Book Review- James Ellison- Panic Room

James Ellison- Panic Room (Pocket Books 2002) 3.5 Stars

When Meg gets a divorce, she decides to move to a new home with her daughter. She never expected the home to have a panic room, nor that she would end up needing it. Three men break into her home on their first night in the home and suddenly she finds herself protecting her daughter in a desperate attempt to stay alive. Hiding away in the panic room, they watch as the men attempt to gain access.

I watched this movie when it came out, which is the reason why I grabbed this book when I saw it. The movie was okay and the book followed suit. It was an okay book that got off to a very slow start. It did pick up about a third of the way through and it was pretty fast-paced from then on. I was finding that it did lack a little depth and could have been written a little stronger. I did enjoy the book though, mostly the intensity. I would have also liked stronger character development, as I found it lacking that department. Overall it was an okay book, and I am undecided about whether or not I would 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

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- John Vornholt- Starfleet Academy: Capture the Flag

John Vornholt- Starfleet Academy: Capture the Flag (Minstrel Books 1994) 3.25 Stars

Geordi LaForge is in his first year of Starfleet Academy and after beating a competitive cadet in a game, he must now face him in an elimination game of capture the flag. Geordi is scrawny and not very athletic, yet he has been chosen to be captain of one of the four teams. To make a point he has chosen a team of similar beings who are also always chosen last. Now he must face a stronger, more athletic team, and use his brain to outsmart them.

I liked the introduction to this book, as it was different from the norm, and made you curious about the rest of the book. Then it kind of tanks off and gets boring, taking awhile to get to the main point of the novel. I was driven on only by the knowledge that this was my favourite book in this series when I was growing up. When it got to the point I really enjoyed the book and I love what it has to teach children about how being toughest and strongest is not always an advantage in life, you also have to be able to use your head. The ending was cheesy and predictable, but was also kind of amusing, and I could see kids loving it. I would recommend this book to young sci-fi 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- Suzanne Collins- Mockingjay

Suzanne Collins- Mockingjay (Scholastic 2010) 4 Stars

Normally I give a book description, but with this series it is difficult to without giving out key details to previous books. So I will not do one.

Like the other books in this series, this book got off to a slow start. However, it does not take long to pick up the pace, and once it does, it really grabs your attention. Collins worked on developing background on the well-known characters and showing how they are changing from the pressures of the violence they have seen. I enjoyed seeing them do what I have been wanting them to do all along, rebel. I am not sure why anyone would have gone along with the Hunger Games for as long as they did. I see fear, but wouldn’t death be better than giving up your children every year? Being a guy I was not drawn in by the torn feelings of Katniss, between her two suitor choices, but I can see young girls understanding her perfectly. It was another well-done book, and a great conclusion to the Hunger Games series, that being said I would have liked a strong ending to the book, it all seemed a little too perfect for me. I would definitely recommend this series to young adults.

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- Michael Connelly- The Scarecrow

Michael Connelly- The Scarecrow (Grand Central Publishing 2008) 3.75 Stars

Jack McEvoy has cracked many a case wide open with his journalistic prowess, but now he finds himself being laid off for making too much money. Wanting to go out with a bang he digs into the case of Alonzo Winslow, a young punk who says he is being wrongly accused of murder, yet he has confessed. McEvoy must figure out just what Alonzo confessed to and in the process he discovers a connection to an identical murder in Las Vegas. In his search, he warns the killer of his hunt and finds himself a target as well.

This book took me quite some time to get into, and I found myself wishing for a better introductory chapter, especially from such a seasoned author. However, when it did pick up it really got intense. The plot moves a long at a fast pace for the latter two-thirds of the novel. I also love the characters in this book, and it is interesting to see how McEvoy does his job so well. Normally in thrillers we see ourselves hating the journalists, yet in this book we are engrossed in McEvoy’s work. I enjoyed seeing the return of Rachel Walling, and their tense relationship. It was interesting that Connelly did not try to hide the guilty party from us in this book, which made you cringe as they make wrong assumptions; this is different from Connelly’s usual style. Overall I did enjoy this novel and would certainly recommend it to thriller 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- Peter Lerangis- Spy X: The Code

Peter Lerangis- Spy X: The Code (Scholastic 2004) 2.75 Stars

When Andrew and Evie move to yet another new town they never could have pictured what it would be like. With their father being a military man and their mother having disappeared a year ago, they move around a lot. Their mother left a note for them when she left and now they have received a mysterious package from what they assume to be their uncle. They are not sure who they can trust and just what is going on.

I never really got into this book at any point in time. It was alright, but not overly interesting. I do however think that the next instalment in this series would be better. I loved the characters in this book, they were very well done. It is certainly a character driven novel. The plot was slow moving, but did build up towards the end, leaving it off for an interesting start to a next novel. I am not sure how interested kids would be in this novel, but there may be kids who would like 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- James Patterson with Andrew Gross- 2nd Chance

James Patterson with Andrew Gross- 2^nd Chance (Little, Brown and Company 2002) 3.75 Stars

When what looks like a racially driven spree of murders rocks San Francisco, recently promoted Lindsay Boxer is on the hunt. She must unearth the truth behind these murders. Are they connected? If so what is the connection? What is really happening here? She is bringing the Women’s Murder Club back together to try to solve this case, before this killer ends every hope of the spree ending. Can they do it before it destroys them?

I loved the introduction to this book as it captured my attention immediately, which set the stage for the rest of the book. The book was fairly fast-paced and I enjoyed the many twists this book took, knowing Patterson you kind of knew that he had to be misleading you in some way, which is great. I do think that the characters could have used a little work, but they were not bad. I do have to kind of wonder when I see “with Andrew Gross” on the cover, just how much did Patterson write and how much “editing” did he do? I would keep reading this series as it isn’t a bad read, but I would like to see if Patterson would be able to write a book by himself, rather than co-writing every single book he comes out with now.

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/