Blog Posts by jfreier

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J.Freier has traveled to four continents doing everything from bartending to searching for Cochise's stronghold. He claims he never was a spy.

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Ordinary Grace

by William Kent Krueger

Posted on: 05/16/13

The newest by book by William Kent Krueger is a departure from his Cork O'Connor mystery series. This book, although listed as a mystery with elements of that genre, is more of a literary coming-of-age story set in small town New Bremen, Minnesota told through the eyes of thirteen year old Frank Drum.

The story, set in the summer of 1961, is filled with love, death, murder, relationships, the power of family and friends, and the power of grace. It's a beautifully written novel by an author who gets better with each book.

Tags: Coming-of-Age Literary Fiction

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Breaking Point

by C.J Box

Posted on: 04/11/13

The newest novel in the Joe Pickett series is one of the best if not the best in the series and I've read them all.

Joe's acquaintance, Butch, has been building a dream home high in the Wyoming wilderness when two EPA agents suddenly arrive to give him a cease and desist order. Both agents are shot and killed, but by who?

The federal agents come in and impose overwhelming manpower to catch Butch, when it should have been a local matter, an exciting manhunt begins and the book also tackle issues of the environment and federal power, a great mystery and adventure.

Tags: Mystery

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Bye, Bye, Baby

by Max Allan Collins

Posted on: 03/16/13

In Bye Bye Baby, Chicago P.I. Nate Heller is hired by Marilyn Monroe to bug her phones as she is being harassed by Fox studios and possibly by government agencies. This mystery is filled with real people including Bobby Kennedy, Jimmy Hoffa, Frank Sinatra,and Chicago gangsters. This is a fast-paced mystery dealing with the death of Marilyn Monroe, in which Nate knows it was murder.

Tags: Mystery, Political Thriller

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West by West

by Jerry west

Posted on: 12/16/12

The autobiography of an NBA legend is both sad and inspiring. West starts with his growing up in a small West Virginia mining town dealing with an abusive father and depression. Jerry uses his natural athletic gift of playing basketball to escape from his abused childhood.

West becomes a local high school star and then a star at U of West Virginia, where he came within one point of a national championship. West then was drafted by the Lakers and became an NBA all star from 1960-1974, and winning the title in 1972 after losing numerous finals to the his nemesis the Boston Celtics.

The book is filled with his struggle to overcome his depression and low self esteem despite all of his success as a player and General Manager with 3 NBA title to his credit. The anecdotes and inside stories relating to NBA greats like Bill Russell, Elgin Baylor and others are wonderful, a must read for sports fans.

Tags: memoir

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Expats

by Chris Pavone

Posted on: 10/27/12

Kate Moore is a housewife who along with her husband Dexter and their two sons are living the American dream,until Dexter is offered a job in Luxembourg. Kate has to quit her job at the State department but the lucrative job and Kate's willingness to relocate set the tone for an interesting story.

Kate settles in to life in the only Grand Duchy left in Europe and the bond with fellow Expats from America, until she meets Julia and her husband Bill. The couple set alarm bells in Kate and we see that Kate's former life is not what we thought and maybe neither is Dexter's.

This book is an interesting thriller with a lot of twists and turns, some of which strain credulity but it is a change of pace from most of this genre, it also may appeal to woman who may not read thrillers, it may also appeal to readers of Olin Steinhauer.

Tags: spy thriller

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Last to Die

by Tess Gerritsen

Posted on: 09/17/12

The new Rizzolli and Isles book has Jane and Maura responding the brutal murder of a teens second set of foster parents. The pair are further shocked when two other foster children suffer the same fate , what's the connection?

Maura visits a teen who helped her survive an ordeal in Wyoming, a boy named Rat who is now a student of special school called Evensong in the remote Maine countryside.

The school is run by their mysterious friend Anthony Samsone leader of the Mephisto Club.

The school is filled with the the children of orphans and a special few who are among the murdered foster parents.

The mystery has some good twists and Isles and Jane are great as always but for fans of "Rizzolli and Isles",

it is very rough and nothing like the T.V. show.

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Trinity Game

by Sean Chercover

Posted on: 08/21/12

Daniel Byrne is a priest for the Vatican Office of the Devils' Advocate, the bureau that is in charge of debunking claims of miracles around the world, Daniel is pulled from a Stigmata claim in Africa and given a new assignment.

Daniels' uncle who raised him after the death of his parents is a powerful T.V preacher who has just recently been predicting events when speaking in tongues, he has used this trick before but now the Vatican linguist has confirmed that when played backward at 66.6 he has been perfect with his prophecies.

Daniel is stunned when he finds out his uncle is really predicting events and is as shocked as Daniel is.

Tim Trinity seeks his nephews help and soon Trinity is targeted by a secret global group, a casino owner, and his own flock.

Sean Chercover has written a fast paced thriller with good character development and exotic locales, would appeal to fans of Steve Berry and Dan Brown.

Tags: Conspiracy Thriller

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Ranger

by Ace Atkins

Posted on: 07/07/12

Quinn Colson is returning home to Jericho, Mississippi, to attend the funeral of his beloved uncle Hamp, when Quinn arrives he is shocked to learn Hamp's was ruled a suicide.

Quinn who is on leave from Afghanistan sets out to find what really happened to Hamp, with the help of his old war buddy the one armed "Boom" and the new sheriff old crush Lillie Virgil, the three stir up a hornets nest in good ole Jerciho.

The town filled with rednecks, meth dealers, a good ole boy network that runs the town tries to stop them at all turns, a well plotted and thrilling new series from Mr. Atkins.

A must read for fans of the T.V show Justified.

Tags: Mystery

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Savages

by Don Winslow

Posted on: 06/04/12

Ben, Chon and their girlfriend Ophelia are living the Dream, spending their days in a mansion in Laguna Beach, together a happy dysfunctional family of sorts.

Ben the Botanist grows the best pot in SoCal and Chon the ex Navy Seal helps distribute and sell it, all along guided by their Muse Ophelia, all is well until they get an offer they can't refuse.

The Baja Cartel wants a cut of the business and make it clear that no is not an option, after some thought they say no and the fun begins.

Chon leads the way with his expertise to turn the tables on the cartel and a scary, violent and sometimes funny high octane ride begins.

Don Winslow-- is one of my favorite writers and he has a winner here.

Check the trailer for the new movie out in July.

Tags: Action, Suspense

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Force of Nature

by C.J. Box

Posted on: 05/21/12

The 12th book in the "Joe Pickett" series is one I've been waiting for as it features Joe's shadowy best friend, Nate Romanowski, and finally reveals why he is been off the grid and who is after him.

Nate has been an on and off again presence in this series and his mysterious past and why he lives alone has made him a curious character, one you want to know more about. Nate is again on edge as one of his former special forces friend has been killed, and knows his former mentor, Nemcek, is on his way to finish him off. Nate reluctantly finally tells Joe of why his mentor is out to kiil him and the rest of the team and what happened in their past to justify it.

I also love the back story of Nate being a master Falconer, it adds another dimension to his motives.

I'm a big fan of C.J. Box and this series and I wasn't let down by this book, this book does stand alone but you might want to read a couple of his earlier books.

Tags: Mystery/Suspense

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