredible character. It doesn't hurt that Dunn has "been there and done that". Authenticity reads true.
As for Dark Spies. By far this is the best book of the series. Intelligent, brilliantly plotted and a real pleasure from first page to last. Will Cochrane does not disappoint and we begin to see his influence on those around him. People who recognize his humanity and goodness on an intimate level and respond with help and kindness when needed when others would turn and run the other direction.
There are a handful of thriller authors that are making outstanding contributions to the genre currently, Marc Cameron's Jericho Quinn series, Ben Coe's Dewey Andreas series, newcomer Mike Maden and his fine book, Drone as well as an old favorite, Daniel Silva with his masterful Gabriel Allon. What's even more impressive is that even though these authors write about dangerous people and enemies of the people, they are very clean writers who have the skill necessary to write compelling, action filled thrillers without resorting to profanity to get their story across. Refreshing to say the least.
Well done Mr. Dunn and company. Well done. You will not be disappointed with this book.

View all my reviews

Drone by Mark Maden

Drone by Mike Maden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great first book from a very promising author. Troy Pearce is a great character and his team one of the most engaging in thriller fiction. As part of the new wave of thriller writers which include, Terry Hayes, Ben Coes, Marc Cameron and Matthew Dunn. This genre is in good hands and makes for a very happy reader here.

View all my reviews