Desperation Road by Michael Farris Smith Lee Boudreaux Books/Little Brown and Company, $26.00, 287 pages, ISBN 978-0-316-35303-8 Some writers have such a firm understanding of their sense of place and are able to write about it with such authenticity, that the reader is transported there in mind as she or he processes the printed words . . . almost seeing, hearing, and touching the people, places and events of
The Blue Light of Yokohama Mysterious Book Report No. 285 by John Dwaine McKenna Every now and then, a forthcoming book generates so much pre-publication interest that the MBR wants to get a look at it at the earliest possible date. If an ARC, or Advance Readers (i.e. Reviewers) Copy isn’t readily available, we can sometimes spend some extra money and get a true first edition from the British,
The Old Man By Thomas Perry Mysterious Press/Grove Atlantic, $26.00, 337 pages, ISBN 978-0-80212585-6 Sixty some years ago, when I was just a boy back in the ‘50s, every year at Thanksgiving my parents would take me and my two younger brothers for “Turkey-Day” at my Great-Aunt Ruth’s house down in Westchester County. Pop would fill up the trunk of the car with a present of seasoned, cut and
Mysterious Book Report No. 283 Revolver by John Dwaine McKenna The MBR has often reviewed works of historical fiction—plotted as crime fiction, murder mysteries and whodunnits of all flavors, sizes and eras—and even some which take place in the future. This week however, is as unique a piece of historical fiction as we’ve yet encountered, and an awesome job of suspenseful, twisted plotting to boot . . . Revolver,
The Corruptions by Vincent Zandri Polis Books, $25.99, 256 pages, ISBN 978-1-943818-37-2 Ever notice how things seem to go in repeating cycles? Either there’s always . . . or never . . . a parking spot when you’re running late for an appointment, for example. You either breeze right in whistling a happy tune, or show up twenty minutes late, all sweaty, red-faced and cursing under your breath at
IQ Mysterious Book Report No. 281 by John Dwaine McKenna One sure way to know you’re reading a great book, is when you just don’t want it to end. Perhaps it’s because you’ve found the main character to be so fascinating, endearing or heroic that you don’t want to break contact with him; or the story is so compelling, you have to know, What happens next? Those are the
Darktown Mysterious Book Report No. 280 by John Dwaine McKenna Only a few authors have the ability to educate, entertain and thrill their audiences, all at the same time. It’s a gift; and a rare talent practiced by luminaries like Dennis Lehane, Walter Mosley and Philip Kerr; each of whom have a unique, and special skill that allows them to make history come alive in the pages of their
The Emerald Lie by Ken Bruen Mysterious Press/Grove Atlantic, $25.00, 345 pages, ISBN 978-0-8021-2546-0 For the past few reviews the MBR has had a string of first time authors . . . so we thought a change of pace was in order for this week, and we’re going with an old favorite, an Irish writer with more than thirty books to his name and a boatload of awards and
Fidelity by Jan Fedarcyk Simon & Schuster, $25.00, 306 pages, ISBN 978-1-4767-3386-9 With some seven and-a-half million residents spread out over a couple thousand city blocks, the Manhattan Office of the FBI is one of the largest, busiest and most important of all postings within the agency. The activity there is ceaseless, and the agents are all at the top of their game. They’re the best of the best
Shaker by Scott Frank Knopf/Penguin/Random House, $26.95, 333 pages, ISBN 978-0-385-35003-7 The folks living over on the left coast, earthquakes are an accepted fact of life; about as ordinary—and as welcome—as public rudeness or graffiti on our national monuments. Quakes are grudgingly acknowledged as an unpleasant fact of life out there. A trade-off perhaps, for the warm, wonderful Mediterranean climate and endless eye-popping coastline, its scenic wonders and bountiful