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Dick's Featured Book Review -- Step On A Crack - James Patterson

His wife has terminal cancer, and he has TEN adopted kids who need his attention.  Does Detective Michael Bennett of the NYPD really need more on his plate at this time?  Well, he's got it, in the form of the biggest case he's ever been involved in!

Dozens of America's wealthiest and most influential people have been taken hostage in St. Patrick's Cathedral...and we find out quickly that the hostage-takers don't hesitate at murder to get what they want.

After days of negotiation without results.  An agreement is finally reached and ransoms are paid.  Despite armies of police and FBI, and with helicopters flying around overhead, the hostage-takers get away!

But this ending is just another beginning...

A sudden, rather unsatisfying wrap-up of the whole story does detract somewhat from the appreciation of this novel, but overall I recommend it as an exciting read.

James Patterson, in collaboration with Michael Ledwidge, author of "Before The Devil Knows You're Dead," has created a detective in the person of Michael Bennett that I will be happy to see again!
 

Dick's Featured Book Review - Cross - James Patterson
 
Alex Cross is back in James Patterson's novel "Cross."  At the urging of his family, psychologist Alex has left the FBI and started a private practice. 

He does have the best of intentions, but for the activities of a paid assassin who spends his free time as a vicious serial rapist.  Alex's friend and former police partner asks for his help to use his psychology/profiling expertise to get victims to reveal what they have been threatened to keep secret.  He agrees to assist and that brings Alex face-to-face with a connection to the unsolved murder of his wife years earlier. 

This novel is not for the faint of heart because the rapist/murderer, known as "The Butcher" is not a nice guy.  Vicious, heartless, and completely without pity, this killer uses a meat saw and scalpel to satisfy his bloodlust.  So be warned! 

Once again, Patterson proves he's one of the best at the detective genre.  A great plot and "can't lay it down" progression make this a killer of a book.  It's a quick read with Patterson's usual 3 page chapters and compact writing style.  In my opinion, it's a MUST READ!
 

Dick's Featured Book Review -- Dakota Born - Debbie Macomber

Looking for an escape from a dying romance, Lindsay Snyder travels to North Dakota for a visit to a dying town.  Buffalo Valley, North Dakota is indeed on the verge of extinction.  Boarded-up stores and run-down houses are evidence of the degree of dissolution that has taken place in this farming community.

Long-ago memories of childhood visits to her grandparents home in this small town convince Lindsay to accept the vacant position of high school teacher (graduating class of 4.)  New to the town, and new to teaching, she is nevertheless the cohesive force this small town needs to live again.  Pulling her life together goes hand in hand with pulling the people of this small town together in a defiant effort to bring this town back from the verge.

New love enters Lindsay's life in the person of Gage Sinclair, a strong-willed, hard working farmer.  From their very first meeting, both feel the strong, passionate connection that leads to wonderment and confusion.  Gage's passionate feeling for Lindsay are at odds with his feeling that she, as a "big city girl," is an outsider who could never accept his way of life.  His reaction to every meeting with her is a hilarious combination of deep need and love, and fear and indecision. 

This is a wonderful story of relationships and discovery, and the day-to-day struggles of a small town to survive.  Fortunately this is only the first of three books given over to the tale of this small town, and the human spirit that keeps it alive.

Debbie Macomber is a multiple award winner, one of which was the 2005 Quill Award for the Best Romance.  There are over 60 million copies of her books in print.

 

Dick's Featured Book Review -- Red Knife - William Kent Krueger

William Kent Krueger's latest novel, "Red Knife" is another Cork O'Conner tale giving as yet another exciting case, this time involving a racial gang war on the Ojibwe Reservation in Northern Minnesota.  Half Ojibwe and half white, Private Eye O'Conner is caught in the middle of this bloody confrontation.  A confrontation that threatens to destroy lives as well as relationships.

A powerful, vindictive businessman vows revenge for the drug death of his daughter.  He blames the Red Boyz, a gang of Ojibwe youths accused of supplying the deadly drugs.  The head of their gang and his wife are murdered.  This sets the stage for the terrible violence that follows.  It's war, white against red.

Cork is hired to get at the truth behind the murders.  As a former sheriff in the county, both sides approve of Cork's mission.  Violence is soon met with more violence, and a pattern is set that leads Cork to believe that sometimes violence is the only response to evil.  Believe me, this tale is bloody and violent, with an ending that is right out of the recent newspaper headlines.

William Kent Krueger is a St. Paul, Minnesota resident and has written seven other Cork O'Conner novels and all have been well received.  This one too, is a winner!  

 

Dick's Featured Book Review -- Famous Crimes - Stories of Law & Order in
                                                            Minnesota - Sheri O'Meara & Merle Minda

"Famous Crimes -- Stories of Law & Order in Minnesota" by Sheri O'Meara and Merle Minda is an interesting compilation of criminal events that were front page news in Minnesota over the past many decades.  Rare photos and interviews with victims and eyewitnesses add substance  to the newspaper accounts that brought public awareness of the events.

"Of all the Midwest Cities, the one I knew best was St. Paul, and it was a crook's haven.  Every criminal of any importance in the 1930s made his home at one time or another in St. Paul." So said Alvin "Creepy" Karpis, a public enemy #1 in that time period.  St. Paul played host to them all -- John Dillinger, Alvin Karpis, Ma Barker, Baby Face Nelson, and others who made the headlines across the country.  Chapter 1 of this book is a synopsis of the history of crime and criminals in Minnesota from the early 1900s to the present day with a fascinating account of a long-time police chief who welcomed criminals to St. Paul, as long as they committed no crimes within the city limits.  His wife ran a local bordello.

The bulk of this book is dedicated to famous headline cases such as the murder of Carol Thompson, and subsequent conviction of her husband, T. Eugene Thompson, and the kidnapping of Virginia Piper.

The book is just one of the "Minnesota Series" which includes "Storms," "Music Legends," "Media Tales," and "Storms 2."  New titles will be published about every 4 months.


             
 

Dick's Featured Book Review -- Cross Country - James Patterson

"Cross Country" is one of the most horrific tales James Patterson has written to date.  From cover to cover it is a story of brutality and butchery.  Detective Alex Cross has a very personal connection to the story where he finds a friend and her family slaughtered in their D.C. home.  This killing is so barbaric that Alex vows to bring this killer to justice no matter where the trail takes him. 

And the trail takes Alex to Africa when he discovers that the killer, known as The Tiger, has taken a gang of teenage killers to Nigeria.  Alex soon discovers a world far more horrible than he had ever experienced before.  This is a world where injustice and death are not unusual, but expected.  Threats to his life and physical violence become daily occurrences as he seeks out The Tiger.  Aided by an old man and a beautiful journalist, Alex tenaciously sticks to the trail.  But uncooperative officials and a threatened civil war force Alex back home, only to find that The Tiger is hunting him and his family!

A good story, but one of excessive violence and barbarity in my opinion.  And, of course, I must comment once again on Patterson's unusual style of putting 158 chapters in 406 pages.  But, enjoy!

 

Dick's Featured Book Review -- Stranger In Paradise - Robert B. Parker

Jesse Stone, police chief in Paradise, Massachusetts, is back again in Robert B. Parker's fast action novel "Stranger In Paradise."  He still has his problems with alcohol and women, particularly his ex-wife, Jenn.  Now his problems are multiplied by once again facing off with Wilson "Crow" Cromartie, the Apache killer who escaped ten years before, after pulling off the biggest robbery in Paradise history. 

Crow approaches Jesse to ask that he stay out of Crow's way until he completes another job.  This time it involves finding a young girl, Amber Francisco, and returning her to her father, Louis.  Why would Jesse do this?  He finds that lack of evidence of murder in their first meeting, and the statutes of limitation on lesser charges make prosecution questionable.  He agrees to stay out of the way, but he vows to watch and wait in hopes of putting together a case against Crow.

The apparently simple job turns sour when Amber's father orders Crow to kill Amber's mother after both are found.  Crow does not kill women!!  As a result, Jesse is called upon to provide for Amber's safety while Crow attempts to resolve a dilemma that soon involves a murderous Latino gang, who are willing to kill women, and mobster Louis' people who are willing to kill Crow.

A good story that is enhanced by the fascinating relationship between Jesse and his ex-wife.  A quick read, well worth a few hours of your time.

 

Dick's Featured Book Review - Monkeewrench - P.J. Tracy

A fascinating tale with a very unique premise, makes "Monkeewrench" a highly readable first novel by P.J. Tracy.  A well thought out plot with unexpected twists kept this reader on edge.  Some great characters with entertaining personalities add a surprising level of humor to the story.  As with tales by John Sandford, this story is set in Minneapolis. 

Grace McBride and her four gamer partners have come up with a real computer game winner.  Unfortunately, 2 murders have occurred  that exactly mimic the scenarios in their new game.  With 18 more possible murders outlined in their game, it soon becomes imperative that they notify the police, even though they fear that such action will bring to light a past that they had hoped would never be revealed.

There are several back stories  and sub-plots to this tale that keep the readers on their toes.  Nothing is certain, as the story twists and turns to a very surprising ending.  I found this to be a very fun, surprising, and suspenseful novel.  Well worth a couple of evenings of enjoyable reading!

This is the first novel by the mother and daughter writing team of P.J. and Traci Lambrecht, using the pseudonym, P.J. Tracy.  Enjoy!!

 

Dick's Featured Book Review - Heaven's Keep - William Kent Krueger

"Heaven's Keep" by William Kent Krueger is a winner!  A fast paced story with everything one could ask for in a mystery story.  It is another Cork O'Connor tale that will keep you fascinated to the very last page.  This time, the story is a very personal one that involves the disappearance of Cork's wife, Jo.  All signs are that Jo is dead, lost when a chartered plane she was on came up missing during a flight to Wyoming.  But, is she dead?

Six months after the disappearance, and the resulting futile massive search, Cork received information that indicates things were not as they appeared at the time.  The pilot may not have been who he claimed to be.  Though not much to go on, as they say, "hope springs eternal," and hope is what Cork needed to find.  With the new information, Corks starts an investigation that begins in Wyoming on the northern Arapaho Indian Reservation.

With the help of friends, but with the interference of local authorities, Cork faces not only the hostility of the Indian community, which has its personal concerns, but also several assassination attempts.  Of course, big money plays a significant part in this mystery.  Greed runs deep in the core of all that happens.  But Cork's motivation never waivers; the slim, but real hope that despite all odds, the end of the trail will find his Jo alive.

With eight previous Cork O'Connor books, William Kent Krueger has given us yet another winner!  He is another award winning author from Minnesota, who lives in St. Paul.  Enjoy!
 

Dick's Featured Book Review - A Thousand Bones - P.J. Parrish

"A Thousand Bones" by P.J. Parrish is a stunning, suspenseful thriller that leaves one exhausted, yet ready for more.  This is my first read of P.J. Parrish and I shall definitely read others!  This one starts slowly and builds nicely with plenty of suspense and shock.  It leaves you with the ethical question, how far can one go in making sure that a rabid killer will kill no more? 

Joe Frye, Miami P.D.'s only female detective is haunted by this question as she looks back to when she was a rookie cop in a small town in Michigan called Echo Bay.  It all started with a couple of boys finding a human bone while tramping through the woods.  Soon more bones are found, along with small carvings, identified as Ojibwa moon signs.  Ancient Ojibwa legends of forest dwelling beasts who eat their victims are brought forward, but it's soon realized the person doing the killing is a human beast...more fearsome than anything else.  As more and more bones are discovered, more and more pieces of evidence are found that finally lead to a suspect.  A tragic encounter in the woods leaves the small, local law enforcement agency decimated, and leaves Joe Frye badly injured -- and so goes the story.  This is well written and well worth a couple of evenings of good reading.  The story lets the reader decide the ethics of the ending.

P.J. Parrish is another collaborative pseudonym for two sisters, Kristy Moutec and Kelly Nichols.  Enjoy!

 

Dick's Featured Book Review - Deadly Night - Heather Graham

Heather Graham's novel "Deadly Night" is the first of a trilogy of stories featuring the Flynn brothers; three brothers, each with law enforcement backgrounds, who now run a private detective agency.  Now, throw in a young woman who has visions and sees the dead, and we have a chilling tale that includes not only ghosts, but a serial killer who preys on young women.

The Flynn brothers have inherited a southern plantation complete with Manor House, slave quarters, and ghosts.  Yes, this place is haunted by a "Woman in White" who is thought to be part of the plantation's dark history.  Eldest brother, Aidan, finds human bones on the property and begins an investigation that soon leads to the startling conclusion that a serial killer may have been doing his heinous work in the area for a long time.  Kendall Montgomery, who had been caring for the previous owner, joins Aidan in his search and both find themselves in danger.

Aidan may not, at first, believe in ghosts, but Kendall has long had experiences that make her a firm believer in the supernatural.  She is convinced that the plantation's dark past is pushing them toward a solution to the horrific doings in the present.  All comes together in a chilling conclusion in a dark, dank mausoleum in the Flynn family cemetery.

Heather Graham has written more than one hundred novels, and this one is a winner!  Enjoy!

 

Dick's Featured Book Review:  9 Dragons - Michael Connelly

Dick's Featured Book Review:  The Reversal - Michael Connelly

Michael Connelly has written another page turner with "The Reversal".  He brings together again attorney Mickey Haller and LAPD detective Harry Bosch (of Dirty Harry Fame).  They are joining forces against a sadistic killer.  We last saw them in Connelly's best seller "The Brass Verdict".  Mickey was a defense attorney in that novel and actually he has always been for the defense.  But NOT in this one!

Twenty four years ago, Jason Jessup was tried and convicted of killing a young girl.  Because of some new DNA information, Jessup has been released pending a decision to dismiss all charges, or retry the case.  The DA's office has no intention to dismiss, despite the daunting DNA evidence, for political reasons, as well as strategic purposes.  The DA's office feels it is imperative that this case be seen as being completely fair and untainted.  Therefore they have decided to get an outsider, an independent, to run the people's case.  Despite, or rather because of his well known, and staunch advocacy for the defense, Mickey Haller has been asked to try the case.  For personal reasons, and because of his firm belief in Jessup's guilt, he accepts.

Haller and his investigator Bosch are faced with a headline seeking defense attorney who pulls out all the stops to make a sow's ear look like a silk purse.  But the public views of Jessup and his case as presented by his lawyer have little to do with what's going on behind the scenes.  Night time visits to suspect locations by a killer like Jessup may mean that he has a deadly agenda in mind for the near future. 

This is a good story with twists and turns that make what could have been a pretty boring courtroom case into a all out poser, with enough action to hold your attention to the very end, and it has a real bonus ending to the story.  Enjoy!

 

Dick's Featured Book Review: Private by James Patterson This is a powerful story of a powerful, global private investigation firm.  "Private" by James Patterson is a fast moving, multi-layered tale of secrecy, deceit, loyalty...and murder! Relying heavily on his crack crew of investigators, Jack Morgan, deals daily with some of the most important and influential men and women in the world.  He also deals with personal problems including wartime flashbacks, a despondent lover, and a brother who hates him.  Jack has a lot on his plate in this story, including the investigation into a multi-million dollar National Football League gambling scandal.  At the same time, Jack and his crew are working closely with the police to solve the murders of thirteen teenaged girls.  Then comes a crushing personal blow...when he learns a former lover and wife of his best friend have been killed.  Together these cases put the test to this most powerful investigation firm and the most advanced forensic tools available. One by one these cases are investigated with vigor, but not necessarily by the rules.  One surprise follows another as each case brings its own problems to the fore.  And, of course, Jack's own personal problems overshadow much of the action -- from early morning phone calls stating "You're Dead!" -- to violent dreams that may have a secret message for Jack.  A good story with a satisfying wrap-up.  Enjoy

Dick's Featured Book Review:  Minding Frankie by Maeve Binchy

Another feel good story by one of my favorite feel good authors, “Minding Frankie” by Maeve Binchy is a wonderful take on a young mans challenge to raise an infant who may not be his.  A loner, alcoholic without much future, it is evident that Noel Lynch will not succeed without plenty of help.  Like the Phoenix, rising from the ashes of his former dissolute life, Noel strives to reform himself into a caring, loving father.

 The help he needs comes from a neighborhood of friends and family who become a “baby patrol” to care for Frankie while Noel works and studies for a degree that will hopefully help him to become the man he feels he needs to be.  Lisa, who loves Anton, moves in with Noel to care for Frankie, and study for her own degree.  His cousin Emily, who recently arrived from the U.S. soon becomes an advisor & confidante to half the people in the neighborhood and guides Noel through his trying times.  These and others in the “baby patrol” all develop a love for Frankie and a growing trust in Noel. 

But all good stories like this one have to provide a counterpoint to all the feel good goings on.  This is provided by go-by-the-book social worker Moira.  The unconventional baby patrol doesn’t please Moira, nor does she believe a confirmed alcoholic can stand up to the obvious pressures on him.  To her the child would be better off in a foster home.  It’s up to Noel to prove she’s wrong.  Good story, good read.  Enjoy!