Book Review- Ralph Compton- The Western Trail

Ralph Compton- The Western Trail (St. Martin’s Press 1992) 3.5 Stars

After driving a large herd of cattle into the Sweetwater Valley in Wyoming they decide to set up a ranch. First they must fight a railroad owner who does not want them to stay. The reasons behind this man’s animosity are unknown and when they find out the reason it will blow the top off of the Sweetwater Valley. The railroad baron does not intend for them to find out why he wants them gone and he is willing to have his hired guns kill to keep his secret. McCaleb and his bunch do not intend to leave and with the assistance of a tribe of Shoshoni and Buffalo Bill Cody they are going to stay and fight. IN the end it will be the last group standing takes the land.

It took me a little longer to get into The Western Trail than it did for The Goodnight Trail, when I did get into it though it did not fail to excite. It was a great all around western with many action scenes and tough men and women fighting to survive harsh conditions. The characters were wonderfully crafted by Compton and jumped off of every page. I also liked how once again Compton managed to throw in some well-known names from the era, like Buffalo Bill Cody and Grant. At times some of the scenes got to be a little repetitive through the course of the book, and were almost identical to the previous books scenes, only with some different characters and a change in venue. I get the feeling that after a while this series may get to be the same and may have the risk of becoming mundane. I hope that this is not the case, but that is my suspicion.

I recommend The Western Trail to western enthusiasts and Compton fans.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

www.eloquentbooks.com/kidsonacase.html

Book Review- Harlan Coben- Darkest Fear

Harlan Coben- Darkest Fear (Dell Publishing 2001) 4 Stars

Myron Bolitar is shocked when an ex-girlfriend pays him a visit, only to announce that he is a father and has been for many years. Now his son is in need of a bone marrow transplant and the donor has suddenly disappeared. Is he really a father or is she just telling him that in the hopes that he will investigate and save her son? Either way he intends to find out the truth behind the donor’s disappearance. Suddenly he finds himself in the middle of a very dangerous mess. He seems to be worrying a wealthy family with secrets to hide, upsetting an FBI investigation, and digging up information about a ruthless kidnapper. Guess it’s time to bring in Win to help with his investigation.

I have to say that Darkest Fear started out a little bit slow, although I knew that with it being Harlan Coben, he would crank it up a few notches as I got deeper. It was Myron’s wonderfully amusing sarcasm that kept me interested. That and the fact that Coben seems to be able to create some of the most amazing characters that jump off of every page. Myron Bolitar’s witty sarcasm never fails to amuse and in this novel we get to see a different side of Myron, a side that I am not sure I liked, but it did make him seem just a little bit more human. Coben is always able to create plots that grip the reader and hold them in suspense for the majority of the thriller and he certainly did not fail to achieve this in Darkest Fear. The plot was weaving back and forth so much that the reader will be kept on their toes and it is strengthened by the amazingly intricate storyline of Myron’s past where we find out about a childhood rivalry and his not so smart decision to sleep with his rival’s fiancé. This indiscretion ultimately caused the ruin of his basketball career, something which he must face in this book.

I recommend Darkest Fear to Coben fans and those who love a good thriller.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Tess Gerritsen- Vanish

Tess Gerritsen- Vanish (Ballantine Books 2006) 4 Stars

Boston medical examiner Maura Isles is almost finished a day like every other, when suddenly her life changes in one moment. Hearing banging on the door to a cooler in the morgue she opens it to find that the Jane Doe, who had been brought in earlier in the day, was not indeed dead. After rushing the woman to the hospital she is shocked when the woman calmly takes control of the hospital and holds several people hostage, including a pregnant policewoman, Jane Rizzoli, whose husband, Gabriel Dean, just happens to work for the FBI. Now Maura must work with Gabriel to hunt down the facts that will lead them to an end that no one could have imagined.

Vanish was a great thriller. It kept the reader in suspense, so that they never really knew what would happen next. It had twist after twist which could only happen after the protagonists located certain individuals who had important details. Just when you think it couldn’t get anymore intense it does. I will warn all the readers ahead of time, this is not a novel for the weak stomached. It has several gruesome rape scenes which fit into the plot, so be forewarned before picking up Vanish, as you will get no indication from the back of the book. The case details in this one were hard for even me to stomach, although I did enjoy most of the book. The characters were quite interesting. It was intriguing to see how their minds were working and how shocked they were when something turned up that they did not expect, they definitely acted like real people would. One thing I would have liked to see improved upon was the setting descriptions; at times I found them to be quite vague.

I recommend Vanish to strong stomached thriller readers and Tess Gerritsen fans.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Ray Hogan- The Peace Keeper

Ray Hogan- The Peace Keeper (Doubleday 1978) 3.5 Stars

Luke Brazil, ex-bounty hunter, ex-lawman, has been asked by the town of Moriah for his help. Shocked by the sudden change of feelings towards him, considering that they had hated him right up until that moment, he accepts the job. What he really wants is to settle down on his ranch and marry Jenny Lockwood, but now he must face a group of cow hands that are tearing Moriah apart. One side wants the cow hands to be expelled from town; the other wants them to be allowed. The battle will be determined by a vote, but to make sure the vote is fair and that the town will survive the vote, Luke Brazil must take up his gun and use his marshal’s star wisely.

The Peace Keeper grabbed me early on and would not let up until the very last chapter. I was impressed by the fast-moving storyline. It was scene after scene of action. The plot was not overly deep, but it worked well with this western. The setting was very well-created on Hogan’s part. He did a good job of putting the reader into the western era. The characters could have been a little deeper as I only felt that we really got to know Luke Brazil, the main character. I also found that the women seemed fairly weak and flaky in this novel, just like in the last one I read by him. Although in The Peace Keeper the reader only sees any women in a couple of chapters, so it did not really take away from the book too much. I did feel that this book was a good solid western, something I would expect when I picked up a western, no big surprises, but an enjoyable read.

I recommend The Peace Keeper to western readers.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Hugh Pentecost- Murder Goes Round and Round

Hugh Pentecost- Murder Goes Round and Round (Dodd, Mead & Company 1988) 3.5 Stars

As the world renowned singing impersonator Toby March visits New York the hype is high. As morning comes his room is found to be wrecked and blood covers the floor, but there is no sign of Toby March. Frank Pasqua, his manager has also disappeared. A joint investigation takes shape as the police, FBI, and hotel security hunt for clues that will help them locate the missing guests and the dead body. The hotel security team believes one thing, while the police/FBI believes something complete different, the question is who is right? Before the answer can be found Pierre Chambrun, the hotel manager is the victim of an attempted murder.

Murder Goes Round and Round was a pretty good classic mystery. Clues had to be dug up and things weren’t always what you would imagine, although there really weren’t too many major twists. None of the characters were really described or introduced in any depth, and yet I still found that I knew them. I still would have liked to see more about the characters. I did not particularly appreciate the fact that the hotel security team never seemed to be proved wrong, they made a guess and it seemed to be correct, investigators usually have many wrong guesses before coming to a correct one. I did find that the actual story was well-written and enjoyed reading the novel. The plot was not deep, but was enough to keep the reader interested. I would also have liked to have seen a little bit more come from the introduction, as it doesn’t really grip the reader. The ending however was well-done on the part of the author.

I recommend Murder Goes Round and Round to mystery readers.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

www.eloqentbooks.com/kidsonacase.html

Book Review- Ray Hogan- Solitude’s Lawman

Ray Hogan- Solitude’s Lawman (Doubleday 1988) 2.75 Stars

Cole Dagget thought that he had finally caught a break in his life. With his eight hundred dollars he was going to start the life he had always dreamed of, which included a horse trading business and finally marrying his fiancé. A stop at a small-town bank puts an end to all of that. The bank is robbed and he loses his money, but he does not intend to let it go at that. Chasing after the robbers ahead of the posse he wants to catch the robbers and get his money back. The posse assumes that he is part of the robbery and wants to catch him along with the others. Now he not only must catch the robbers, and save a kidnapped girl, but he must face a town who wants him dead.

The introduction was a good one; it grabbed the reader’s attention and made them want to read more. Sadly that feeling only lasted until the halfway mark. Instead I began to feel frustrated with the stupidity of everyone involved. Nobody seemed able to think for themselves except Cole Dagget and one other man. If humanity was as dumb/ naïve as the characters in this novel we never would have gotten past the Stone Age. The plot was not overly great, but it wasn’t terrible either, it was about average. I do love to read of this time period (the old west) and so I was kind of hoping for a little bit more from this author. I also did not like how the girl just kind of shut up when if she had spoke up it all would have been over, especially since she wasn’t even in immediate danger at the time, it made her seem pathetic, weak, and flaky, when many of those western women would had to of been tough as nails to survive. As you can tell, overall I did not really enjoy this western as a result I do not recommend it.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

www.eloquentbooks.com/kidsonacase.html

Book Review- Larry V. Williams- Cock of the Walk: The Toughest Man on the River

Larry V. Williams- Cock of the Walk: The Toughest Man on the River (Strategic Book Publishing 2009) 3.25 Stars

Anthony is a poor young lad growing up in 1770 along the Mississippi River. He wishes to be the cock of the walk, a position currently held by Captain Davis, who will become his mentor. As he takes off to be at sea he finds himself on the ultimate high seas adventure, fighting pirates and scoundrels. His adventures will take him across many oceans to visit many foreign lands. Captain Davis becomes his best friend and will teach Anthony everything he knows. Little does Anthony realize that too much adventure can be dangerous, it can even cost you your life.

The main characters of the Cock of the Walk, Anthony and Captain Davis, were very interesting. Anthony was a tough young boy who wanted nothing more than to have other people’s respect, and he figured that the sword was the only way to earn that respect, only to learn throughout the book that this was not the case. Captain Davis already had the respect of everyone around him and he had earned it through his sword and trading exploits, yet we see him learn that there is much more to life than fighting and trading. The time period was a very intriguing time with lots of room for adventure and a lot of chances for the reader’s mind to paint beautiful pictures. The storyline was a good one although at times I think it could have been presented differently. I also found that the main plot of the book did not actually begin until a good portion of the way in, the rest was still interesting I’m just used to it beginning quicker. I also noticed that the manner of the presentation at times was very abrupt and matter-of-fact, which I think could have been done a little better. I noticed a lot of grammar/punctuation mistakes throughout the book as well, some fit in to the speech, but most did not; this is something the publisher’s editor should have noticed.

Overall I did enjoy Cock of the Walk: The Toughest Man on the River and I would recommend it to those who like adventure and sailing. Larry, thank you for the chance to review your novel.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

www.eloquentbooks.com/kidsonacase.html

Book Review- Robert Crais- Hostage

Robert Crais- Hostage (Ballantine Books 2005) 3.25 Stars

After a convenience-store robbery goes wrong, the clerk is dead and the police are chasing down three men. The criminals run to a quiet suburban area of Los Angeles and break into the home of a man living with his two kids. Holding the family hostage the three hoped to escape the police and ultimately prison. Jeff Talley is the Chief of Police and he used to be a hostage negotiator for the LAPD SWAT. Now he must try to reason with these three criminals not knowing that the house holds some very dangerous secrets for some very dangerous men. These men will do anything to keep the secrets from surfacing, even if it means holding Talley’s family hostage to get what they want.

You may recognize the name of this book from the movie, Hostage, with Bruce Willis. I think that this book was a better movie than a book. I say that because movies are designed to switch perspectives constantly, where as I find that when books do that it can be confusing and annoying, such was the case in this book. I did find that Hostage was very gripping though. The reader is in suspense, not knowing what is going to happen next, or how Talley will react to the situations that are thrown his way. Talley is a tough, hard-nosed man, but the reader finds out why he is this way and comes to understand that his gruffness is just an outer shell. The prologue was background knowledge for the reader to help understand what made Talley the way he was, which is the best way to do this. I did find that in a couple of scenes I was questioning if it would have turned out the way it did, considering it just seemed a little bit too convenient.

I recommend Hostage to Robert Crais fans.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

www.eloquentbooks.com/kidsonacase.html

Book Review- Gordon Korman- Island: Shipwreck

Gordon Korman- Island: Shipwreck (Scholastic 2001) 3.5 Stars

Six kids are placed on a boat that they have no desire to be on, whether to avoid going to jail, for fighting too much, or for watching too much T.V. Now they must work harder than they have ever worked and learn to love these strangers who are now their shipmates. Trapped in the middle of the Pacific Ocean a huge storm strikes and they must fight to stay afloat. Ultimately for them it is now all about surviving the storm and it’s after effects.

I liked the way Korman introduced Shipwreck and ultimately the whole Island series. It was teaching the reader about sailing to prepare them for what they are about to read, but he does it at the same time as a couple of the characters are learning. The whole read is a sailing-learning experience for children and includes some good life lessons. The kids all manage to stay within their age bracket and yet they still are full of depth. The jokes that they make at the First Mate’s expense is typical of kids their age. I was looking for a little bit more plot to the book, but I guess he has a whole series to develop the plot. The overall storyline was an interesting one and the ending leaves the reader with enough questions to want to read more of the series. Korman seemed to really know what he was talking about in Shipwreck so either he knew the information before, or he did enough research to understand all about sailing.

I recommend Shipwreck to young readers who like adventure.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Lisa Jackson- Deep Freeze

Lisa Jackson- Deep Freeze (Zebra 2005) 3.25 Stars

Jenna Hughes is a beautiful actress on the top of her game. After disaster strikes the set of film, White Out, her sister is killed. To get away from the fame and her sister’s memory she runs to a farm in secluded Iowa. Suddenly her life thrown into turmoil again as she discovers that she is the target of a psychopath, who wants nothing more than to be with her, even is she has to die to make it happen. Women begin to disappear and die all around her and there is nothing she can do to stop it. Meanwhile Sheriff Carter is trying to solve the case and save Jenna from the murderer.

I found Deep Freeze to be alright. The plot and storyline were strong and well-developed. It was fairly intriguing, although at times I did get a little bit bored. The beginning kind of grabs your attention and then there is a bit about the case only to drop off for awhile. The ending was unpredictable, which is great to see from an author. I also liked the depth of the main characters, although I would have liked to learn a bit more about the Sheriff. The fact that everyone seemed to have a crush on Jenna Hughes was a little bit too much for me though as it was kind of sickening. Overall though I was kind of expecting a little bit more, maybe it was the fact that her books come so highly recommended. This book seems to be more for a female audience than a male one.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

www.eloquentbooks.com/kidsonacase.html

Book Review- Milam McGraw Propst- The Adventures of Ociee Nash Series

Milam McGraw Propst- The Adventures of Ociee Nash Series (Belle Bridge Books 2009) 3.75 Stars

The first book in the series, A Flower Blooms on Charlotte Street, tells the tale of little Ociee Nash and her family living on a farm in Mississippi. Her mother passed away from the measles epidemic the previous year and the family must deal with the pain and sorrow of the loss. Meanwhile her father is trying to raise her and her two brothers, Ben (the younger brother), and Fred (the older brother), while keeping the farm running. In the hopes of helping her become a lady, he sends Ociee off to his sister’s place in North Carolina. Ociee is sad at first, but is quick to make friends and soon comes to enjoy living at her Aunt Mamie’s. A tender start to the series.

The second book, Ociee On Her Own, starts off where the first one left off. Ociee is still living with her aunt and they are preparing to celebrate the turn of the century. Little does she realize that another kind of celebration is about to happen too. When she gets a letter from her brother Fred she finds out that he is about to get married to Rebecca and so he is coming home for the wedding. Now she must leave her aunt’s to go to the wedding. As excited as she is there is mixed feelings about it as her father has lost thye farm and now works at a store in town. Her brother Ben has grown and their relationship needs some work to get back to where it was before she left. By the end of this book she has finally come to grips with her mother’s passing and has made peace with her mother’s memory.

The third book, The Further Adventures of Ociee Nash, finds Ociee when she is eleven-years-old, so a whole year seems to have passed. Although time has passed her brother Ben is still able to coax her into jumping off of a moving train.She is adjusting to the idea of her brother Fred being married, and now she finds out that her Aunt Mamie is marrying George in Asheville. Meanwhile her father gets a job in Tennessee and so he uproots the family to move to Memphis, which just happens to be where Fred is living. Now the family seems to be together again. Ociee’s curiosity and personality leads to her making new friend’s, even befriending a lady whom everyone else seems to either be afraid of, or just ignores.

The Adventures of Ociee Nash is a wonderful story for children of all ages to read. It is very similar to Anne of Green Gables, and yet has its own unique flare to it. The Nash family is full of life, adventure, and value. They are all very deep characters and Ociee is a little girl you cannot help but love. The story has many lessons involved in it and yet it does not seem to be preaching them to the children. The storyline is great and I love the adventures/situations Ociee finds herself in and how she manages to make the best of her situations/troubles. This beautiful tale tells of the Southern states in a time of change in the turn of the century as the 1900s take shape. The plot was not a deep or complicated one, but it was enough that I think young girls and some young guys will enjoy reading it. The writing style was also well done and I think young readers will appreciate Propst’s style.

I recommend this series to young girls and boys.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Michael Connelly- 9 Dragons

Michael Connelly- 9 Dragons (Little, Brown and Company 2009) 5 Stars

Harry Bosch is sent to investigate what appears to be a routine robbery gone wrong, when he discovers that he has met the victim in one of his previous cases. Looking into the matter he determines that it was not a robbery, and it certainly was not routine. The more he digs the more tangled the weaving web becomes. After discovering evidence leading to the Hong Kong Triads the case steps up a notch on the danger meter. Suddenly his life is thrown into turmoil. His daughter goes missing and a video is sent to him from her phone, now he is not only investigating a murder, but he must fight to get his daughter back and fight he will. Taking the first flight to Hong Kong he cuts a deadly swath across Hong Kong all in the hopes of getting his daughter back safely, in a manner the Triads can understand despite the language barrier. The world is about to find out just how tough and deadly Harry Bosch can be.

Wow! Yes 9 Dragons is as good as it sounds. This was probably my favourite in the Harry Bosch series yet. We see Bosch’s soft side as well as his brutally tough side. I was impressed by just how deep the characters were. I loved the fact that 9 Dragons took Bosch across the globe into a world completely unknown to him as it gave the readers a chance to see how Harry Bosch handled strange situations and foreign language barriers. We also get to see how he deals with his many mistakes. The setting was described wonderfully, even when in some of the raunchiest areas of Hong Kong. Twist after twist keeps this storyline fast-paced and works to run your mind in circles. Just when you think you have everything figured out Connelly flips the case upside down, and Bosch doesn’t just magically figure out the answers, he has to work to the point of insanity to find any ounce of truth/evidence. It was a wonderfully created plot and I look forward to seeing more from Connelly.

I recommend 9 Dragons to Connelly fans and anyone who enjoys mysteries/thrillers.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Jeffery Deaver- The Vanished Man

Jeffery Deaver- The Vanished Man (Pocket Books 2004) 4.25 Stars

Police consultant Lincoln Rhyme and his police contact Amelia Sachs are called in to assist in the investigation of an illusionist who is committing murders and vanishing before the eyes of witnesses. Each victim is posed in a different illusionist’s trick. Just when they think they have the killer figured out, everything changes. The pair must unravel the illusionist’s tricks in order to find out the true meaning behind each piece of evidence. Can they trust anything or anyone? Can they solve the case before the killer succeeds in his master plan?

Jeffery Deaver has outdone himself with The Vanished Man. The villain is a brilliant illusionist who makes the case a very interesting one. There are so many twists that you are just never sure what is what, at times there appear to be almost too many twists. The investigative details are really well done and you can tell that Deaver did his research. I loved the characters in this one, including the villain. They were all very well put together and I even felt that I got to know the villain, although in the end I discovered that I really did not, which worked well into the book. I did find that Lincoln Rhyme figured out some of the details out of the blue, I would have liked to see a little bit more reasoning behind why he came to these conclusions, and how he figured things out, the explanations given at times seemed a little bit flaky. Overall I was very impressed and enjoyed reading this book, making it a difficult one to put down.

I recommend The Vanished Man to anyone who loves thrillers, mysteries, and Deaver novels.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- James Patterson- Four Blind Mice

James Patterson- Four Blind Mice (Warner Books 2003) 3.25 Stars

Alex Cross has decided to leave the police force, but he is presented with one last case that he simply can’t resist. When John Sampson, his partner, finds out that a good friend of his has been framed for murder and is now on death row, he pulls Alex Cross in to save his friend. The United States Army wants the case to be done and over with, but Cross and Sampson don’t intend to let it drop. Three killers will stop at nothing to succeed at their mission, to kill anyone their controller commands them to. Cross and Sampson just happen to be in the way, can they solve the case before it costs them their lives?

At first Four Blind Mice stuck to the case and I was impressed by it, but then I got to a long section of Alex Cross and his new girlfriend Jamilla. This time Patterson even got into Sampson personal life; don’t get me wrong I enjoyed seeing Sampson finally find someone I just wish that Patterson could learn to focus more on the case at hand. I was happy to learn a little bit more about Cross and Sampson’s pasts, as it gave each of them a little bit more depth. The actual case in Four Blind Mice was a good one, as it contained some nail-biting scenes and some good action sequences. I was impressed to see Sampson taking a lead role in this particular case. He seemed to do a pretty good job at it. The plot was quite impressive, minus the personal dating/sex sections (long sections that distracted you from the mystery of the case), it was very detailed and included a few good twists. Some of the details in the book seemed a little too pat for me though, they just kind of fell into place and suddenly everything just clicked for Cross. I was looking for something a little bit more and was kind of disappointed.

I would recommend Four Blind Mice only to people who are fans of James Patterson.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

www.eloquentbooks.com/kidsonacase.html

Book Review- Louis L’Amour- Callaghen

Louis L’Amour- Callaghen (Bantam Books 1972) 3.5 Stars

Callaghen is an Irish veteran of twenty years. He has seen it all, but now he must face a gold-hungry enemy. A group of men who will stop at nothing to get their hands on a tunnel filled with gold. Legend has it that the gold is located near where they are posted and they intend to find out if it is true. Callaghen just happens to be in the way and he does not intend to go down without a fight.

Only a true writer could make the desert sound so beautiful. Louis L’Amour definitely does that. He makes the endless sand sound wonderful. I did find that the characters were lacking depth in this book, even with Callaghen, the main character, the reader does not find out a lot about him. The plot was quite well done though, as well as the actual storyline. Although I felt that some parts were a little bit pointless, these scenes did manage to keep the book flowing. The ending was good, although predictable, I would have liked to see a little bit more from such a talented western writer.

I recommend Callaghen to western readers and Louis L’Amour fans.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

www.eloquentbooks.com/kidsonacase.html

Book Review- Eric Wilson- Code Red at the Supermall

Eric Wilson- Code Red at the Supermall (Collins Publishers 1994) 3.5 Stars

When a bomber strikes at the West Edmonton Mall the Austen family is on the case. In search of the bomber they come across events that draw them into the mall’s various sections, making friends with many of the employees, and also making enemies. They must also find the culprit of a racial destruction of a store, which will make them a wonderful ally who can show them the mall, but will also make them a deadly enemy who seems willing to stop at nothing to end their investigation.

Having been to the West Edmonton Mall I was impressed by all that Eric Wilson managed to include in his novel. The investigation took them from one part of the mall to the opposite end. It involved many of the biggest attractions which I have no doubt would interest readers. The characters were very interesting and well-put-together. It was interesting to see how the different personalities clashed. The plot was intriguing although I may have included a little bit more for the storyline. I wish I had more to say about this great children’s novel, but words seem to be escaping me.

I recommend Code Red at the Supermall to young readers of mystery.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

www.eloquentbooks.com/kidsonacase.html

Book Review- John Grisham- The Partner

John Grisham- The Partner (Island Books 1998) 3.5 Stars

After stealing ninety million dollars from his law firm Patrick Lanigan has been running for four years. He has been traveling around the world hiding from those who wish to hunt him down and get their money back. In Brazil they finally track him down. Now he is being hauled back to the States to face the trial of a lifetime. His lawyer is trying to come up with a defence, but he gets the feeling that he is not being presented with all the facts. Meanwhile Patrick’s lover and partner in crime, is working to set him free. Only one thing can possibly keep him from jail…the truth.

John Grisham has done a great job with this one. The Partner keeps you guessing all the way through, you never know all of the facts until the very last page. The reader finds out the facts as Lanigan’s lawyer finds them out, each and every detail is a shocker. You cannot possibly guess all of the twists involved in this novel. The characters in this novel are well-done, although I would have liked a little bit more depth. The plot was very intriguing and it was interesting to see how Lanigan could twist the system to work for his needs. I loved the introduction as it set the stage for everything in your mind. It grabbed your attention and made you want to know more, so you read on and you don’t want to stop. There is so much information and so many details to watch for that you need to pay attention while reading it. As much as I loved this book, I had one major complaint, the ending! The end of the book was disappointing, all that build up for that! I am still glad I read it though.

I recommend The Partner to Grisham fans and those who enjoy lawyer dramas.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: the case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

www.eloquentbooks.com/kidsonacase.html

Book Review- Tess Gerritsen- Bloodstream

Tess Gerritsen- Bloodstream (Pocket Books 1999) 3.25 Stars

Dr. Claire Elliot is trying to move beyond her families past. Moving to Tranquility, Maine was supposed to solve her problems; little did she know the sorrow that was lurking in Locust Lake, Tranquility’s tourist attraction. As teenagers start acting out in rage, one disaster after another hits Tranquility. She soon discovers that this has happened before, with much the same weather conditions. Now she must search for answers in a town where things stay hidden. Her search will end with answers that shock her; a conspiracy much deeper than she could have ever imagined.

I found Bloodstream hard to get into, and I am not exactly sure why. The plot and storyline were great, very deep and intriguing, and yet there was something that just did not grab my attention. The characters were wonderfully crafted, and some of them were very deep, with secrets that you found out about at just the right times. The setting was also very well done, Gerritsen paints a wonderful picture. The prologue was one that should have caught my eye right away, but again I say it did not. The ending was great, unexpected and not in the least bit predictable, except for the fact that you knew Dr. Elliot had to make the discovery. The rating that I gave it was based on the fact that I just couldn’t get into it, others may find themselves drawn in, aside form that factor I would have given it a higher rating.

I recommend that readers of suspense/thriller at least check out Bloodstream to form their own opinions on the matter.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

www.eloquentbooks.com/kidsonacase.html

Book Review- Dusty Richards- Servant of the Law

Dusty Richards- Servant of the Law (St. Martin’s Press 2000) 3 Stars

Bobby Budd fled Colorado after murdering a man who was beating his mother. Now he is a killer for hire, taking payments from ranchers to rid them of rustlers. Now he is known as the Coyote Kid. Things take a turn for the worse when he kills an innocent boy and Territorial Marshal John Michaels is sent to hunt him down, joined by the deceased child’s mother. Michaels wants to bring the Coyote Kid in to meet justice, and she wants to deliver justice at the end of a gun.

I found Servant of the Law to be a fast-paced, action-packed novel. Guns were blasting away at every turn. I did not find though that I could connect with any of the characters in this book, none of them were given a lot of depth. I had been confused most of the book about this book’s timeline, only to discover three-quarters of the way through that most of the book had been flashback that was building up to the present. When the author switched to these flashbacks there was no indication that it was happening, I would have liked to have known that much earlier so that I could follow what was going on. The plot was not bad though, if it had been written differently it would have made a great novel rather than an average novel. The ending was decent, not exactly unpredictable, but not bad.

I would not slap my personal recommendation on this one.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

www.eloquentbooks.com/kidsonacase.html

Book Review- Don Pendleton- The Executioner: Death Warrant

First off I would like to wish everyone a good Rememberance Day, or Veterans Day to all of my American friends. A moment of silence is in order for all those who gave us our freedom.

Don Pendleton- The Executioner: Death Warrant (Worldwide Library 1994) 2.25 Stars

After a DEA operation goes wrong and they are ambushed, many are left dead. Rocha, the merciless drug lord does not care who dies as long as he gets what he wants, power. Mack Bolan has been given the task of finding out who the informant was and discovers a plot for Rocha to join forces with an even more ruthless enemy. He knows that it must be stopped. Now he is off to Green Hell to put an end to this mess once and for all.

I do not usually read this type of novel and now I know why. Death Warrant was exactly as I expected it, a book with very little plot. Basically Mack Bolan has no depth to his character, he just comes in shoots everyone to pieces and somehow finds out all the details he needs to rush into the next scene and repeat the process. Somewhere in the mess is a beautiful woman who is willing to sleep with any and all. A total guy book, which I do not tend to enjoy; books need plot, depth of character, and something other than women/death to draw my attention in. I think that if maybe the killing sprees were spread out more and diluted with more plot/page counts it might have been more believable/enjoyable to read about. As it was though Mack Bolan’s missions go a little bit too smoothly, and he never once gets injured in these amazing shootouts with machine guns.

I do not recommend Death Warrant.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Tony Earley- The Blue Star

Tony Earley- The Blue Star (Little, Brown and Company 2009) 4 Stars

Jim Glass is learning what it is like to grow up. He has found a girl that he loves with just one problem, she has a fiancé overseas. Jim must now learn what it is like to not have what he wants most, to be just friends with the girl of his dreams. With World War II just starting he must consider doing his duty and signing up. Meanwhile his best friend seems to have problems of his own and Jim must try to keep him from getting himself killed.

I was surprised to find myself enjoying The Blue Star as it is not my usual reading. Tony Early writes a captivating tale of Jim Glass and his adventures while he is learning to grow up. The storyline is slow moving and yet it still managed to hold my attention all the way through. The characters were amazingly real; it was like they all jumped off of every page. It was a fairly serious book, but I still found myself laughing at some of the situations Jim and his best friend, Dennis Deane, found themselves in. It was also interesting to see the cultural differences between their time period and ours. As for plot there was not a lot going on plot-wise, but I do not believe that it really needed a lot. The book read more like a campfire tale that your grandparents would tell you.

I recommend The Blue Star to anyone looking for a beautiful tale of times past.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

www.eloquentbooks.com/kidsonacase.html

Book Review- Gordon Korman- On The Run: The Fugitive Factor

Gordon Korman- On The Run: The Fugitive Factor (Scholastic Inc. 2005) 3.5 Stars

Aiden and Meg Falconer have lost their parents to the FBI. The charges that took their parents are wrong and these two must find the evidence to prove what no one else seems willing to believe. Breaking laws across the states they fight to stay out of the grasps of the law. Meanwhile Hairless Joe, a hit man, is trying to hunt them down and end their search for the truth.

Being the second book in a series, it took me a bit to figure out what was going on. The storyline though is very interesting and if I could get my hands on the rest of the series I would. Meg and Aiden are great characters who have one goal in mind, to free their parents. This noble cause gets them into some very odd and fun situations, I enjoyed seeing them squeeze out of tough situations and I think that kids would love it. The ending kind of sucked though, as it left you needing to read the next book to find out what happened. This is one major complaint in reading a series, when all the books only make sense when you read the other books, it can be difficult to find the whole series, so getting into it may prove a challenge.

I recommend this series to young kids.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

www.eloquentbooks.com/kidsonacase.html

Book Review- Jeffery Deaver- Death of a Blue Movie Star

Jeffery Deaver- Death of a Blue Movie Star (Bantam Books 2000) 3.25 Stars

Rune almost gets blown up as a bomb destroys a porn theatre that she was walking by. Now she wants to make a film about it through the eyes of porn star Shelly Lowe. When a second bomb kills her star it leaves her questioning the true motives behind the bombings. Her investigation into the truth could be a lot more than she signed up for, as someone tries to put a stop to her hunt for the truth and her film. Can Rune find the answers before the truth destroys her?

I did not find Death of a Blue Movie Star to be as good as the last Rune book I read, although I still enjoyed it. Rune is a very interesting character as she is so different from your usual book characters. Her curiosity always seems to lead her into tough jams that make for good storylines and different kinds of investigations that you don’t see in your typical mystery novel. I did find myself wishing that the plot would pick up the pace a little bit and maybe have a little bit more depth to the case than what there was. The ending came as a bit of a surprise, although I was looking for something more shocking, with a little more ‘wow!’ to it.

As you can see I kind of have mixed feelings about this one so I won’t say recommend or not recommend, you can read the review and make up your own minds.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

www.eloquentbooks.com/kidsonacase.html

Book Review- Robert James Glider- Golden Conspiracy

Robert James Glider- Golden Conspiracy (Book Surge 2009) 3.5 Stars

Jacsen Kidd is searching for the location of Spanish gold that has been missing for centuries. However, knowledge of his quest is not as secret as he may believe. Death seems to follow him wherever he goes and he must figure out who is trying to use him to find his gold. Treasure hunting is a dangerous game, a game Jacsen Kidd loves to play.

I do not usually read adventure type books, so this was an interesting choice for me. Golden Conspiracy reminds me of an Indiana Jones style of book. Although it got off to a really slow start with a lot of background knowledge and very interesting facts, it did pick up about a quarter of the way in. I enjoyed learning all the little fun facts, but would have liked to see it grab my attention a little bit sooner. Once the storyline picked up in its pace it was a lot more enjoyable to read, as a lot seemed to be happening and yet it was still easy enough to follow. Jacsen Kidd and his fellow explorer Pericles Schmoond are both great characters, which I loved reading about. I was a little bit annoyed at the last few dates given in the book, as in two cases they were still in 2010 when they were supposed to be in 2011, and in the third the date went back ten days from what it had previously been, but it wasn’t supposed to go back as the storyline kept going. I was also annoyed at how many quotation marks were missing around people’s speech. I counted dozens of occurrences. That being said, I would be interested in seeing what kind of movie they could make out of this book. I would also be curious to see what Robert Glider could come up with in the next book.

I recommend Golden Conspiracy to people who love adventure books.

For more of my reviews, check out my website, www.tonypeters.com

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

www.eloquentbooks.com/kidsonacase.html