Book Review- Frank O’Rourke- Ambuscade

Frank O’Rourke- Ambuscade (Signet 1959) 3 Stars

After a robbery winds up with two men dead, Norcross picks up the manhunt for the culprits. They have already picked up Lovato who held the murderers horses during the job, but now they intend to set him free in the hopes of his leading them to bigger fish. The trap has been set; all that they need now is for their prey to fall victim to their trickery.

It took me a while to get into this one. It never had that moment of Wow this is a great book! It was just barely interesting enough for me to stick it out and keep reading. The beginning was kind of blasé, which right away makes me wondering about the rest of the book. The characters were not very deep and at times I was confused about who was who. For such a short book I kind of expected a faster pace, rather than the slow pace it took on. I did however enjoy the last forty pages of the book as it picked up by that point and all the confusion had fallen away. I would not consider picking up another book by this author and would not recommend Ambuscade.

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- Ben Smith- Gunfighter’s Return

Ben Smith- Gunfighter’s Return (Priory Books 1959) 3.75 Stars

Todd Ramsey has been away from home for a long time. After growing up with a father who blamed him for the fact that his mother died during his birth, treating him poorly, he took off to make a name for himself using the tools he knows best, his six guns. Now that his father has passed away he is returning home to take a piece of what is rightfully his, the mineral rights to his father’s ranch, but his brother and a group of conniving thieves does not intend to let that happen. It looks like guns might just be the answer, something that he knows how to do very well, but change is coming to the land and guns are not treated as the answer by the local sheriff.

The introductory paragraphs did not grab me they were far too wordy and gave a too-in-depth description of the main character, at which point I thought ‘here we go again’, but it quickly got better. The wordiness only happened a couple of times in the book, even so Ben Smith should have tried to grab the reader on page one. I love the main character’s name, Todd Ramsey; I couldn’t help but think of Chef Gordon Ramsey every time I saw the name, made the book slightly amusing. I enjoyed the plot; as far as westerns go it wasn’t too bad. The characters were interesting as well, could have been a little deeper, but again as far as westerns go not bad. It had enough action to keep the reader reading on, which made it a better read. I would recommend Gunfighter’s Return to those who enjoy a good western.

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- Harlan Coben- Deal Breaker

Harlan Coben- Deal Breaker (Dell Publishing 2007) 4 Stars

Myron Bolitar is a sports agent and is about to have one of his young rookies sign the contract of a lifetime. Now the young star is asking him to look into the disappearance of his fiancé a year and half after the fact. Triggered by the death of the girl’s father this case has the potential to be dangerous, just the way Bolitar and his friend Win like it. As he starts the investigation it becomes very clear that someone does not want him to succeed in his case. This becomes especially clear when another body turns up and Myron finds himself asking, just what exactly is going on?

I love the Myron Bolitar series and it was great to see where it all began for Myron. This book makes the others in this series make more sense and provides background for everything that has gone on. Again I love his sarcasm and how it always seems to land him into more trouble than if he had kept his mouth shut. Harlan Coben is a master at creating characters and using those characters throughout the series. I enjoyed the fast pace this book took on. One thing would happen and then before you could even think about that something else slaps you in the face and you are like, “What?” then as the scene plays out you get that, “oooohhhhh” moment. Coben is one the Kings of twists. I did not enjoy all the smut that this book was woven through, not outright smut, just talking about smut, hard to explain you really have to read it to understand. That of course was not enough to make me hate the book; in actuality I loved this book and highly recommend reading it and the series if you have not already started 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

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Maureen Bayless- No Fixed Address

Maureen Bayless- No Fixed Address (Scholastic 1997) 3 Stars

Monika and Sabie have been living on the streets. Monika, Sabie’s mother, has been dealing with cancer and has been trying to show Sabie the right questions to ask during life to help her survive on her own. Now her mother has died and she really is on her own, can she really do it? Now she must try to find her own way in life, asking her own questions and making her own decisions. Thirteen and on her own, she only hopes she has enough courage.

The introductory paragraph in No Fixed Address was interesting, but then my interest teetered. I was kind of up and down about whether or not I liked this book; it was like riding a teeter-totter. Sabie was a wonderful main character and I enjoyed the characters we met along the way. It was also a powerful tale of a young girls struggle to find her own way in life. I did find the whole Estelle situation to be a little annoying at times, and when the social worker, Ann, came along I found her to be most disturbing. A social worker should never give information out about other clients and the way she acted at times was not like a role model or how a responsible adult should act. If a social worker actually acted like this I am afraid of how the children she is trying to help would turn out. As a result I am afraid that this book does not get my personal recommendation.

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 Coffin Dancer

Jeffery Deaver- The Coffin Dancer (Pocket Books 1999) 4 Stars

As a dangerous and brilliant killer is hired by a rich criminal to hunt down witnesses in a federal case, criminalist Lincoln Rhyme and his associate Amelia Sachs are brought in to capture the assassin. Deception is the assassin’s game and it will take all of Rhyme’s skill to figure out each of these deceptions before it too late. For Rhyme this is personal as he has dealt with this assassin before and lost, the assassin is aptly named the Coffin Dancer, and catching him will not be so easy, in fact it could be down right impossible.

I loved the introductory sentence as it grabbed my attention and made me wonder just how the murder was going to happen, and when it did happen it was not the way I figured at all, it was like BAM! Deaver has way of doing this throughout his books, a very skilled thriller author who knows how to make twists that shock. Sachs and Rhyme are an odd pairing, but I love the way Deaver has them mesh and work cases together. The team members that they usually have with them are interesting as well and I can’t help, but enjoy reading about them. The plot was fast-paced and edge-of-your-seat reading making this a tough one to put down. I did not particularly enjoy the end as it did not seem all that likely or realistic, but it certainly was shocking.

I recommend The Coffin Dancer to anyone who loves mysteries/thrillers, or enjoy Deaver’s work.

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- Tony Earley- Jim the Boy

Tony Earley- Jim the Boy (Little, Brown and Company 2001) 4.75 Stars

After Jim Glass passed away leaving behind an expecting wife, Cissy sees no other choice than to call her son Jim Glass in honour of the man she loved. Now Jim is ten years old and he lives with his mother during the Great Depression. His three uncles are left to teach him the responsibilities of being a man. He is trying to learn the breaks and now his school has been combined with all of the outlying schools, including the mountain country where his father was raised, bringing in students who know more about Jim’s family history than he does, including stories of a grumpy grandfather whom his mother has forbidden to ever see him. Being a ten-year-old boy is turning out to be harder than he could have ever imagined.

I read Blue Star the heart warming sequel to Jim the Boy last year and I knew that I just had to read this one. Earley has such a talent for story telling. It made me feel like I was right there along with Jim Glass going through his preteen lessons and heartaches. I enjoyed this book immensely and was up late last night as I could not get enough of it. The characters are so rich and full of life that they jump off of every page; you cannot help but feel like they are right there with you. I enjoyed seeing this one year period of Jim Glass’ life and was touched by how he had to learn just what life is like, with heartache, regrets, joys, and most importantly a loving family. This gives Blue Star some background and will make rereading it more enjoyable. I will be rereading both books with my wife and definitely recommend reading these two books to everyone.

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- Elizabeth Gunn- Triple Play

Elizabeth Gunn- Triple Play (Dell Publishing 1998) 3.5 Stars

Being a detective just outside of Minneapolis is usually not a bad job, but when a serial killer strikes life becomes hectic for Jake. The first victim is discovered on home plate in quiet neighbourhood park. He is wearing an old baseball jersey and the mutilated body is a terrible sight. When the next victim turns up in much the same fashion Jake finds himself scrambling to find the killer before he strikes again. He must scrounge around through people’s lives to uncover clues as to just how these tow murders may be connected and who the killer may be. Everything points towards a third victim, but how can he possibly stop the killer from succeeding in their triple play?

This was the first novel ever written by Elizabeth Gunn, and the first one I have ever read by her. I enjoyed the opening chapter as it was an enjoyable read, although I am not sure what I loved about it. The storyline kept me locked into every page, I enjoyed it. I would not go so far as to say it was as good as Harlan Coben, Jeffery Deaver, or Michael Connelly, but I still enjoyed it. There were a couple of really good twists in the book, like the ending that I did not see coming. Just when the reader thinks everything is over Gunn throws in another twist, although if you look at how many pages were left you kind of know something else has to come up. The characters were good, but I was hoping for a little more depth. Overall I did enjoy reading Triple Play and would recommend it 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

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- William W. Johnstone- Return of the Mountain Man

William W. Johnstone- Return of the Mountain Man (Pinnacle Books 2000) 4 Stars

After Smoke Jensen’s wife, father, son, and mentor are all brutally murdered, Smoke Jensen is looking for revenge. The killers have taken refuge in the town of Bury, a mining town that they own, bought with stolen money. Stratton, Potter, and Richards, the men responsible for the killings, have hired a bunch of gunslingers to hunt down Smoke Jensen and protect them from him. If Smoke has his way the three will die, and the town will burn down to the ground. Years after the murder he still has an itch for revenge.

I love this series. This is a great western series filled with action, but still manages to have a decent plot, not great, but good for a western. I love the characters in this novel. Smoke is an interesting man with good characteristics and morals. I also enjoy the mountain men as they are fun and a great creation. The action in the book was not the most realistic, but what western is? The historical time period is always a plus in my books, but I won’t go on about that considering I say it all the time. I definitely recommend this book/series as it is written by a talented author, who knows how to keep things interesting.

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- Jennifer Lee Carrell- The Shakespeare Secret

Jennifer Lee Carrell- The Shakespeare Secret (Published in the U.S. as Interred with Their Bones) (Plume 2008) 4 Stars

When the Globe theatre suddenly burns down due to arson and Kate Stanley’s mentor dies in the theatre after giving Kate a mysterious gift, she is forced to dig deep into secrets some wish to remain hidden. The gift is the first clue as to what her friend Roz had stumbled upon, and the thing that will throw Kate into a life on the run. She is an expert her field of study, Shakespeare, and she must use every ounce of her knowledge as she spans the globe in search for the truth behind Shakespeare. She is on a deadly quest for the truth that may just destroy everything she holds dear.

Right from page one I was intrigued by this book. Not being a fan of Shakespeare I still found it interesting to learn so much that I did not know about this literary genius. The plot takes the reader on a twisting and winding road that will keep you up late at night biting your nails in anticipation. Just when you think you have everything figured out, something will jump out of nowhere to make you rethink what you had thought right before you can think about what you think right now. Confusing sentence that makes you stop and think? Well I had to stop and think a few times while reading this, not many authors can make me do this so often. The characters were well thought out and I enjoyed reading about them. I will certainly be looking for the sequel to this book as I expect it to be a good one. There were a few cheesy moments, but most books contain at least a few so I will not nit-pick. I enjoyed the setting as it was interesting to see the different parts of the world, although at times it was exhausting to think about how they could trick airport security so easily.

I recommend The Shakespeare Secret (Published in the U.S. as Interred with Their Bones) to anyone who loves Shakespeare, adventure, or 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- Bill Brooks- Law for Hire: Saving Masterson

Bill Brooks- Law for Hire: Saving Masterson (HarperTorch 2004) 3.25 Stars

Dodge City has been left in the hands of the Masterson brothers. They have the tough job of keeping the law and order. Filled with rough men who are tired of being told what they can and cannot do, the Masterson brothers may have bitten off more than they can chew. Bringing in Pinkerton Teddy Blue was not their decision, but that of the town council. Can one man save the Dodge’s lawmen from a sure grave, when every man with a gun wants to put a hole in the Masterson brothers?

I loved the first couple of chapters in Law for Hire: Saving Masterson they drew me right in making me want to read more. The opening pages caught my interest and the next chapter had me hooked. I had high hopes for a great read, but then Brooks did something I cannot stand; he started shifting character focus constantly. I am okay with a couple of different characters being focused on, but there were several characters at different locations being focused on, one in particular could have easily been cut, as he did not really play into the story at all. I enjoyed the plot, but would have enjoyed it more had Brooks focused on only two characters, as it made it hard to keep track of who was trying to do what. I did enjoy how much Brooks seems to know about historical figures of the time period as that made it a little more interesting. Overall I must say that with this book you would have to try it for yourself to figure out if it is something you will enjoy.

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- Michael Crichton- Rising Sun

Michael Crichton- Rising Sun (Ballantine Books 1993) 3.75 Stars

When a woman is murdered in the beautiful new Nakamoto Tower in L.A. at its grand opening, an investigation begins. Lieutenant Smith must now work with Captain Connor to dig through the lies and deceit to uncover the truth. Connor teaches him much about Japanese culture and helps him understand their actions. Just when they think that they are close to the truth they discover that once again they must weave through the maze of corruption and cover-ups. Can they solve the case before it ruins the lives of everyone involved?

After reading Rising Sun I have decided that this is my favourite Crichton book. I loved the twists and turns that this book took. Crichton masterfully weaves around the truth, giving you glimpses of what might be reality, only to take a totally different path. I was on the edge of my seat for most of this novel. The characters were interesting as well, although I did not feel a great connection to any of them, but the main character. I enjoyed learning a little about Japanese culture and how much it differs from our own. One thing that I did not like was how there were long sections of information that could easily have been condensed to help the reader keep interest. These sections slowed down the pace and made me wonder why we really needed all the information we were given. I understand the desire to include all the information from your research, but as an author you need to resist this urge.

I recommend Rising Sun to Crichton fans or anyone who loves 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

www.eloquentbooks.com/kidsonacase.html