Rogue State By Steven Konkoly Reviewed by Heath Henwood www.books-reviewed.weebly.com This follows the book ‘Fractured State’ and falls short of the previous book. I found it a disappoint read. While the action was fast paced, this made the story complex to read. The story line follows Nathan Fisher, who is involved in a conspiracy, involving breaking California away from the rest of America, is being pursued. Helping him and his family escape is Marine David Quinn. A story of the good guys being outmanned and outgunned, but with survival in mind. Generally a predictable read. Thank you to Netgalley for providing a review copy in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
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Middle School: The Worst Years of my Life By James Patterson Reviewed by Heath Henwood www.books-reviewed.weebly.com Some books divide people – you either love it or hate it. This is one such book! Pre-teen boys will probably love it! The easy reading style, the mischief, the breaking of rules. I think the rest of the population have seen titles for that market that have been better written, and better cohension. The story follows Rafe and his imaginary Leonardo, as they try to break every rule in his school's oppressive Code of Conduct. While it is far from Patterson’s best work, he does deliver the occasional Hilarious moment. One for the pre-teen boys. Thank you to Netgalley for providing a review copy in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. The Girl on Mill Street By Peter Gilboy Reviewed by Heath Henwood www.books-reviewed.weebly.com A different twist on the traditional murder mysteries. Although it took a little while to hook me, the different perspective of this book did hook me into reading right to the end, to determine who the killer was and if they would be caught. Gilboy builds tension in the book, slowly laying the story, while developing the depth of the three main characters. The story is told by Nineteen-year-old Annie Taylor, who retells of her beautiful and well-loved mother disappearing, while her father, a famous sex therapist and loving husband, was charged with the murder. What follows in the unravelling of people’s pasts, their secret lives, their fears, and somewhere the truth. Thank you to Netgalley for providing a review copy in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Environmentally Friendly By Elias Zanbaka Reviewed by Heath Henwood www.books-reviewed.weebly.com This short story lack the cohension required to be a successfully marketable book. The premise for the plot, while not entirely new, is the best part of the book. What it lacks is a professional edit. It reads like a high schoolers story that has been encouraged to give every noun and verb its own action packed description. Not only does this take away from the story, it makes it difficult to read. There is a message behind the story, although honestly, it could be better put, and drawn out with a longer text, that creates tension. Thank you to the author for providing a review copy in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Executive Orders By Max Allan Collins Reviewed by Heath Henwood www.books-reviewed.weebly.com Executive Orders is the third in a series featuring ex–Secret Service agent Joe Reeder and FBI Special Situations Task Force leader Patti Rogers. As expected they are thrust into personal danger as a dangerous conspiracy comes into play. Starting with the death of four soldiers, quickly followed by government officials and CIA agents, the questions are asked who is behind the conspiracy and who will be next – the president? The book is past paced, with plenty of action. The characters lack a depth, but that is quickly forgiven in what is an action genre, rather than drama. Collins has provided an easy to read action book, that will keep people happy that there are still good guys out there. Thank you to Netgalley for providing a review copy in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Witness By Caroline Mitchell Reviewed by Heath Henwood www.books-reviewed.weebly.com Thrilled by this triller. A well written book that had me wondering who was going to be hurt or killed next and how. Rebecca witness her fiancé murder a work colleague. After 10 years in jail, he is out and seeking revenge for her apparent betrayal. In a plot twist, he makes her choose the victims. Can she protect those she loves the most? While the supporting character lacked depth, it didn’t matter in the end, as the real story is about Rebecca, her fight and struggles. Thank you to Netgalley for providing a review copy in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. A Traitor in the Family By Nicholas Searle Reviewed by Heath Henwood www.books-reviewed.weebly.com Bored. The is Searle second book, and I have to admit that I have not read the first. I would suggest that he might be suffering from the common second book syndrome, of having put out one good book, and now what next! The book lacked – everything. Not true – Searle has gone to great lengths to detail and describe the characters, and has filled in the gaps with detail. Maybe too much detail, which cuts into the rhyme of the book. Generally disappointing. Thank you to Netgalley for providing a review copy in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. The Tracker By Chad Zunker Reviewed by Heath Henwood www.books-reviewed.weebly.com "Fast paced suspense triller, with a touch of romance" This is Zunker's first book in a series featuring Sam Callahan, a law student and part-time tracker, a spy, following of presidential candidates for gossip and dirt. Which he finds in truck loads, making him a target. Sam’s character is well developed, and the plot face paced, making this an ideal book. The challenge for Zunker will be following this up with the next book in the series, and adding some more depth to supporting characters. Thank you to Netgalley for providing a review copy in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Ragdoll By Daniel Cole Addictive Thriller. The story line engages the reader with its gripping twists and turns, and clever ways the killer strikes his victims. The characters are well developed and believable. The story well developed – when a body is discovered sown together from six victims, detectives William ‘Wolf’ Fawkes and his partner Emily Baxter must track down the killer. To taunt police, the ‘Ragdoll Killer’ releases the names and dates of six other people he will kill. The race is on to save victim, although they seem to die in mysterious ways just as the killer predicted. To complicate matters there seem to be ties to his past. The book is fast paced and holds the reader is suspense until the very end. 4 Stars. Books are supplied by Netgalley and the publisher in return for an honest review. The Junk Run By James Patterson Reviewed by Heath Henwood www.books-reviewed.weebly.com Engaging, but not Patterson’s Best James Patterson has a reputation for fast paced, intriguing mysteries, that hold the read on the edge of their seat. This book is a letdown. The plot rolls along, like travelling down the winding Scottish lanes, but fails to develop the tension that I was waiting for. Detective Standon is asked to consider the mysterious disappearance of playboy Paul White. The characters lacked depth and life, which, along with the lack of pace in the storyline, gave the book a formula approach to writing. Thank you to Netgalley for providing a review copy in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Lies She Told
By Cate Holahan Reviewed by Heath Henwood A trilling book that was hard to out down, once I got started. The first couple of chapters were confusing though, switching between Liza and the character in the book she is writing Beth. Once I got my head around the continual swapping, the book made more sense, and hooked me in. The characters are well developed and believable. The plot generally flow along smoothly. The book blurs the line between reality and fiction as the characters try to determine the truths of the lives around them. Liza Jones has thirty days to write the thriller that could put her back on the bestseller list. In the meantime, she’s struggling to start a family with her husband, who is distracted by the disappearance of his best friend, Nick. With stresses weighing down in both her professional and her personal life, Liza escapes into writing her latest heroine. The Winter Over
By Matthew Iden Imagine a winter in the most isolated place in the world with forty others. Imagine no contact with the outside world for months on end. Imagine when things go wrong, starting with a suspicious death, power failures, and crazy’s running around loose. This is ‘The Winter Over’. Set in the Antarctic isolated base ‘Shackleton Research Base’, the plot follows Cass Jennings, a mechanic trying to escape her own past, as she stumbles through firstly a murder, then many other issues and problems that cripple the base. Never knowing who to turn to. The story is well written, taking the reader in with a mixture of strong, but strange characters all facing their own demons. Coupled with a fast-moving plot. An excellent read. The Ridge
By John Rector “Something strange is happening at The Ridge” The plot follows newly arrived housewife Megan Stokes, as she tries to unravel her strange neighbours and the mysterious going on’s in the town, that she and her husband have moved to. The plot thickens when she accidently kills one of her neighbours, or does she? Add to the plot some mysterious papers, and some unknown scientific research, the storyline becomes a little stretched. The final twist is unexpected. It is a different plot and story line, that some will love, and others find stretched. The book is well written though and does flow well. The Agent
By Mark Dawson Reviewed by Heath Henwood "Disappointing" This is far from Mark Dawson's best piece of work. It has a slow start, and lacks punch all the way through. I found it a disappointing read after reading some of Dawson's previous titles, which engage the audience. By Van R Mayhall Jr
Reviewed by Heath Henwood This is Mayhall's third novel in a series featuring Dr Clotile Lejeune, an ancient languages expert, who has discovered a cache of ancient scrolls from Biblical times. She, along with her son and clergy from the Vatican are continually thrown in religious fights with deadly groups. This novel follows on, set three years after the last novel, with evil pretending all aspects of power and community across the globe. Seven unlikely heroes are drawn together and link with Dr Lejeune in a quest to defeat the 'bad man', a reference to the devil rising to power. Together they face a battle that recurs every 1000 years. This book is mostly fast paced, although the characters tend to be a bit of a strength of the imagination. Fans of the first two novels 'Judas the Apostle' and 'The last Sicarius' will love this book, along with any end times fanatics. Gumshoe for 2
By Rob Leininger Reviewed by Heath Henwood "Enthralling Detective Mystery" Private Investigator in training, Mort Angel is a former tax inspector, turned private detective with a habit of finding people, particularly parts of people. His mentor, boss and lover, PI Jeri DiFrazzia guides his stumbling steps as he learns the ropes of being an investigator and tries to understand women. The plot flows well, with a few twists and a climax that shocks. The characters are well developed, with their own peculiar quirks. Leininger has an easy to read style, that just seems to flow for the reader. An enjoyable PI read, than entices the reader back for more. I am looking forward to the next Mort Angel book. The Stanger Inside
By Jennifer Jaynes 4 stars Reviewed by Heath Henwood Difficult to put down. This is Jaynes fourth triller in the Stranger Series. Diane Christie is a widow and a mystery writer, recently moved to Fog Harbour, with her adopted sixteen year son, Josh. Her daughter Alexa attends University of New Cambridge, the scene of a recent murder of a female student, which unnerves Diane. As Jaynes slowly introduces more characters, the question who can be trusted is raised, and who is the villain? The plot is well developed with many twists and turns, to ensure the reader stays interested until the end. The characters are well developed and believable, which demonstrates Jaynes talent and style as a writer. By Andrew Case
Case’s second novel, a sequel to ‘The Big Fear’ in ‘The Hollow City Series’. Although it can easily be read as a stand along novel as I did. The story follows ex-cop Leonard Mitchell, a city building investigator who is drawn into going undercover for the police to investigate corruption in the building industry. He uncovers far more than he can imagine, especially as he struggles with who to trust. Case has a well written novel that engage the reader with interesting, if somewhat unbelievable at times, twists and turns. |
AuthorHeath writes reviews regularly for newspapers and magazines. Archives
January 2020
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