Reviews

The first Rizzoli and Isles book in a while and it does not disappoint. Told from several points of view and with multiple storylines, Gerritsen does a good job of keeping momentum on all of them and giving satisfying solutions for all of them. Jane is looking into the murder of a nurse that may be connected to events years earlier. Her mom is driving her crazy convinced first a local teen is in trouble and then that something is up with the new neighbors.

Great mystery and great to catch up with our favorite characters. Looking forward to more in the series.
 

This is my first time reading Dan Chaon,  The writing is easy, accessible and intelligent. It takes place sometime in the future where there doesn't seem to be a rule of law. The main character, Billy and his trusty dog, Flip traverse the country doing jobs for his mysterious boss. Along the way, his burner phones start ringing and it is a young woman that claims to be his daughter. You don't know who to believe or trust but you tag along for the ride. And what a ride it is! This book is part Mad Max part Elmore Leonard. It's all adventure story. I think it would make a great movie. I do feel it dragged in places but the writing is so smart, I kept with it. It's witty and funny.

Joe Ide , bringing  Philip Marlowe to present day L.A in an entertaining mystery.  The mystery is full of some well rounded charactors and some cardboard ones chasing all over Southern California to find laundered money, a kidnapped child, Russian mobsters, Armenian  thugs, a spoiled has been movie actress, a non recovering alcoholic and more. This book is a three ring circus of plots, subplots and side plots. A kitchen sink of tropes...and it all works! A fun read that will have one nostalgic for the time when books were fun.

Upgrade" is another great thriller- science fiction novel from from Blake Crouch.  Both creative and incredibly smart, "Upgrade" is fast paced from start to finish. I finished it in just a one night because I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. I was utterly captivated by Logan Ramsay's character and found myself filled with suspense as he faced the many challenges he encountered while trying to save human kind. This book is definitely a nail biter to the end!

Along with a completely engrossing plot, Crouch's story contains a warning to the human race as well as the very real solution to many of our current problems, climate change, division and war.

I genuinely enjoy that Quirk gives a new story line and character pretty much every time. This one is no exception. A bit terrifying when you realize that he may not be too far off with the scenario presented. We find Sam Hudson in a race against the clock with basically no one to trust. I wasn't sure who to trust either, and at times I thought it may even be Sam himself...does one ever really know. A page turner indeed.

The fascinating story of the creation of CRISPR , which gives us the technology to gene editing. It is extremely well written for the layman to understand the complex biology involved.

The book is also very timely as the scientists involved are perfecting it just as Covid emerges. Their work becomes instrumental in making and delivering the vaccine.

Great book, don't be put off by the topic or the length.

This is the debut novel by Blake Crouch, who since has written over 10 books. The book  begins quickly when a horror writer finds a letter in his home ." Greetings. There is a body buried on your property, covered in your blood". Andrew is told if he doesn't do as asked, the evidence will be sent to local police. The next Andrew remembers is waking up in a motel outside of Denver, drugged and locked in a small room where he meets his captor, Orson, his twin brother.

Orson, who had disappeared many years ago, has been quite busy as a serial killer, Orson forces Andrew to join him in killing three victims, implicating him further in his twisted life. Andrew is released and seeks  revenge. This is the first of a trilogy and is a page turner. This book is quite gory and not for the squeamish but an interesting look at the mind of a serial killer. I will be reading the next one soon, in the daytime.

In the latest thriller from Chris Pavone, all hell breaks loose in Paris, but as Kate Moore is about to find out, not everything is as it seems.

Mahmoud Khalid is standing in front of the Louvre with a suicide vest strapped to him ready to die, but why, he has waited and made no demands. Kate a deep cover CIA op is working in Paris, when she gets word that similar bomb threats have broken out in other cities.

Kate and her enigmatic husband Dexter, who doesn't know Kate's real profession is up to some shady business deal along with wealthy businessman Hunter Forsyth, Kate finds a possible link to their activities. The two may signal something bigger is about to happen.

This book is well written and Pavone brings Paris to life, with great characters and a plot that will keep you guessing until the end. This is the third thriller by Pavone and you might want to read the Expats first to learn the couples back story, but still good as a stand alone.