Book Review- Robert C. O’Brien- The Secret of Nimh

Robert C. O’Brien- The Secret of Nimh (Scholastic 1982) 4 Stars

When Mrs. Frisby’s son Timothy gets sick with pneumonia just days before the ground is to be tilled, they must try to find a way to safely move him. After befriending a crow he leads her to the wise old owl for advice on what to do. The owl sent her to the rats with a suggestion on how to move the house. In the process she will find out things about her deceased husband that she did not know.

I remembered loving this book when I was in school, so I was happy to read this book again. The plot is not a complicated one, but it is solid and keeps moving along. I did not find my attention waning at any given time. The characters were fairly strong, although maybe could have used a little more depth. The ending was also clever and was a great way to conclude the novel. Overall it was a good book and I would certainly read it to my child.

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- Brad Meltzer- The Book of Lies

Brad Meltzer- The Book of Lies (Grand Central Publishing 2009) 3.75 Stars

Years ago Cain killed Abel, the first murder, but no one knows what was used to kill him. In 1932 gunshots took down Jerry Siegel’s father, leaving him all alone. To help him cope he creates Superman. Only now, years later has the gun been found again. Cal has just been reunited with his father when he finds his father after he is shot. Now they are on a historical hunt years in the making, trying to stop those who intend to use what they are seeking for evil.

The introduction was pretty good in this one; it certainly makes you interested in what there is to come. The treasure hunt/adventure type storyline made for some interesting puzzles to figure out and watch the characters hurry to beat the clock. I enjoyed the fast-paced nature of this novel that kept you wondering what was coming next. The big twist was kind of a surprise for me; I was completely thinking it was heading in a different direction. I also found it interesting to find out background information on the Superman story. The characters were decent in this one; I felt that they could have used a little bit more depth. I also really loved the ending as it was a great way to conclude the events. Overall I thought it was a pretty good book and will certainly be reading more by this author.

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- Raymond Khoury- The Devil’s Elixir

Raymond Khoury- The Devil’s Elixir (Dutton 2012) 3.75 Stars

This is a pre-release review. Look for it in stores near you in the new year.

FBI agent Sean Reilly has just received a phone call from an old flame; Michelle is ex-DEA and on the run from men who want her dead. Even odder is the fact that she is running with a son he never knew he had. Explaining this to Tess may not be so easy, but first he must save Michelle. He did not realize going in just what kind of trouble they were in, this may be more than even he can handle. Money, a new kind of drug, and powerful men seeking more power; a deadly mix for anyone who gets in their way. The question is, can Sean Reilly figure out what is going on and survive?

I found that this book started off a little bit slow, it doesn’t immediately grab your attention, but it does peak your curiosity. It also sets the stage with much needed background information. Once the prologue portion ends though, it does pick up the pace and turns into quite a fast-paced rollercoaster. It is full of heart-pumping action, with several big twists. One of these big twists is not very believable for me, but that would depend on your beliefs, as it delves into the paranormal, but I can certainly get past that. The conclusion was not the most realistic either, but it definitely added to the quick-pace. I enjoyed how the book involved great detective work and things did not come to them easily, as often times in thrillers, they just magically come up with answers; nice to see that it wasn’t so in this book. The characters also had great backgrounds and depth, so that they appear to jump off of every single page. One thing I really wasn’t fond of was the character shift from one page to the next. It was a bit distracting, but I do see where Khoury was coming from and it did help to fill out the storyline. Overall, I thought that The Devil’s Elixir was great. I enjoyed it more than I did his earlier works.

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- Andy McDermott- The Pyramid of Doom

Andy McDermott- The Pyramid of Doom (Bantam Books 2010) 3.25 Stars

Uncovering an ancient vault beneath the Great Sphinx is becoming a huge TV opportunity, but someone may be trying to beat the archaeologists to the prize. Macy Sharif, a student, has found out about their plan though and is now on the run for her life. Who does she run to but the shunned Nina Wilde and her ex-SAS husband. Together they are up against a rich cult who is on the hunt for an ancient secret behind death.

It took me quite a while to get into this book, kind of a slow start. I was hoping that it would have had a way better introduction that would get my attention right off the bat. Once it did pick up though it was quite intense and fast-paced. The plot was pretty good with some twists and turns, though none that I thought were fantastic. The characters were also pretty good with some depth to them. I did think that the bad guys were pretty stupid and gullible, so it would have been nice to see them be more of a challenge for Nina and her crew. I also thought that the plausibility was lacking and things just worked out a little too well. I also don’t understand how people could have gotten beaten up so much and still kept going on. Overall though it was an interesting read and it was good for a one-time pick.

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- Brad Meltzer- The Millionaires

Brad Meltzer- The Millionaires (Warner Vision 2002) 4.25 Stars

Oliver thinks he is on the fast track to a high profile career in a large bank and his brother works lower down in the bank. When faced with the chance to take three million dollars and no one knowing that the money is even gone, they are in a dilemma. Oliver soon discovers that he is just being used at the bank and won’t be going anywhere. Now there is nothing holding them back, but when people start chasing them and murder comes into the picture, things begin to go dangerously wrong.

The introduction was kind of interesting in this one; it kind of makes you curious and gets into the feel of the book. Next things start to pick up as you get further along and the action grabs your attention and makes it hard to put down. The plot has a lot of little twists and turns along the way surprising you with a big twist at the end. The twists are not completely unpredictable and you have to wonder with one of the big twists, how Oliver did not see it coming. The characters are pretty good and have a fair amount of depth. The setting was interesting as it changed and went into areas that people should know even if they haven’t been there. The ending was really good; it was action-packed and it was really hard to put down to go to work. I did not think that the epilogue was necessary and felt the book would have been stronger without it. Overall though, it was a really good book.

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- The Brass Verdict

Michael Connelly- The Brass Verdict (Little, Brown and Company 2008) 4.25 Stars

When Mickey Haller was shot after his last court case, he became addicted to the pain killers. He has now completed his rehab and is looking to ease back into the courtroom scene, but fate has something else in mind. A friend of his is murdered and all his cases are thrown into Mickey Haller’s lap, including the case of a lifetime. A big movie producer has been accused of killing his wife and her lover, and it is Haller’s job to get him off, but will it come with a bigger price tag than he is willing to pay?

I loved the introductory page in this novel. It made me laugh out loud and I had to read it to my wife. After that it tapers a little as it sets you up for all the thrilling pages to follow. I love the characters in this novel; they have a lot of depth. I also enjoy how Connelly ties in characters from his other books, as it keeps you up to date with what is going on in their lives. The plot in this book was great, it twists and turns leaving you unsure about what to expect; you just never know who to believe, but Connelly kind of prepares you for that with the introduction. It then ends with a bang and a personal twist you likely won’t see coming. I actually don’t have any real complaints with this one, except maybe wishing it had gotten fast-paced a little quicker, but that is just being picky.

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 and Maxine Paetro- The 8th Confession

James Patterson and Maxine Paetro- The 8^th Confession (Grand central Publishing 2010) 3.5 Stars

The rich are dying in San Francisco and Detective Boxer is being pressured from up top to clear this case. No one seems to know the cause of these deaths until it slaps them in the face, but will it help them solve the case? Meanwhile Bagman Jesus has just been brutally murdered and his being homeless seems to make him less important, that is until Cindy Thomas gets things rolling for him in the newspapers. The problem is that he may not have been the saint they originally figured him for.

Another great introduction from Patterson, this is a great skill of his. I also really love his plots as they seem to twist and turn, shocking you at every chance. I did find that there was a little much going on in this novel. Too many characters are making for too many storylines, which is kind of distracting. I also find his need to throw in so many personal romances in every book to be fairly annoying. Too much personal drama makes for slower reading. The characters are usually very detailed because of this fact, but in this case it is the same information we found out in every other book in this series. Overall this book is a good addition to this series, but Patterson really needs to know when to end a series. This can be said of many authors though.

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- Dave Pelzer- A Child Called “It” and The Lost Boy

Dave Pelzer- A Child Called “It” and The Lost Boy (Health Communications Inc. 1995) 4.75 Stars

For Dave Pelzer life was so perfect. They had a happy family and enjoyed fun outings, until one inexplicable day things changed. Suddenly Dave wasn’t worthy of a name, food, a proper bed, or new clothes. He became the beating child who went without food most days. His struggle to survive took all of his being and he had to learn to steal what food he got. Just getting through the day was all he could accomplish.

Before reading this my wife had warned me that it would be a really tough read and she sure was right. This kind of terrible abuse is just atrocious to think of. I studied youth care work and this book helps me understand more of their backgrounds and what they went through. I was able to see many quirks that we were trained to watch out for in our courses. Dave’s story is one that makes a body want to cry, but I also found myself wishing that his mother would die a slow and agonising death. The blame also falls on his father though for being a spineless coward who just let it all happen. It was a happy moment when Dave was taken into the foster program, which we all knew was coming through the little introductory section. Overall I have to say, a great pair of books, but not ones to pick up and read lightly.

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- Ian Fleming- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Ian Fleming- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Scholastic 1964) 3 Stars

The Pott family was living the life of the poor in England. No car and struggling to get by with Mr. Pott’s inventions, until he invents a candy that whistles. Now they have a car that he has altered and found out it is magical. Adventure awaits them across the sea in France, maybe more than they had bargained for!

I only chose to read this book because I had watched the movie a long time ago. It was a little slow in sections, but kids would probably be more enthralled by the magical flying car thing to notice. It also lacked much of a plot, just going on about how great Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is. It was interesting to see France and England, as I have never been to either country. The characters were very well done, a redeeming quality of this book. I would definitely say that the concept behind this book is great, but it is lacking that oomph to make it great. Kids will likely enjoy this book though, as they don’t care about all these little aforementioned details like us adults do.

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- Ronie Kendig- Nightshade

Ronie Kendig- Nightshade (Barbour 2010) 3.75 Stars

Former Navy Seal Max Jacobs is struggling with the ghosts of previous missions. It is turning him into a bitter, angry man and destroying his marriage. His wife is now filing for divorced and so he sees nothing to lose when offered a position on a black ops team of discarded heroes. They handle the toughest situations and are making waves of rumours in the media. Can he control his anger and save everything he loves?

It was a curiosity peaking introduction, action wasn’t necessary in this case. This author is great at character development. All of her characters were deep and jumped off of every page. You feel bad for both Max and Syd, hoping for an understanding and willingness to try. I did find myself wishing for a little less focus on their personal struggles and a little more on the black ops missions, but that wasn’t really the focus of the book. The plot was good, although could certainly have been more attention grabbing with more focus on the team and their missions. The setting was interesting though as it shifted a few times, keeping you on your toes. Overall it was maybe a bit more aimed at ladies, but men may find interest in it as well.

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- Ted Dekker- Saint

Ted Dekker- Saint (Thomas Nelson 2006) 2.75 Stars

Carl Strople is an assassin known as Saint. He is the best killer in the world, with more power than even he knows. The super secret government hired group has taken everything from him and turned him into what they want him to be. His search for the truth and love may just destroy him and everything the group has worked so hard to achieve.

The introduction for this book was great. It gets you involved in the action immediately, preparing you for an enjoyable read. I wish that this feeling had lasted. I found that it was really hard to stay interested in the book. I normally love Dekker’s books and find them easy to get into, but this just wasn’t the case with this book. The plot was a little hard to follow and seemed a little rushed, like he maybe should have taken more time on certain facts to make them clearer. It did have some really good twists in the book, but in the end you still know what to expect. The characters were really well done and were a redeeming feature of this novel. The conclusion was also really good, although it leaves it off for the third instalment of this series to continue the story. I would not recommend reading this book unless you are a Dekker fan working your way through his books.

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

Book Review- Sara Gruen- Water for Elephants

Sara Gruen- Water for Elephants (Harper Perennial 2011) 4 Stars

Jacob has just lost his parents in the middle of the depression and leaving during his final veterinarian exams, he hops on a random train in the hopes of leaving his problems behind. Now he is part of the circus and he is using his vet skills to look after their animals. He has now found two things he loves, Rosie an elephant, and Marlena a married woman, whose husband’s mood swings make her a prime target of abuse. Trapped and not sure what to do, he may be forced into action as the circus crumbles around him.

The introduction was very good; it gets you into the book immediately, making you want to find out how this outtake is going to fit into the rest of the book. The plot was interesting, taking shape beautifully as it carried you through the life of this elderly man. It switched back and forth from past to present smoothly. Normally these shifts annoy me, but with this book it seemed natural. It was wonderfully told and captivated my attention. I did find myself wishing for less smut, as it really was not necessary. The characters jumped off of every page. They were very well done. The circus setting was unique, as you do not see many books about the circus, keeping this one fresh. The author also must have done a lot of research and showed this in the book. I also enjoyed the conclusion, it was a fitting way to end the novel. Overall, I think that this book is worth the hype and plan to watch the movie now that I have read the book.

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- Charles De Lint- Little (Grrl) Lost

Charles De Lint- Little (Grrl) Lost (Viking 2007) 3.75 Stars

T.J. was forced to sell her best friend in the world, her horse Red, when they moved from their country home to the suburbs. Feeling all alone and friendless, she comes upon a Little by accident. Elizabeth is a teenage Little with attitude and she has just been found by a Big. Now her family is fleeing the house and she is finding out that living without family is not all that it is cracked up to be. There are rumours in the Little world of the ability for them to change into birds with the help of a Big author. Her curiosity leads the pair on an adventure that will test both of their spirits and change their lives forever.

I had read the Little series growing up, so it was interesting to find out more about the Littles years later. This Canadian author does a good job of expanding on the traditional Little view and giving them more depth. He adds a whole new dimension to the world and shows that Littles are not the only oddity in our world. I enjoyed the characters as they were very well crafted; although a couple of times their reactions could have been a bit more realistic. The plot was twisting and turning so you never knew just what they were going to come across next. I did find that I never became absolutely engrossed in the book, although that could be due to the fact that I don’t normally read fantasy. Overall though this was a good YA fantasy 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

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Dan Mahoney- The Protectors

Dan Mahoney- The Protectors (St. Martin’s Press 2003) 3.75 Stars

When Carmen de la Cruz is kidnapped overseas, the Spanish ambassador in New York is also kidnapped, as well as another Spanish diplomat, McKenna and Cisco are assigned the case. Working with the FBI and foreign police forces will take a lot skill in a case that will be scrutinised by the media. They must start with the New York case before assisting the rescue of Carmen de la Cruz. Deception seems to be around every corner and they must figure who is telling the truth and who is lying. The real challenge though, may be staying alive.

The introduction was not the most gripping, but certainly does catch your attention. The plot was good and kept the pace going steady all the way through. I would not call it fast paced, but the pace was quick enough to keep you from getting bored. I did find it odd that nothing really went terribly wrong for them, which would have jacked up the pace a little. I love it when books go from one country to another, if done right it keeps things fresh. It also shows you different parts of the world. The characters are pretty good, but could use a little more depth. As much as I enjoy Cisco’s arrogance, his referring to himself as “Cisco” all the time is kind of annoying. Overall it was a good read and I would certainly read more by this author.

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

Tony Peters
Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping
http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Gordon Korman- Chasing the Falconers

Gordon Korman- Chasing the Falconers (Scholastic 2005) 3.25 Stars

The Falconers have been put in prison for treason; their children are now wards of the state. Aiden and Meg do not believe in the guilt of their parents, and think that they can prove their innocence. Running across the country, they must flee agents who wish to bring them back in. The treasure hunt for justice has begun.

I must admit I read the second instalment before the first. I remember liking the second book, but this one wasn’t quite as good. It got off to a really slow start, without having read the next book I may not have kept reading. However, once they begin their flight from the law it certainly picks up the pace. The plot is good, although not great. The characters are pretty good and help the flow of the book; it shows you the importance of family and friendship. The setting was good as it is constantly changing, so it keeps you on your toes. One thing I was not fond of was the predictability and that is not just because of reading the second book first. I would have liked situations to end in more of surprising manner. Overall it is a good series that I would keep reading, but this was not the best start.

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

Tony Peters
Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping
http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Nancy Farmer- The House of the Scorpion

Nancy Farmer- The House of the Scorpion (Simon Pulse 2004) 4.25 Stars

Harvested as a clone, Matteo Alacran is deemed an outcast by all except his master. He is a clone belonging to El Patron, a rich and powerful opium grower for both the United States and Mexico. He owns the land between Mexico and the US, and is possessive of everything he owns, especially his Matteo. Matt doesn’t understand much about life, as everyone seems so secretive, unwilling to reveal to him the true purpose of his creation/existence. Matt feels that leaving the Alacran house is the only way he can live, but escape may not be so easy.

With a slower start, the novel still captivates you from page one. You find yourself wanting to know more about this little boy, who grows and matures throughout the novel. We find out more about him, and figure some things out before he does, as we read about what he is learning. I found it interesting how he refuses to believe what has been obvious, even when the truth is right before his eyes. This was a good illustration of how humanity so often is. The characters were very well done; I was quite impressed by it. The plot was unique, although not fast paced, but it still keeps the readers interest and makes them want to delve further into the book to find out more. I did find it odd how people just folded under the pressure of the oppressors, but I guess most humans wouldn’t see a way out of a hopeless situation. Overall I really enjoyed this book, and found myself wanting more after reading the last page.

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

Tony Peters
Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping
http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Gary McCarthy- Gunsmoke

Gary McCarthy- Gunsmoke (Boulevard 1998) 2.75 Stars

I always remeber watching Gunsmoke on TV Land at my grandparents house. So reading this book brought back memories. Anyone else just love this great classic series?

Doc has just had a heart attack and a new doctor has come into town to help out. The only problem is that this man loves the ladies, and the women being married matters very little. His services may be needed more than ever as cattlemen are coming into town, including a nasty group of rustlers. It will take much skill for Matt Dillon and Festus to keep the peace.

I found that this book lacked any particular focus; it kind of jumped from one thing to another. It had some really great action scenes that catch your interest, which is something most westerns do not lack. It also had the advantage of having well known characters from the hit TV show. This meant that the author did not have to focus on character development, although he did a good job of it anyway. The ending was good, albeit a little cheesy, but the whole book was on the cheesy side so what else would you expect.

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

Tony Peters
Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping
http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Lee Child- Worth Dying For

Lee Child- Worth Dying For (Dell Publishing 2011) 4.75 Stars

Up in Nebraska Jack Reacher has come upon a town afraid of the Duncan family. At their disposal is a group of ex-football players willing to lay down the law for the right price. The town cannot step out of line without consequences. He also stumbles upon a cold missing person case that he just cannot ignore. Stirring things up will make him the target of several out of town groups and the Duncan clan.

The introduction was not fast pace, but it certainly peaks your interest. It then moves into a plot that is fairly quick moving, that leads up to a great ending. We get to see Reacher kicks some more butt in different methods then we normally see. My interest never really did wane. The setting was nice to see, one thing I do love about this series; we see a lot of places not usually seen in books. I got a kick out his mention of Medicine Hat being a small town, when it is a mid-size city in Canada; Swift Current is a small city. The characters were quite well done, that is another thing this author is great, character development. We don’t really learn anything new about Reacher in this book, but it fine-tunes his personality. I did like to see how it carried on from the last book, including his injuries. Overall this is a great instalment in this series.

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

Tony Peters
Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping
http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Mark Konkel- Disaster Park

Mark Konkel- Disaster Park (Blue Leaf Publications 2011) 3 Stars

The author describes his book as:
Imagine if you could have been a passenger on the Titanic? Or on the 92nd floor of the North Tower? If there was no danger to you, would you choose to experience “Living History,” the new amusement park ride under development at Delaney Corporation? Arnie Hetzel, a forensic computer programmer, does not want to consider the question as he’s struggling with his own personal disaster, but when astronauts start appearing in events from 1903 and tests of the “Battle of Gettysburg” fail miserably, Jase Delaney, the genius behind Delaney Corporation, convinces Arnie that his efforts could be therapeutic. So with only five months until opening, Arnie delves deeper into this living museum--this 360-degree holographic environment where riders experience military battles, infamous disasters, and grisly murders--but as he does, will he be saved from his own tragedy? Or will he find it disrespectful to recreate a mass murder in hologram then charge admission?

It was an interesting introduction to the book, it really gets your imagination going, although, it was distracting to have the conversations going on in the background. I found that it really slowed down for quite some time though. It did pick up again later on, and I really enjoyed the Civil War battle scene. It was kind of distracting with how much it shifted from person to person, which made it harder to get into. The main character was pretty well done, but the other characters I found a little weak. It was smart to take on the angle that would get emotions going and could be seen as a controversial topic. The last section of the book was interesting and catches you by surprise; a nice twist to finish off the book. The epilogue was a nice touch as well, good to see things working out. Overall I wish that it took on a faster pace, but not a bad one-time read.

For more of my reviews check out my website, http://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 Broken Window

Jeffery Deaver- The Broken Window (Pocket Star Books 2009) 3.25 Stars

Rhyme is still hunting down the killer from The Cold Moon, working alongside British Inspectors. Meanwhile his cousin has just been put in jail for murder. The case seems open and shut, with a lot of evidence pointing at him, but the evidence is just too perfect for Rhyme and Sachs. Their investigation will reveal several other frame-ups and lead them into the cyber world of stolen identities.

The introduction was a little slow and it took me a while to get into this book. Once you get into the heart of the book it does pick up the pace, leading to a dramatic conclusion. I did find that there was a lot of fluff, which dragged things down. I also found some of the situations to be a little unrealistic, sometimes Rhyme comes up with things a little too conveniently. That being said, it was definitely an interesting read, I will certainly be worried about my identity for many years to come. The characters were really well done and I was impressed by how each character was filled out. We just keep learning more and more about this duo and their fellow teammates with each novel in the series. Overall it was a decent one time read and continued the series along, but I do think that Deaver could have done a little better. Now I guess this leaves us with just one question; is this really me writing this review?

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

Tony Peters
Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping
http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Allan Folsom- The Exile

Allan Folsom- The Exile (Forge Books 2006) 2.75 Stars

John Barron has just gotten onto the famed 5-2 squad in LA, but things are happening within the squad that he doesn’t agree with; he just has one problem, he can’t leave. Meanwhile a murderer is on the loose and he is killing people all over the world. Hunting down this man is going to drag his squad, his sister, and him through life and death situations. When all is said and done, his life will never be the same.

This book had a great introduction that makes you want to read on. The fast pace continued throughout the book, although at a few parts it was pretty slow. I found the book to be fairly wordy in parts, and there was something about it that I just did not enjoy. The characters were great, very well done, which made up for some of the negatives I will list. I found some very foundational problems with this book in terms of probability; I will mention a couple. I highly doubt that in the initial meeting with Raymond and Donlan; that they would have given up their weapons to a criminal. S.W.A.T. would have been called, police are never supposed to give up their weapons, it just ended up with more killings in the end, which is exactly why they aren’t allowed to give up their weapons. I also wonder why the FBI was not brought into the case. When murderers kill in multiple states the FBI should be brought into the case. The ending was pretty good, though very predictable. Having read future books in this series, this book was good for showing where Marten got his start.

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

Tony Peters
Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnappinghttp://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Michael Connelly- The Overlook

Michael Connelly- The Overlook (Vision Books 2008) 3.75 Stars

Dr. Stanley Kent has just been discovered on the overlook with two bullets in the back of his head. Now Harry Bosch must try to find the killer, but he isn’t the only one interested in this case. Agent Walling of the FBI has been handed the case as it has taken a terrorist angle. Bumping heads as Bosch fights to keep his case; they must try to solve this case before things escalate out of their control.

The introduction to this book was a little slower than I am used to from Connelly, but it was still interesting enough for me to keep reading. It had a good plot that kept moving at a fast clip, changing direction many times. The characters were well done and their tensions added to the intensity. I did find myself wondering how Bosch suddenly jumped to the conclusion he did. The ending was very good and intense; it was a great way to end a novel. The bonus chapter at the end tied things up nicely, although the original ending would have been just fine as well. Overall I thought that the book pretty good.

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

Tony Peters
Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping
http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

I have hockey cards from 1982-present. These cards include many teams and current/past stars. Also includes insert, rookie, and jersey cards. The price will vary depending on the card/player. I am willing to sell or trade, just tell me what players/teams you are looking for and I will let you know what I have.


Prices start at .05 and will go up depending on the card.

In the case of all trades, the trader must ship first. I will not send cards until I have recieved the agreed upon cards. In the case of purchases, I accept paypal, money orders, and personal cheques. cards will not be shipped until the money order/personal cheques have been cleared by the bank. I will then ship within the next 3 or 4 business days.

If this interests you comment on this post and leave an email.

Book Review- Harlan Coben- The Woods

Harlan Coben- The Woods (Signet Books 2008) 4.25 Stars

Paul Copeland’s sister died in the woods outside of their summer camp, along with three other people, twenty years ago. Only two bodies were ever found; his sister’s body was not among them. Now as County Prosecutor he has a huge career case he is fighting to win, and he must still find time to raise his six year old daughter by himself, after his wife’s death. When one of the supposed dead actually turns up as a murder victim, he must figure out the truth, is his sister really dead? If she isn’t, why did she go into hiding?

The introduction to this book was unique; it grabbed my attention and made me want to find out what was going on. Normally I find two seemingly separate story lines revolving around the same person to be a little distracting, but in this book’s case they were interwoven amazingly well. True to Coben’s style, the plot had lots of great twists and turns, you just never knew what was going to come at you next. I did manage to figure out one of the twists way before hand, but it didn’t really detract from the book at all. A couple of situations in the book though, I did kind of wonder if it would have played out like that, but it was a minor complaint. I found the characters to be fun and they were quite well crafted. Overall the book was pretty good, and I would certainly recommend it to all thriller readers.

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

Tony Peters
Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping
http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Johann Wyss- The Swiss Family Robinson

Johann Wyss- The Swiss Family Robinson (Moby Books 1983) 3.25 Stars

When the boat that the Robinson family is on, wrecks near an island, the crew leaves them behind in the middle of a storm. Now they have found their way to the island that the crew missed during the storm. They now must fend for themselves and use the supplies on boat to build a shelter and provide a food supply. What adventures will they find on the island?

This classic I had tried reading years ago, and have returned to try again. The writing is strong and the overall plot is decent. I did find that the plot could have been a little deeper. I also thought that Wyss was trying a little too hard to make it adventurous; it seemed a little stretched at times. The characters were really well done and seemed to jump off of every page. It was kind of interesting to see what they discovered. Overall I thought the book was okay, a good one time classic read.

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- Thomas Rockwell- How to Eat Fried Worms

Thomas Rockwell- How to Eat Fried Worms (Dell Publishing 1975) 3 Stars

Billy has gotten himself into trouble by making a bet with his friends, Alan and Joe. He must now eat fifteen worms in fifteen days. He will mask the flavour with anything to ensure that he wins; ketchup, mustard, horseradish, as just a few examples. Alan and Joe will stop at nothing to ensure that they don’t have to pay up; trickery, kidnapping, and overstuffing.

This book was kind of fun. I remember reading it as a child. It is kind of a nonsense book, with the message of don’t make bets you can’t afford, a message many adults with gambling addictions could really learn from. The characters are not overly deep, but are fun and play along well with the light-hearted fun in the book. It was lacking a plot, and aside from the message there is not much of a point to the book. Overall though I would say it is a fun one time read that kids would 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
http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

James Patterson and Maxine Paetro- 7th Heaven

James Patterson and Maxine Paetro- 7th Heaven (Little, Brown and Company 2008) 4 Stars

When the governor’s son goes missing without a trace and months later a tip comes in regarding his disappearance/death, Boxer is brought in on the case. Yuki is responsible for the trial section and together they must figure out the truth from the lies. Meanwhile someone is burning up the rich of San Francisco and it is getting closer and closer to home for Lindsay Boxer as she tries to solve a case with few leads.

The introduction was really good, it grabbed my attention immediately. It was a pretty intense read; quick like all Patterson novels. It was a good plot, but I felt like he was trying a little hard at times. The characters were decent, but could have used a little more depth. I do find myself wishing that he would focus more on Lindsay, instead of dividing attention between her and Yuki’s trials. The ending was good as well, but I did find myself questioning the likelihood of the way it played out. I would explain further, but that would be a spoiler. Overall it was a good read.

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

Tony Peters
Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping
http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Daniel Silva- The English Assassin

Daniel Silva- The English Assassin (Signet Books 2003) 3.25 Stars

Former Israeli spy, now turned art restorer, Gabriel Allon is being tossed back into a past he left behind. In Zurich, Switzerland he is called to restore a painting for a rich banker only to discover the banker dead. Framed for the murder he must dig through old Nazi history and Switzerland’s past connections to the old regime. Going against him is the English Assassin, someone he trained.

The introduction was pretty good. It got my attention and made me want to read more. The intensity did drop off and only came up at a couple of points. The plot was decent, but I found it to be lacking something, I am not sure what, but something. The characters were okay, but I felt that they were lacking a certain depth, with the exception of the main character, which was very well created. The setting was interesting, as it went to several tourist hot spots and was cool to read about. It had some good twists, but not all of them made complete sense to me as to why they would have happened the way they did. I also found the ending slightly disappointing. Overall it was a good one time read.

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

Tony Peters
Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping
http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Ridley Pearson- The Body of David Hayes

Ridley Pearson- The Body of David Hayes (Hyperion 2004) 3.25 Stars

When Liz’s old love affair comes back to haunt her, Lou Boldt is there to investigate. Their family must deal with their mistakes and try to solve it in a way that is not going to destroy them. Her ex-lover stole seventeen million dollars from an account he did not know whom it belonged to. Now the Russian Mafioso is out to get revenge and they do not care who gets in the way.

The book started out interesting, could have been better, but wasn’t bad. The plot was okay as well, but was kind of weak in some areas. The twists were not really great and could have been a lot more shocking. The characters were well done and were a redeeming quality in this book. They play off of each other well. I did find myself wishing that it could have gripped me better in parts, but overall it was not a bad book.

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

Tony Peters
Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping
http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Kirk Mitchell- Fredericksburg

Kirk Mitchell- Fredericksburg (ibooks 2003) 3.5 Stars

This book covers the pre-battle, battle, and post-battle parts of the battle of Fredericksburg. It takes on the characters from lowly privates, to sergeants, to generals. I found it rather amusing that the first typo to be found was on the cover of the book, forgetting the ‘e’ in Fredericksburg. It got off to a long and extremely slow beginning. I know why they did it this way; I just wish it could have been more interesting. That being said it was great to see all the historical detailing brought into the book, as well as the amazing job that was done at character development. I liked the fact that it covered the battle from both sides, but it got to be rather confusing at times. When it did get to the actual battle section, it got to be very intense and I couldn’t put the book down. This redeemed it for the slow beginning. It was also good to see the author let you know what the people he researched for the book did after the war. Overall it was a good read, about an era in time that I find fascinating.

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

Tony Peters
Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping
http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- John Lunn- The Mariner’s Curse

John Lunn- The Mariner’s Curse (Tundra Books 2004) 3.25 Stars

Rory Dugan finally gets exactly what he has dreamed of for many years, to go to sea. It has one catch though; he must go on this cruise with his mother and her new husband. When he comes across Morgan though, things turn for the worse. This grumpy old man seems to be causing trouble on the ship and for some reason Rory finds himself drawn into the man’s schemes.

I was not sure whether or not to put this into the middle reader, or young adult category. On the one hand it reads like a middle reader, but on the other I am not sure that kids would understand the curse aspect of Morgan; when you read it you will understand what I mean. The introduction peaks your interest, but doesn’t outright grab you. It does pick up a little and makes you curious as to just how things are going to turn out. The setting is fun and kids should enjoy it. The characters are fairly well done and play off of each other nicely. Overall I though it was a decent read, especially if you like books about sailing.

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

Tony Peters
Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping
http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Akropol Restaurant

In downtown Swift Current, there is a Greek owned restaurant. It is a small space, but it has an actual restaurant with a lounge attached on the side. A little tight for space, it is still well used space. The atmosphere is pleasant and cozy. The staff are friendly and tend to be around if you need them. They bring the food out in a timely manner, and your wait times for service is never long. The owner is going about the restaurant talking with customers and helping out where he is needed. He is a very friendly man who is always willing to make your experience more enjoyable.
The food is tasty and very enjoyable. I do wish that their Pickerel (which I love the taste of) had no bones, yet you do find a few. The steak tips are amazingly delicious as well. One thing I do not enjoy at this restaurant is their burgers, which are kind of weak. My wife also enjoys their spinach pizza.

Overall Akropol is a homey, customer service-based restaurant.

Rating: 6/10

Kid friendly: Yes, but more space would make it more so.

Book Review- Richard King- That Sleep of Death

Richard King- That Sleep of Death (Dundurn Press 2002) 3 Stars

When Montreal bookstore owner Sam Wiseman finds a body of a client dead, his life changed. He now finds himself trying to clear his name and find out just who was guilty of the murder. Working with the police he finds himself out of his league, but is intrigued by the investigation.

It was a bit of a slow start to the book, that had me unsure if I would finish. It never did really become gripping, but was still interesting enough to keep me reading. It was also kind of cool to see the bookstore angle, and a little of the behind the scenes work that goes on. The characters were okay for me, not great, but not terrible either. I found that his relationship was distracting and kind of pointless. The setting was nice to see, as it was taking place in Canada, but it did not get into the setting description much. Overall it was an okay book, good for a one time read.


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

Tony Peters
Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping
http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Heidi's Burgers

In Kyle, Saskatchewan, there is a small diner. They have Chinese and Canadian food. We fled here after starving at the restaurant in White Bear, Saskatchewan. We were greeted/seated immediately, the waitress did not understand a lot of english, but was very freindly. We pointed out what we wanted on the menu, and it worked out fine. The decor was neat and tidy, and the atmosphere was pleasantly small townish. We even had our food within fifteen minutes of ordering. It tasted good, with fresh vegetables on the burger, and my wife's chicken fingers were tasty, with good onion rings. It wasn't fine dining by any means, but after the bad experience before, anything was welcome.

Rating: 3/10 Stars

Kid Friendly: Very

White Bear Hotel/Restaurant

My wife and I thought that it would be fun to go for a drive and stop in a small town diner for food. Well this turned out to be a less than fun experience. We had been told that the restaurant had good tasting food, I wish that we had gotten the chance to judge that for ourselves. We walked in and my eyes had to adjust as it was so dark in there. There were no windows and not enough lights to make it so you could see very well. There were Christmas lights streamed everywhere(not even Christmas), radios lined the walls, as well as random pictures, butterflies/plastic flowers. Our tables were decorated by a beer bottle wrapped in tin foil, with a plastic sunflower in it, and the washroom door was right behind my wife. Inside the washroom it was old/grungy, and not too private. Overall it had the appearance of being grungy and cluttered. It took the waitress ten minutes to get to our table and bring us our menus. At this point I was starting to get a little annoyed, but we were told the food was good so we were willing to wait. We then ordered our waters and were waiting for her to return to take our orders, but it took a long time. We were just about to get up and leave when she took our orders, but not before taking the orders of a table that had come in after us. Then we waited, waited, and still waited. After being at the restaurant for an hour and fourty-five minutes, and receiving no food OR water in that time we got up and left. They must have only had one chef and one waitress working in the whole restaurant, even though when we called to ask if they were open, they told us they were busy, so we should be there by around five to beat the rush.

Understanding why we waited that long, takes a knowledge of small towns. It was a Sunday evening, so we were not sure if the restaurant in the nearest town was going to be open, and we kept thinking that surely our food would get to us. We did leave quite angrily and found a restaurant open in the next town thirty minutes away.

Rating 0/10

Kid Friendly: Only if you want your children to starve, also not much room for high chairs around the tables.

Book Review- Ruth Kluger and Peggy Mann- The Secret Ship

Ruth Kluger and Peggy Mann- The Secret Ship (Doubleday Signal Books) 3 Stars

Ruth is in charge of trying to get Jews onto secret ships to help them escape Europe before Hitler gains control. Bringing them to Palestine is dangerous, but it is the only hope for these people’s survival. The British wish to stop these illegal ships from reaching their destination and the Germans wish to prevent them from leaving; a dangerous job with enemies around every bend.

This book was different from what I expected. I thought it would be an intense read that would be about them running from the Nazi navy. Instead it was kind of a slow read. It had some interesting historical facts and I found out some things I did not know about. A good read for anyone looking for a short book with good facts, but not for those looking for a fast-pace book. The ending was the best part, as it told you what continued to happen to them as the war progressed and faster the war.

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- Chris Kuzneski- Sword of God

Chris Kuzneski- Sword of God (Berkley Publishing 2007) 3.5 Stars

When a boy from South Korea discovers a cave full of blood near his village, he has no idea how it will affect his fellow villagers. In Saudi Arabia a major archaeological discovery has just been made. The U.S. has called in Payne and Jones on a black ops mission, but neither knows exactly why they have been called in, nor what is going on. Left to figure things out on their own they have decided to handle things in their own way. Unearthing a plot that could put the world at war once again, they must put a stop to things before it is too late.

The introduction was intriguing; it grabs your attention and makes you curious about where it is going to lead. The characters were interesting and added depth to the book. The plot was good, with some great twists that kept you guessing. It weaved in and out, but I did find that I was wishing that it would focus more on the main people, instead of digressing with the two groups of other people who tied in at the end. It was interesting to learn a little more about the Muslim religion. Overall the book was not bad, a good one time read.

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

Tony Peters
Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping
http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Stuart Woods- Short Straw

Stuart Woods- Short Straw (Signet Books 2007) 2 Stars

Lawyer, Ed Eagle’s wife has just taken the majority of his money and run off to Mexico. Hiring two PIs he hopes to find her and get his money back. Watching his back may be the smarter move though, as she wants him dead.

This book got off to a slow start, but did pick up a little later. The characters in the book were okay, but kind of shallow, making it hard to get into. I also found that the plot seemed kind of scatterbrained and disorganised, making it seem too hastily contrived. I found myself wondering why this book was written, was it about the sex, or the characters? The setting was kind of interesting as they traipse across Mexico, but I am afraid that it was not enough to redeem this book. I would not be recommending this book to anyone.

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

Tony Peters
Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping
http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- J.A. Jance- Damage Control

J.A. Jance- Damage Control (HarperCollins 2009) 2.75 Stars

A possible suicide of an elderly couple brings Cochise County sheriff Joanna Brady to the edge. She is also dealing with a deadly house fire and a body found out in the desert at the same time. Things are heating up in Cochise County and her department is being stretched thin. Can they clear these cases before thier resources are strained too much?

The introduction to this book was great and grabbed my attention right off. However this prologue was not tied in until the end, and I had kind of forgotten about it. I found that the book dragged at points and it had too many cases going on at the same time, making it hard to follow at times. Each case separately was interesting enough, but bunched together they became distracting. The characters were well done, a redemptive feature for this book. I also found that there was a lot of personal stuff in the book which really slowed things down. Overall the book was okay, but not one I would recommend.

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

Tony Peters
Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping
http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- Robert Crais- Sunset Express

Robert Crais- Sunset Express (Ballantine Books 2005) 3.25 Stars

Teddy Martin is a wealthy restaurateur, who is being accused of murdering his wife. He has now hired Jonathan Green, a topnotch defence lawyer, to defend him. That lawyer has hired Elvis Cole to look into the possibility of police tampering with evidence to make him look guilty. As the investigation heats up, Cole and Pike start to think that it may not be the police who have something to hide.

An okay introduction; it did not really grab my attention, but I was curious enough to keep reading. The plot was decent, but was kind of weighed down by personal sections. I did enjoy the twists in the book, they were well done, and kept you guessing as to just how Cole was going to outsmart them. At the same time I did not think the ending was all that realistic, as it could have gotten Cole into a lot of trouble. The characters were well crafted and were fairly deep. I have read better by this author, and better in this series, but overall it was an okay addition to the Cole/Pike series.

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

Tony Peters
Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping
http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/