Sue Recommends Taken by Robert Crais

Did you enjoy the tv series Miami Vice, Hill Street Blues, and Cagney & Lacey? Robert Crais was the writer behind some of the episodes of these shoes, winning an Emmy nomination for Hill Street Blues.

His characters and stories continue to delight readers today although he has focused on creating characters who have extraordinary talent and training in special operation forces. Elvis Cole and Joe Pike have made their appearances in his earlier books. Taken introduces a third Delta Force alum and government mercenary named Jon Stone as Pike solicits his aid in saving Elvis Cole from the hands of Human Traffickers who steal illegals entering the country through Mexico from the various international cartels--Mexican, Asian, Russian, etc.

The suspense is high and the story is fast. Pay attention because thoughts and events are told through alternating scenarios expressed by the characters.

I loved the audio because the reader, Luke Daniels, portrays the characters' personalities so well. Enjoy!

SH

Sue Recommends The Drop by Michael Connelly

Harry Bosch is back better than ever in Michael Connelly's latest release, The Drop. Lately Connelly has been known for his Mickey Haller (Bosch's half brother) books, mostly due to the release of the Lincoln Lawyer movie.

For diehard Connelly followers, such as me, Harry Bosch is the preferred character. Perhaps it is because he knows all of the tricks and has great insights necessary to solve crimes where the forensics don't spell out the killer. The Drop has so many twists and turns as Harry learns he cannot even trust his partner as he tries to find out whether the son of a former foe in the police department and L.A. council member committed suicide or was thrown to his death. What is suspicious is that this council member requested Harry--a little political intrigue afoot.

If you haven't read the Harry Bosch series, you are in for a treat. Do you have to read them in order? No, but they are more meaningful if you understand some of the relationships and cases that may be referred to in the current novel. Happy reading!

SH

More Mayhem in Stockholm: Read Box 21

Who’da thunk it? Would you have guessed that normal everyday Americans would be throwing around names like Dag, Dragan, Jerker, Piet,and Lisbeth. “Yes, I remember when Sven saw Jochum in Kronoberg (or was it Klaipeda?)” Swedish crime fiction is hot. And not just Stieg Larsson and his “Girl Who…” series. There’s Hakan Nesser, Camilla Lackberg, Kjell Ericksson, the venerable Henning Mankell and more every second week. (Just check the Minuteman catalog for the subject “Sweden—Fiction” or keywords “Sweden and mystery.”) Box 21 was written by a Swedish writing duo, one of whom is a journalist, the other an ex-criminal. Roslund and Hellstrom set a gritty noir scene, peopled by sex traffickers, dope addicts, corrupt cops, mob enforcers and a few hardworking detectives, who themselves have demons to fight. Ewert Grens is the senior investigator, a brilliant detective but haunted by the assault decades earlier which left his partner Anni brain-damaged and virtually unresponsive in a nursing home. Grens (a crusty and cranky old fellow) and his team have to deal with multiple crimes involving an abused prostitute, her plans for revenge and the murder of a drug addict by the very same man responsible for Anni’s condition. Box 21 kept me up late reading, and I think it will do the same to you.

Sue Recommends V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton

If you haven't tired of the alphabet mystery series (she is up to V now) by Sue Grafton, V is for Vengeance is not to miss. If you haven't read A to U, you will still enjoy this latest installment.

As Kinsey Milhone, our fearless PI, is innocently buying underwear, she witnesses a shoplifting crime. Little did she realize that being a good citizen and reporting the crime would result in the thief's death and pull her into the world of organized crime. Kinsey's vexing attitude and smart alec tongue keep the tension alive.

Lots of action and twists along the way for those who are looking for a good read on a cold winter's evening.

SH

Sue Recommends Eyes Wide Open by Andrew Gross

Andrew Gross is best known for his 5 best selling novels co-written with James Patterson, but he also is gaining a reputation internationally with his ability to weave a highly developed thriller on his own.

His novel The Dark Tide was nominated for Best Thriller of the Year by the International Thriller Writers.

The difference in his new mystery/thriller, Eyes Wide Open, is that he combines the true tragedy of the death of his bipolar nephew at the bottom of the 600 foot high Morrow Bay Rock (see alexwemissyou.com) with a suspenseful story of family secrets and a murdering cult leader.

This story line elicits memories (for those of you old enough in the 1960s) of the Sharon Tate and LaBianca murders by Charles Manson and his cult family, for which many of them are imprisoned to this day.

This author is one to watch and this book with its grisly murders is not for the weak of heart or stomach.

Sue Recommends Sixth Man by David Balcacci

Baldacci pens a must read with his new suspense novel, Sixth Man. Although the characters, Sean King and Michelle Maxwell, have appeared in four of his earlier thrillers, you may pick this up without reading the others. King and Maxwell have left the Secret Service behind and are embarking on a new career as private investigators. Even so, they cannot escape the political conspiracies that were a part of their former lives. I was delighted at the author's ability to keep me guessing on how the story would end. I thought the plotting in this story by Baldacci was extraordinary and this is my favorite King and Maxwell thriller yet.

The title mystified me and I was anxious to find out the connection with the story. It is not revealed until later in the novel.

At first the story appears to be about helping an old friend with the defense of a former IRS employee who has been accused of multiple murders, 6 to be precise. When the pair find their friend murdered, they become highly motivated to find out who is trying to prevent the accused, Edgar Roy, from being having a fair trial. Finding what Roy was actually doing for the government and national security will set them on a treacherous journey that may cost them their lives as well.

For those who prefer the audio version of the book, I did not enjoy Orlagh Cassidy's reading of the female characters but thought Ron McLarty did a good job. However, neither one showed a great passion for the story. See what you think, but don't let the readers keep you from enjoying this suspenseful read. Request it today!

Sue Recommends Secrets to the Grave by Tami Hoag

Tami Hoag can certainly write a great "whodunnit"/thriller, and she proves it first with Deeper than the Dead and continues with the sequel Secrets to the Grave. She keeps the pages turning with twists in the plot and throws in new clues so that you keep changing who you think is the killer. The reader has a victory moment if at the end s/he can throw up her/his fists in triumph for figuring out whodunnit before it is revealed.

The characters are so well drawn that you feel like they are old friends--from Vince Leon (the veteran FBI profiler) to his new wife, Anne (a compassionate woman who loves children and Vince). But somehow this nice couple finds themselves once again personally involved in a murder investigation.

Secrets to the Grave finds Vince and the Oak Knoll police seeking the killer of the mother of a 4 year old who is also the victim of an attempted strangling by the same person. Follow them as they try to bring resolution to this horrible crime that takes place in an idyllic California town in 1986 before DNA played a role in finding criminals.

Can't wait for the third title in the Vince and Anne Leone series and I think you will feel the same. SH

Sue Recommends Broken by Karin Slaughter

Broken brings together characters from two of Karin Slaughter's mystery series--the Atlanta with Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (2 book series) and Grant County with Dr Sara Linton and Police Officer Lena Adams (8 book series)--in an intriguing search for who and why a college student is stabbed and thrown into the local lake. The action is fast and the deaths keep coming as Will Trent tries to uncover secrets within the walls of the Police Station.

Will Trent is such an unusual character--an extremely bright, articulate investigator who is hiding secrets of his own (dyslexia, an unhappy marriage, and a "crush" on Dr. Sara Linton). He seems so mild mannered but is able to outwit suspects and witnesses through his easy interview style.

I enjoyed this novel so much that I am anxious to go back and read the other Will Trent books--Triptych and Fractured.

If you enjoy audiobooks, I felt that Natalie Ross performed well in her reading of this novel. SH

Sue Recommends Mullah's Storm by Thomas W. Young

Mullah's Storm is the most realistic and compelling novel that i have ever read. Suspenseful and electrifying from the beginning to end, and as close to reality as it could possibly be.--General Carl Stiner U.S. Army(Ret) Former Commander in Chief U.S> Special Operations Command

The Mullah's Storm is the first novel written by Thomas W. Young and I hope that his subsequent ones will offer the adventure, suspense, thrills, and vivid as life experiences that I found in this one.

Knowing the author's background--4,000 hours as a flight engineer for the Air National Guard in Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo, and elsewhere...(from cover)--you find that he has written about thoughts, fears, and characters taken from his own experiences as well as those of colleagues from military engagements.

The author allows you to walk in the shoes of a downed pilot and an army translator in the Hindu Kush as they try to outmaneuver the Taliban; survive the extreme conditions in these snowy, frigid, and dangerous mountains; and keep control of a radical Muslim cleric who is their prisoner. You will not regret giving this book a chance and will not want to put it down.

For audio fans, I just found out that Scott Brick reads the audiobook. I plan to listen to it next as Mr. Brick transports you to the extreme conditions and situations of Mr. Young's story. SH

Sue Recommends The Postcard Killers by Patterson and Marklund

James Patterson is one of the most prolific authors today. Last year he earned $70 million to become the world's highest paid author (according to Forbes) surpassing both J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter) and Stephanie Meyer (Twilight). This is all made possible by his teaming up with other authors, and his newest release, The Postcard Killers, falls in this category.

Liza Marklund, a bestselling author in Sweden, was a good choice for turning out an action-packed, will-they-ever-solve-the-mystery thriller. The story takes place in multiple locations in Europe where young couples are being killed in their hotel rooms while on vacation. The killers send a calling card, a postcard, to alert authorities that they will kill in their town. The authorities are puzzled by the staged placement of the victims that resemble well known art. Why take the time to do this?

It takes an unknown journalist and the father of one of the victims (who just happens to be a New York detective) to keep the investigation going and try to find an end to the killings and the father's obsessive grief. The plot and action keep you reading to find out who wins--the killers or their pursuers. One of Patterson's better thrillers.

Warning: not for those who do not want graphic descriptions of the murder scene. SH

Sue Recommends Reckless by Andrew Gross

Andrew Gross became well known when he co-authored books with James Patterson. However, Mr. Gross's own books are, in my opinion, much better written and the plot is much more complex and well-conceived than any that reached bestseller status with Mr. Patterson.

His latest, Reckless, integrates the idea of financial terrorism within the global banking industry that becomes deadly for those executing stock transactions. We have all been amazed in real life at the ability of these people to wreak havoc on global economies. Mr. Gross is able to take a fictional scheme and bring suspense, murder, and terror to a story that hooks the reader as a former NYPD cop, Ty Hauck, a character from Dark Tide and Don't Look Twice, and Naomi Blum, a U.S. Treasury Agent try to find the persons responsible for this financial scheme and save the global economy as major banks collapse. 5 stars in my book. Who is responsible? SH

A Murder Mystery in an Alternate History

SS-GB : Nazi-Occupied Britain, 1941
by Len Deighton

SS-GB is a murder mystery set in a 1941 Britain which has been successfully invaded by Nazi Germany. The main character, Douglas Archer, is a Scotland Yard detective asked to investigate a killing that seems related to black market activity. However, the investigation rapidly assumes a high political significance. Archer not only has to solve the murder but also avoid being damaged by political infighting. He must also make some decisions on how to deal with approaches from the resistance movement.

The question is: who can profit most by cooperating with whom? The answers turn out to be surprising indeed. Deighton does a great job in describing a Nazi-occupied Great Britain. SS-GB is really the forefather of Jo Walton's recent series "Farthing", "Ha'penny", and "Half a Crown".
TB

Sue Recommends ABANDONED by Cody McFadyen

Cody McFadyen, author of The Darker Side, The Face of Death, and Shadow Man, continues his series of suspense novels featuring Smoky Barrett, a female and special agent with the FBI specializing in profiling serial killers in Abandoned.

Smoky herself has been the victim of one of the very psychopaths she hunts and even lost her husband and child to the same monster. In this novel, she is faced with a new type of psychopath, one who doesn't do it for the thrill, but finds a lucrative career in causing mental and mortal pain to his/her victims.

Once again readers have the opportunity to learn of procedures and insights for finding these criminals as the FBI and Smoky hunt down another serial killer and try to understand what motivates and drives the killer. Could cause some readers to want to sleep with the light on at night but once you read the first novel, Shadow Man, you won't quit until you have read them all.

It is not necessary to read them in order but in my humble opinion Shadow Man and Abandoned are the most riveting. SH

Sue Recommends Nine Dragons by Michael Connelly

Michael Connelly's newest Harry Bosch novel, Nine Dragons, not only takes on an International flavor but also adds a helping of technology. For those of you who do not know Harry Bosch, he is an L.A. Police Detective who always gets his man (or woman) any way he can. With this story, his investigation of the murder of a Chinese storekeeper involves Harry with one of the Asian gangs known as the Chinese Triad. Is it coincidence that his 13 year old daughter who lives in Hong Kong is abducted at the same time? Using cell phone technology to communicate via text messaging, digitized pictures, video, and other enhanced features, he is able to augment his superior investigative skills and track the suspects in an unknown country as he tries to locate his only daughter before it is too late. Will he be able to beat time and protect his loved ones from being victims of his profession? Is the threat against his family really connected to his current case in Los Angeles? The pace of the story and twists of the plot will keep the pages turning. SH