Book Review- Greg Iles- 24 Hours

Greg Iles- 24 Hours 3.75 Stars

Five times before Joey, Huey, and Cheryl had pulled off their perfect kidnapping crime, only taking 24 hours to get a small payout. This time things are different Dr. Will Jennings and his wife Karen, are not going to make it easy. They don’t trust the kidnappers to keep their word, especially with what they have learned. Protecting their child is most important, they will do anything to see she is kept alive, even if it means killing someone else, or dying themselves.

The book started off a little slow for me, but picked up pretty quick. Iles grabs your attention early on and doesn’t let it go. It has many good twists, none that I would say are shocking, but you are still kept on the edge of your seat waiting to find out what is going to happen next. I did find it a little graphic in a few sections, but it was actually used to add to the tension. It also had some fluff in a few sections that slowed things down, and could have been shortened to keep things flowing. The characters were very well done, and fit into their roles perfectly. Realism was something that weakened this novel. There were sections that I wondered if the characters would have really been able to do what they did, or if they would have been willing to do some of what they did. Overall I found this novel to be a good read, but likely wouldn’t read it a second time.

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- Promise Me

Harlan Coben- Promise Me (Signet Books 2007) 4 Stars

It has been six years since Myron Bolitar tried to save
someone, not since the last brutal failure. Haunted by the death of a woman he
tried to save he now finds himself making a promise to the daughters of his new
girlfriend, and her best friend, daughter of one of his friends. He tries to
prevent them from catching rides with drunken friends by offering to give them
a ride if ever they need it; little did he know what he was getting himself
into.

The intro to this book was kind of interesting. It isn’t
action packed, but it grabs your attention and makes you wonder how this is
going to tie in. I found the characters to be really good. We got to learn a
bit more about Win’s past and how he became the man he is in the series. We
also got to see the character of Bolitar becoming stronger and less of a
pushover. The plot was pretty good, could have been a little stronger. It had
some great twists, but the big twist at the end I saw coming about a quarter of
the way through. Overall this was a pretty good book, I love this series and it
was a decent instalment.

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- No Second Chance

Harlan Coben- No Second Chance (Signet 2004) 4 Stars

When Dr. Seidman and his wife are shot in their home, his daughter is kidnapped. When he is given a ransom note, he checks himself out of the hospital. Trying to get his daughter back, things go wrong almost from the start. Now he must search for his daughter’s kidnappers and fight to get his daughter back, all the while not knowing if she was alive.

Great opening sentence and opening pages in this book; it grabbed my attention immediately. It lets the reader know that they are in for a wild ride. This book was pretty intense at parts, and had cooling periods to give the reader a little break, but not so much to be at the point of boring the reader. I liked the characters in this book; they were interesting and added to the book nicely. The plot was pretty good as well; it had many twists and turns, keeping the reader guessing. I did wonder why the cops were so set on Dr. Seidman being guilty; there were too many things that just didn’t fit into place for him being guilty. Overall the book was pretty good; I would recommend it for those who like 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- Lee Child- The Hard Way

Lee Child- The Hard Way (Dell Publishing 2007) 4.25 Stars

When Jack Reacher watched a man in New York City drive away in a Mercedes, he had no idea just what was coming his way. The car belonged to Edward Lane who has many mercenaries working for him, and it contained a million dollars worth of ransom money. Jack Reacher now finds himself working for Lane in the search for the man’s wife and step-daughter. When Reacher finds out just who his employer is and what he has done in the past, he wants to put a stop to everything, but is it too late to put a stop to what he has gotten rolling?

I love the uniqueness of the introductions that Lee Child has a way of working into his books. I do tire of how Reacher always ends up working alongside a woman; it gets old when it happens in every single book. I love how fast-paced and action packed the book was. It grabbed my attention early on and did not let go until the very last page. Then it ended off with an excellent ending that popped. The plot was pretty good and showed that even in a series Lee Child can write something new, that being said I would like to see him write something outside of his comfort zone (non-series). I love Reacher’s character. He is a hard-nose, no nonsense kind of man, who will stop at nothing to see his sense of justice done.

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- Back Spin

Harlan Coben- Back Spin (Dell Books 2009) 3.75 Stars

When a young teenage boy disappears in Philadelphia during the U.S. Open championship, Myron Bolitar is asked by the mother to discreetly look into the matter. The mother, golf sensation Linda Coldren, has one stipulation; there must be no police involvement for fear of the repercussions of the kidnappers. Her husband is trying to win the championship and Myron can’t help but wonder if someone is attempting to sabotage his chances. Myron is forced to discover what it is like to be alone, and just how dangerous life can get.

I enjoyed this novel, even if it did not quite have the same flare that this series normally does. Again I got to chuckle at Myron’s witty sarcasm, but we did not get as much from Win this time, for reasons you will discover as you read the book. I loved how this novel was used to deepen Win’s character, show us more about his past and why he has become the man that he is. Coben has done another wonderful job of working his magic on the plot. There were certainly some interesting twists involved and they were used to increase the suspense, drawing in the reader’s attention. I do wonder why Coben writes so much about finding a missing person, he does a great job of it, but it would be nice to see something different once in a while. That being said, I would recommend this book to mystery 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- Harlan Coben- Just One Look

Harlan Coben- Just One Look (Signet 2005) 4 Stars

Grace Lawson has a life she loves, a great home, loving husband, and wonderful children, but one day it all seems to just unravel. It all starts when she discovers an old photograph mixed in her new roll of film, in the photograph is a man who looks just like her husband Jack. When confronted Jack denies it, but disappears with the picture. Now Grace must sort out just what is going on, but she soon realizes that she is not the only one who knows about the photograph, and is hunting for the details around that picture. Also searching is a ruthless killer who does not care who dies, just as long as he completes his assignment. With the police doing little she knows that if the truth is to be found she must do the digging herself. She must find the truth even if it costs her everything she has come to love.

At first I found Just One Look to be kind of difficult to get into, it had just enough oomph to keep me reading. Harlan Coben has definitely had better introductions, but the book did pick up the pace true to Coben’s reputation. The plot was a great with lots of twists and turns as Grace Lawson receives some shocking revelations. I love how Coben is able to make the reader think one thing and end up with a totally different result, just like an illusionist. I enjoyed the many characters we come across in this novel, they are expertly created and woven into the storyline, although I felt that I did not always how a couple of characters reacted, nor their actions. Coben chose interesting places to have some of the scenes, places where the reader would least expect their to be things of importance happening (for the novel’s sake anyways), which was good to see as it came across as a refreshing change from the places novels normally visit. Overall I really enjoyed Just One Look, and would recommend it to 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

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

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- Thomas H. Cook- Red Leaves

Thomas H. Cook- Red Leaves (Harcourt Books 2005) 4 Stars

This book was recommended to me and I thank whoever did, it was a good read. I apologize for not remembering the recommender. Eric Moore’s life is going good, until one day a neighbour’s daughter disappears and his son becomes a suspect in the investigation. Suddenly he discovers family secrets and his perfect life falls apart. He begins questioning everyone in his life, wondering if they are who they say they are. He discovers that everyone has secrets and that he cannot take anyone at face value.

I enjoyed reading Red Leaves as it grabbed my attention early on, making me wonder just how his problem would be solved, if it was going to be solved. It had many flips that I did not see coming, only to bring the reader to a point of wondering if Eric Moore has guessed right or if he is jumping to conclusions. The characters were very well done, and the writing was great. I loved how the end was kind of unexpected. I would have loved to see more of the end instead of the cut scene that explained part of it, just keep the story going, don’t do the cut scene explanation.

I would recommend this book to mystery lovers, although it’s not really a mystery, also drama lovers, and Thomas Cook fans.

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

www.eloquentbooks.com/kidsonacase.html