Poison Study (2005) by Maria V. Snyder

Enthralling fantasy, that should leave a good taste in your mouth.

The first instalment of a trilogy about Yelena Zaltana, a troubled nineteen-year-old girl, whose life is continuously placed within harms way. Beginning the book in a jail having killed the son of her former master, Yelena is due to be hung for her crimes. However, in the land of Commander Ambrose, her life may be saved if she agrees to become his food taster, a role only reserved for that of prisoners due to be executed. Thinking pragmatically, Yelena agrees, and is taken under the wing of one of the Commander’s generals, a legendary assassin named Valek.

Valek was essential to the Commander’s rise to power, orchestrating many assassinations of the former King’s men, and hunting the elusive magicians that roamed the lands. In Ambrose’s new nation Ixia, anyone with magical ability is to be killed.

As she and Valek perform a tug-of-war relationship, Yelena adjusts to her new role brilliantly. Being the food taster for the most important man in the country has its dangers though, and Yelena knows that her time on earth is only secure until the next assassination attempt. She therefore plans her escape from Ixia, hoping to go south where Ambrose has chased any of those disloyal to his cause, including any remaining magicians.

Quite an easy read, Snyder’s book is fraught with peril and disaster that will keep a reader hooked if you are a fan of dialogue and fast action. A far distance away from heavy fantasy that will bury you in mysterious syntax, Poison Study is a short and sweet story, in particular aimed at younger readers, or those wishing for a book between books.

The character development is typical of books for younger people, with very predictable consequences, and the division between enemies and friends becoming starkly evident from the onset. However, Snyder does create some interesting characters, without having to cast a whole host of other people to keep the story entertaining. There are only a few key players within the book, and this makes for a far more interesting read.

One to delve into if you like easy fantasy, and chapter climaxes.

The Leopard (2011) by Jo Nesbo

Crime thriller from respected Norwegian author Jo Nesbo, about a serial killer who uses a particularly horrendous contraption to murder his victims.

Starring Nesbo’s recurring protagonist, detective Harry Hole, The Leopard story takes place in several locations: Norway, the Conga, and Hong Kong. After Hole is retrieved from his hiding spot in the latter by a feisty detective called Kaja, he returns to a bitter feud between the police forces in Norway, who are fighting for supremacy over control in murder investigations. Hole’s indifference to politics and authority mean that he only cares about one thing, catching the killer.

Working with Kaja, and a small team, Harry soon uncovers a link between these seemingly random murders, which have something to do with a ski cabin. As he tries to piece together the evidence, and locate a suspect, the killer continues to prowl in the shadows.

Alongside the main story thread, Harry’s father is also lying in hospital, and Harry struggles with his anguish over this, as well as past losses. Also, as an avid alcoholic, Harry’s relationship with the demon drink becomes a worrying factor.

An engaging thriller, Nesbo has formed a story that represents a lot of Scandinavian writing: great on the detail, but cold with the description. Hole is a marvellous lead character, offering the flawed, edgy cop who refuses to play by the rules, but who we ultimately warm to for his awkward heroism.

The sideline characters, such as Kaja and even the killer, are explored with great detail, which is a refreshing experience. We are offered a lot of back story to peak our interest, but there still lies enough mystery to make them interesting.

A little too long, the book spans over 700 pages, which is unnecessary for a crime thriller, but the writing is tense and powerful throughout, offering some horrific scenes and unnerving consequences.

2nd Chance (2003) by James Patterson

An action-packed crime thriller, about a female homicide detective hunting a trained killer, who seems to be attacking black victims with a link to the police.

Opening with a horrific shooting at a local church, where one black choir girl was killed amongst all the flying bullets, detective Lindsay Boxer is put on the case after returning from a break in her tumultuous career. With the help of her three closest friends; a reporter, a medical examiner, and a lawyer, she hopes to find the killer known as Chimera before he can take his next victim.

Fast-paced throughout, Patterson writes with gripping ease, leading the reader through an exciting and dangerous cat and mouse plot. Lindsay is a brilliant protagonist, with complex issues about her family and career, and we see her develop as the story unwinds. Her relationship with her three close friends forms the foundation for this book, and while at times it seems a like a professional version of Sex and the City, it is quite a refreshing dynamic which works well to develop different subplots.

Playing out like a cop show, 2nd Chance does lack lengthy description, leaving some of the aspects of the story underdeveloped, but for those who enjoy a book which doesn’t bore you to tears in each chapter, this is a thrilling read.

Severed (2007) by Simon Kernick

Tyler is an ex-soldier, who served during the tumultuous years of the IRA. He now sells cars for a living in London, and has a pretty ordinary life. However, at the beginning of the story, Tyler awakes with no recollection of his past 24 hours, his girlfriend Leah lies beheaded next to him, and there is a video in the room that shows him decapitating her. Now, a voice over the phone forces Tyler into completing a series of dangerous tasks in exchange for the evidence of the beheading.

Tyler must delve deep into the seedy, criminal underworld of London streets in order to keep his blackmailers at bay, whilst trying to understand what has happened to him, and who is behind it.

A pulsating, action thriller this book gives absolutely no chance for the reader to breathe. It is a hurricane of a story, one filled with plenty of tense stand-offs and explosive near-misses, and the revelations come thick and fast as Tyler pieces together this insane plot against him. He moves through each stage barely, and the death toll rises with the tension.

Not too much character exploration, this book tends to stay in the shallow waters. One criticism would be that very little attachment is made to any other character in the book, and Tyler’s journey seems laden with misery and defeat with very little light at the end of the tunnel.

However, it is a brilliant read for fans of a lot of action, those who want a book to entertain rather than muddle through. Kernick’s writing is clear and concise, with very little dribble, and his penchant for building each dramatic scene is masterful.

The Devil's Feather (2005) by Minette Walters

Racing psychological thriller about a war correspondent who tries to hide in the South West of England after she is released from a three day abduction in Iraq.

Connie Burns is a successful journalist who was born in South Africa, and has seen some of the world’s most devastating conflicts. Working for Reuters via London, she reports on modern wars, and at the beginning of the book is working is Bagdad during the recent War on Terror. After looking into a spate of vicious attacks and murders against women, Connie finds herself investigating a man whom she knew from her life in Sierra Leone, a man calling himself McKenzie, who is a brutal ex-SAS soldier who is known for his violent outbursts.

Living in Bagdad has its immediate dangers, and one of the most prevalent is hostage taking. Many professionals, politicians and indeed journalists have been abducted by terrorist groups in order to send a message to the Allies, and Connie finds herself within this unlucky group, when she is snatched outside her hotel. Luckily though, she is released only three days later with no apparent injuries. Her escape comes as a huge relief to the watching world, but also an intriguing mystery; viewers want to know why she was so fortunate.

To avoid the bombardment of personal invasions, Connie rents herself a house in Dorset under a different name while the heat dies down. Once there though, she soon finds herself mixed up in a complicated family squabble involving the owner of the house she now rents, the spoilt socialising daughter who wants her inheritance, and a local farmer, whose complete inability to conform to social norms makes her very interesting to Connie.

So while Connie tries to uncover the secrets behind this house and those who have lived in it, she must also stay undetected by the world’s media, as well as the evil-doers who abducted her who are now seem to be wanting her dead. Her paralysing fear which resulted from the three-day confinement will be her biggest challenge.

It is a mild book, a few good twists and turns, but nothing remarkable. The story is nothing more than something you would find on daytime television thillers, and the actual evolution of the plot is seems timid and slow. Her writing style is great, and the flow of her words seem to make it an enjoyable read, but by the end, some viewers may find themselves thinking: why did I keep reading?

The threatening aspects of the book seem impotent compared to some of those in modern thrillers, and Walters seems unwilling to get her hands dirty with the really gutsy stuff. It is a book for people who don’t like anything too tense or dramatic, nothing that will make you squirm as you read, which definitely has its appeal to some readers…but not this one.

The Cold Moon (2006) by Jeffery Deaver

Expertly written crime thriller, about a serial killer loose in New York City, with an obsession with time and a passion for elaborate murders.

Two seemingly unrelated deaths quickly become the hottest new chase for a killer, after an old fashioned, ticking clock was found at each of the crime scenes. The face of the clocks show a moon image, representing the lunar calendar, which bears a great importance to the murderer. Detective Lincoln Rhyme and his partner Amelia Sachs become the lead investigators for the case, with the help of a handful of colleagues. Rhyme is a quadriplegic, who has to do all of his research from a base in his home, although, his masterful attention to detail and an unrelenting persistence with evidence have made him one of the most revered detectives in the city.

Sachs is a determined street cop, whose family has been born and bred in the service, making her resolve to find this killer even more solid.

The killer, known as The Watchmaker, utilizes a terrifying book of torture methods as inspiration for his evil deeds, and once he teams up with a sexual predator, their goals become even more threatening.

It is a brilliantly written book with outstanding attention to character details. The author brings these people to life with a delicate grace, rather than immediacy, making them even more interesting and rewarding. The plot becomes a raging bull, uncontrollable and deadlier with every minute gone by. The twists and turns are very difficult to see coming, and few would be able to foresee the ultimate conclusion.

The freezing temperatures of NYC make for an excellent setting considering the subject matter, and the little moments of comedy and poignancy are perfectly chosen within what is otherwise a pretty harsh story.

Perfect reading if you like gritty crime thrillers that hold no punches when it comes to killing. Deaver has created a place for himself within the literature industry for being brutal with a pen.

The Associate (2009) by John Grisham

Anyone who has read a book by John Grisham knows his style within the first 50 pages. Tense, legal-based stories with a main character being subjected to all the drama that comes with being associated with the law. The Associate is no different.

Young and promising lawyer-to-be Kyle McAvoy, has the world at his feet. Soon to be set out into the world as a graduate with plenty of smarts and qualifications behind him. However, his dreams of becoming a defender of the poor and helpless are soon shattered, when an event from his past comes back to haunt him. A video from a college party he threw emerges, whereby a possible rape took part and it shows him and his friends. Now, a dangerous group of people are blackmailing him to join a particular law firm, in order to steal information and secrets which they can then use for their own ends. Kyle must now become an undercover associate in the big bad city of New York, where he will barely sleep, going through all the trappings of life as a rookie lawyer in a massive firm, whilst also leading a secret life.

The premise of this book is good, and the twists and turns do well to make it a page-turner. The problem comes from not having many pages to turn! Less than 400 pages, I went through this novel rapidly, and found myself unsatisfied by the end. It plays out like a film, moving from scene to scene without much character development, instead focusing on the action.

If you like Grisham, which I most certainly do, there are much better examples of his work out there. This is a half-hearted attempt, which will entertain you for a while, leave you cold. Instead, try A Time To Kill, The Chamber, or most definitely The Firm.

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest - By Stieg Larsson

The final instalment of the addictive Millennium trilogy, a book that fails to deliver the same excitement and thrill of its predecessors.

Going into the third book, I was desperate to learn of Lisbeth Salander’s condition, after being buried alive and shot in the head at the end of the second. The exhilarating finale to The Girl Who Played With Fire had been a tremendous achievement, but sadly, the third book lost the momentum.

The initial couple of chapters are interesting, as the follow immediately on for the action before. However, once the new story begins, it soon loses pace and excitement. Too many characters are introduced, with two many different agendas, that the plot becomes a web of barely coherent rumours and conspiracies. Lisbeth plays such a minor role that the book should not even mention her in the title, and her absence is a crying shame. Blomkvist is there, but his heroic investigations do little to bring tension to the story. Throughout the novel the twists and turns are predictable and, in some cases, boring.

The writing is still good, Larsson has a talent for crime fiction. The locations are enjoyable (if not a bit too plentiful), and his main character of Lisbeth is still devilishly intriguing.

A must-read for those who have read the previous two books, but The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest is a weak successor.

The Girl Who Played With Fire (2009) by Stieg Larsson

The second installment of the Swedish phenomenon.

After the enthralling first book to the Millennium series, expectations were very high for The Girl Who Played With Fire. From the outset, it sets a pace that is far quicker than the first book, and the story gets going almost instantly. Because the main characters are already established, Larsson is able to move on much faster, which is useful to maintain the momentum.

The story is of a new book that Millennium wish to publish, after the success of main character Blomkvist's book which destroyed the enemy of the first book Wennerstrom. This new book is written by another journalist called Dag Svensson, in corroboration with his student girlfriend who is publishing a thesis on the same subject: sex trafficking. The book will expose many high flying citizens such as politicians, judges, police officers, and even fellow journalists, for their involvement in the sex trade. However, Svensson and his girlfriend Mia are murdered in their home one night. To make the situation even more intense, the police have a prime suspect almost immediately, Lisbeth Salander (the girl who owns a dragon tattoo).

Now, Blomkvist must do his own research and try to clear Salander's name, before Detective Bublanski catches the girl.

This book is a great story. In places there is a bit too much going on, but the majority is a brilliantly written, entertaining book. The characters are vivid and their interaction is humorous, tense, and engaging. Fans of the first book should not be disappointed. A word of caution however, you may get confused with all the Swedish place names in the book, but it is worth trying to remember them.

The themes of the book, such as female empowerment, and sex trafficking will always make for enigmatic discussion, and Larsson does well not to become preachy. For the most part, the book is just an entertaining story that follows on well from the first book, and leads excellently into the third!

Coming up: The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest...

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2005) by Stieg Larsson

A decent story, enriched by enigmatic characters, devilishly good writing, and fiendish landscapes.

Swedish writer Stieg Larsson was a well known journalist, but is now a household name for his Millennium trilogy. The first installment, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is a dramatic murder mystery that combines excellent character development, with intriguing storytelling.

In the book, Michael Blomkvist is an editor who has recently been found guilty of libel against a financial business man called Wennerstrom. Blomkvist is jointly in charge of the magazine Millennium, which mainly focuses on corruption in the financial world, and revealing those guilty. However, after Michael's nemesis Wennerstrom beats him in court, the journalist resigns from his magazine, and ends up taking on a new project. This project involves working for the Vanger family, a successful group who own many different businesses across Sweden. Blomkvist is hired by Henrik Vanger, the aging owner of the Vanger corporation, to discover the mystery behind his niece's disappearance over thirty years ago.

Without revealing much more, it is important to say that this book is founded upon two extraordinarily compelling characters: Michael Blomkvist, and the girl whom he hires as a research assistant, Lisbeth Salander (yes...you guessed it, the girl with a dragon tattoo). These two protagonists are deeply interesting, acting in ways that are not predictable, and offer a fresh alternative to some of the lead characters in this genre of writing. Lisbeth is a troubled young woman, whose attitude towards life verges on the psychotic, however, her actions and behaviour seem justifiable. These two unlikely friends offer an exceptional viewpoint for a crime book that would otherwise fall into the irrelevant.

Larsson's writing can sometimes be a bit cold and drab, but his skill at winding story with character development is unquestionable. Throughout the book, readers will find a pace that does not falter, and enough twists and turns to satisfy.

Next time.....

The Girl Who Played With Fire.

The Family (2001) by Mario Puzo

Continuing with my obsession with Puzo's gangster fiction, I decided to tackle one of his last novels, which had to be finished by his partner Carol Gino, due to the great author's death. The Family is set in Rome during the 15th Century, and is about the dramatic lives of the Borgia family, and their struggle with power.

Rodrigo Borgia is a cardinal in the Vatican, with hopes of securing a strong and prominent life for his family by becoming Pope, and uniting papal states. During the 15th Century, life as a man of the cloth was different to the modern way. Whilst it was still frowned upon to have a public-private life, cardinals, and even the Pope, could have mistresses, children, and their own family unit. Rodrigo was a man who enjoyed the pleasures of the world, and he bore several sons and a daughter. It was these children, along with his favourite courtesans Vanozza and Julia Farnese, that Rodrigo wished to protect. When he becomes Pope Alexander VI, the Borgia family rises to a new status, and their influence over Rome becomes immense, but is also ushers in new enemies. In order to maintain the balance of a holy life, a devoted family man, and the head of the papacy, Alexander must make decisions that will shape his children forever, and risk not only mortal danger, but eternal damnation.

It is an excellent book, one that plays out like a war novel. The characters are well developed, and the storyline has a tempo that is unrelenting. Puzo's penchant for classic themes such as family, loyalty, vengeance, and murder is undeniable, and he applies those themes to a fresh setting. Rather than the streets of modern America, or the rural splendour of Sicily, The Family encompasses all of 15th Century Italy, as well as neighboring countries such as Spain and France. While the setting of this story is very different to other Puzo novels such as The Godfather or The Sicilian, the essence is still the same. Murder, treachery, and vengeance are entwined with the beauty of the landscape, and Italian culture. Once cannot help but admire Puzo's passion.

Whilst reading the book, one may notice the large time span which the novel tries to cover. This is one of the main criticisms of the book. It tries to cover such a large amount of events that development of side characters seems sparse, and many of the locations go without description. Another issue with the book are the events which go unexplained, this may be due to the author's demise, but several key happenings are left with a question mark at the end.

Mostly, though, this is an excellent example of Puzo's genius. For anyone who has visited Italy, and loved it, I suggest poring through the author's back catalogue, simply for the loving devotion that Puzo holds for the country. The characters in The Family are engaging, are the way their lives are shaped by this figurehead is both poignant and heartbreaking.

A powerful novel that takes issues as old as time, and a setting that seems ancient to the modern reader, and throws them into an action packed, volatile story.

A Memory of Two Mondays (1955) - by Arthur Miller

A one-act play that examines the heartbreaking reality of capitalism.

Arthur Miller is the quintessential American playwright. His work delves deep into the American psyche, and tries to find meaning amongst the downtrodden and injured. His most famous works: The Crucible and Death of a Salesman are brilliant works that take aspects of American history (witch-hunts) and American idealism (the American Dream), and put them on-stage in way that is hauntingly entertaining. A Memory of Two Monday is Miller's most auto-biographical play, as it takes place in an auto-parts warehouse, which is where the playwright worked before going to college. It is a story full of contrast, taking the coldness of American society during the Depression and juxtaposing it with the warmth that can be found in the workplace. The characters on the one hand hate coming to work every Monday morning, but manage to find a family-like environment there, coming to rely on their colleagues to survive.

The story is broken into three periods: a Monday during 1933, another Monday about a year later, and the following Tuesday. These auto-parts workers come from a mixture of backgrounds, reflecting the melting-pot makeup of American society. The main character is Bert, a young packer who is trying to save enough money at the warehouse to go to college. He sees his co-workers coming to work everyday, talking about the same things, and moving through life slowly with no variation, and wonders how they can do it. Many of the people he works with are not happy with life, Tom is a drunk at the beginning of the play, and is on the verge of being fired. Gus has a very ill wife, whom he has neglected, and then she dies at the end of the first section. Many of the other characters have troubles too, but they find comfort in each other.

By the second section, even though their lives are ultimately the same, coming to work every Monday, and carrying on with the same tasks, there are noticeable changes. Gus is now the drunk, after his wife dies and he feels guilty for not being there for her. Tom has recovered, and is not full of enthusiasm that grates against his co-workers. Bert almost has enough money to leave, but is worried about the people he feels are his second family. At the end of the second section, Gus dies after an elaborate night out spending his life's savings.

The third section is simply Bert saying goodbye to his colleagues. Their reaction however is less than noticeable. They resent him for moving on, and leaving them in their dull lives with no prospects. Even Kenneth, the person closest to Bert fails to drum up any sentiment about the boy leaving.

The play was written in the 1950s, a time in the US where McCarthyism and the Cold War were prominent aspects of American society. Citizens were being encouraged to spy on their neighbours, to watch for any signs of communist activity, and to trust no one. Miller decided to write a play about a not-so-long ago past, where the American people were working together to try and get their country back on track, and to rely on each other. It is ironic that after the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the American people were united in their grief, trying to end their misery, and yet, after the Second World War in 1945, the USA became a massive superpower, with economic might, and yet the turmoil of the Cold War caused its people to turn on each other.

It is an excellent play, full of great characters. However, the one-act structure allows for little development, and the plot seems haphazard. Moments of sadness and comedy seem too infrequent, and by the end some viewers/readers may feel unfulfilled. Worth a read for die-hard Miller fans, but if this is your first encounter with the great playwright, I suggest Death of a Salesman it is deservedly his most acclaimed work, and is one of the finest plays of the 20th Century.

Babylon Revisited (1930) by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The aftermath of wealth, affluence and greed.

F. Scott Fitzgerald is a master of words. His prose makes the modern writer squirm in his leather swivel chair, as he sits there wishing he was as talented. Fitzgerald's short story Babylon Revisited is a superb piece of writing based on the author's real life experiences.

It is set almost directly after the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and see one man's struggle with his new situation. During the 1920's, Charlie enjoyed the prominence of his status. He also developed an addiction to alcohol. Now he is clean and sober, but also defeated by the end of his reign in power. He seeks to gain guardianship of his daughter Honoria. His sister and her husband are the current guardians of Honoria, and they are worried that Charlie's vulnerable condition will damage the young girl.

It is an excellent short story, written with a brilliance that only the most gifted of writers can achieve. Fitzgerald has a penchant for understated drama, that reeks of problems concerning the rich and wealthy. In the same vein as Arthur Miller's critique on the working class of America, Fitzgerald examines the top of the social ladder, as they have further to fall.

Dreams From My Father (1995) by Barack Obama

One of the most influential politicians in the last one hundred years produced a book before his political career went into overdrive, Dreams From My Father is an exceptional story written by a gifted writer.

Following Obama's story from his humble childhood in Hawaii, through to his time at college, then in New York and Chicago, and finally his trip to his homeland in Kenya, the book is a telling memoir that addresses issues of race, family, hope, heritage and the future. With great family members, friends and acquaintances, whom Obama meets along the way, the book is filled with laughter and entertainment, the book is not a dry, nostalgic boast about "look what I have done", but rather a modest and self-critical analysis of Barack's life, and how his journey to find his place in the world, led him through challenges and discoveries which would shape his extraordinary character.

No one can doubt this man's intelligence. His words act like sharpened spears to penetrate the readers heart, whilst keeping them hooked to his story. His ideas about life, and the future for the U.S. are heartfelt, whilst his attacks on the injustices of the world are aimed universally at people, not races.

This is an incredible book. An amazing story, with engaging characters, glued together with the genius of a man who is the inspiration for the world.

The Street Lawyer (1998) - By John Grisham

Set in the chilling streets of Washington DC, the story follows Michael Brock, a high flying lawyer from a top notch law firm, who has a terrifying encounter with a homeless man called "Mister", which reaches a bloody climax. Now everything changes for this young, promising lawyer, who struggles to maintain his previous levels of enthusiasm for his high-powered lawsuits, and finds himself being pulled towards helping the needy. When he discovers a legal clinic, headed by the infamous Mordecai Green, Brock takes up the role of lawyer for the homeless. However, his final days at his old firm Drake & Sweeney, are tumultuous, and the young associate does not leave quietly. Now Brock must take up his new challenge of defending the poor, whilst fighting off one of the most powerful law firms in the city, murderous gangsters, and the intimidating city police.

Grisham is back on form with this powerful legal thriller, a truly entertaining read with a heartfelt message. The characters range from downtrodden low-lifes, to hard-working advocates for the homeless, well-meaning lawyers to inscrupible businessmen. Washington makes for an excellent setting, with the stark contrast of rich and poor, whilst the freezing conditions add a constant sense of danger. The action is fast paced, and the twists and turns will keep you turning pages.

Omertá - (2001) by Mario Puzo

Mafiosa storytelling by one of the most prolific authors of the 20th Century.

When a notorious mob boss is assassinated in New York, it unearths a complex web of crime, deceit, and Omertá (the Italian code of silence). The investigation into the murder splits into two camps, one led by the FBI, and the other by the nephew of the mob boss, but both face uncooperative suspects and stony silences. Once the trail begins to reveal a dangerous plot that involves organised crime, law enforcement, and innocent victims, the story develops into a climactic race against time.

Puzo has written some outstanding work in the crime genre, but this novel lacks the authenticity that came with The Godfather or the beautiful language of The Sicilian. It fails to develop that richer experience that has become expected with his writing, and the characters remained shadows compared to previous iconic mafioasa. Omertá seems more like a mediocre TV show, while Puzo's other works are like all-time classic films, a serious let down.

I would argue that this book is worth reading for the hard-core Puzo fan, but not as an introduction into the man's outstanding back catalogue of work. Start with the classics and read this if you want to complete his repetoire.