Book Recommendation – Paranoia

Every once in a while I need to bump a book on my “To be read” list up. This happens for various reasons. Sometimes the audiobook becomes available sooner than expected. Other times it is because I really have waited to read the book. This one – well, it was the book my wife got me for my birthday. It was Paranoia from James Patterson and James O. Born.

My wife had been out shopping and saw the title and cover. She read the back of the book and thought it might be something I’d enjoy, so she picked it up for me.

I was a bit worried about reading it because I found out that this is actually the 17th book featuring the character of Michael Bennett. There have been a lot of “series” that I stopped reading because the books were often half recaps of previous books and half new story. I didn’t know what to expect. My hope was that it would read well as a stand alone story. Thankfully, it did.

Thinking back on it now, I can see where some of the things that were briefly mentioned might be familiar to readers of the series. As a new reader, I took those things as something used to further the story.

Here is the Goodreads Synopsis:

NYPD Detective Michael Bennett will stop at nothing to protect family: his wife, his kids—and his fellow officers—in the latest psychological thriller from bestselling author James Patterson.

At every death scene, Bennett says a prayer over the victim. But recently, too many of the departed have been fellow cops.
“I want you to look at these deaths on special assignment,” NYPD Inspector Celeste Cantor says. “Report only to me.”
Bennett excels as a solo investigator. But he’s chasing a killer who feeds on isolation… and paranoia.

The synopsis doesn’t really say much. So I will expand just a bit, which may make it more intriguing to you.

Deaths tied to drugs and gangs are commonplace in New York City. They are nothing out of the ordinary. Strange and multiple deaths of retired police officers, however, raise a red flag. As the deaths pile up, it becomes clear that the dead police officers and the dead drug/gang members have something in common – an interest case from the past.

When Bennett is approached by Inspector Cantor to “look into the matter,” he does so. The more he investigates, the more complex and odd the case becomes.

The book was actually quite good. I had my suspicions about characters who may or may not be involved in the murders throughout the first half of the book. My pick changed a bit throughout the story, but I was able to figure it out. The fact that I did, didn’t make the rest of the story a bad read.

Will I go out and pick up another Michael Bennett book? Maybe. It was good, but it wasn’t necessarily a character that I was like, “I gotta read more about that guy!”

3 out of 5 stars.

Weekend Book Recommendations

With my shift change, my drive is a bit longer because of traffic. It doesn’t bother me, though, because it gives me a bit more time with the audio books I am listening to. The extra time (and extra day’s commute) is also allowing me to get through each book a little faster than before.

A few friends of mine have been on vacation and posting photos on Facebook. Many of the pictures show my friends in hammocks, on the beach, or by a campfire. All of those photos include a book they are reading. So I figured I would post the last couple books I read as suggestions … in case you are looking for something to read this weekend.

Circle of Death – James Patterson and Brian Sitts

Last May I stumbled on the first book of this series and I enjoyed it a lot. It took me back to the Shadow radio shows I used to listen to. I blogged about that book here:

The Shadow Knows!

At the time, I had hoped that there might be a sequel and Circle of Death is it. This one was a bit harder to get into, but that may be because I listened to the audio and didn’t physically read it. The narrator was a bit bland. Over all it was ok. I bet if I had read it instead, I would have liked it more.

Here is the Goodreads synopsis:

When a ruthless killer seeks to overturn the world order, our only hope is vigilante justice.

Since Lamont Cranston – known to a select few as the Shadow – defeated Shiwan Khan and ended his reign of terror over New York one year ago, the city has started to regenerate. But there is evil brewing elsewhere. And this time the entire world is under threat. Which is why Lamont has scoured the globe to assemble a team with unmatched talent.

Only their combined powers can foil an enemy with ambitions and abilities beyond anyone’s deepest fears. As their mission takes them across the globe and into the highest corridors of power – pushing them beyond their limits – can justice prevail?

Just Another Missing Person – Gillian McAllister

Wow! This book was awesome! There were so many twists and turns and I loved every second of it.

I read this one because the author wrote one of the best books I’ve read this year – Wrong Place, Wrong Time. I wrote about it here:

Book Recommendation: Wrong Place, Wrong Time

While I saw some things coming, there were things that blindsided me. It was such a good read.

Here is the Goodreads synopsis:

22-year-old Olivia has been missing for one day…and counting. She was last seen on CCTV, entering a dead-end alley. And not coming back out again.

Julia, the detective heading up the search for Olivia, thinks she knows what to expect. A desperate family, a ticking clock, and long hours away from her husband and daughter. But she has no idea just how close to home this case is going to get.

Because the criminal at the heart of the disappearance has something she never expected. His weapon isn’t a gun, or a knife: it’s a secret. Her worst one. And her family’s safety depends on one thing: Julia must NOT find out what happened to Olivia – and must frame somebody else for her murder.

If you find her, you will lose everything. What would you do?

This clever and endlessly surprising thriller is laced with a smart look at family and motherhood, and cements Gillian McAllister as a major talent in the world of suspense and a master of creating ethical dilemmas that show just how murky the distinction between right and wrong can be.

Other “book” Things

A blogger friend told me about a site called NetGalley. You can request books not yet published and review them on your blog. I signed up and am excited to start reading. There are two books I had on my Amazon Wish List that aren’t due to be published until next year. I requested them hoping to get the chance to read them.

I’ve never really did a “review” before, but I’m sure going to try. Wish me luck with that.

I have three physical books from the library that I am hoping to get done with before they are due. One of them was recommended by my blogger friend, Beth. So far I am loving it and I’ve found myself laughing out loud already.

As always, I would love to hear your recommendations – I’ll add them to my “want to read” list.

Post-Holiday Holiday Reading

I’m not sure why I don’t read more of James Patterson’s books. Every time I have, I have really enjoyed them. The last book I read of his was The Shadow. I read it back in May and reviewed it here:

The Shadow Knows!

I had seen a Facebook post from Patterson talking about this book, and a friend actually had just finished it. She loved it and loaned it to me. Much like The Shadow, it didn’t take me long to finish it. It was a fast paced book that required very little thinking. It was a simple story that got crazier as it went on and was a nice feel good story at the end.

I enjoyed it a lot, but in preparation for this blog, I searched for other reviews. I found that people either loved it or hated it. The first page introduces you to the Sullivan family. It also let’s you know right from the start that the matriarch of the family has died. Perhaps this is why so many people hated it, I’m not sure.

One of the advertisements for the book reads: “Move over, Dickens—America’s favorite storyteller has written a modern Christmas story for the ages.” This is obviously a reference to his classic, A Christmas Carol. To be fair, the first words of Dickens’ story are, “Marley was dead, to being with.” He then goes on to explain how important that is to the story. In the same way, the death mentioned at the start of Patterson’s book is also important to THIS story. Because of her passing, Christmas doesn’t happen anymore at the Sullivan house.

The synopsis from Goodreads states:

Every year at Christmastime, Will and Ella Sullivan, and their father, Henry, come to a family agreement: Christmas is a holiday for other people.

At their brownstone in Harlem, stockings go unstuffed, tinsel unstrewn, gifts unbought, mistletoe unhung, chestnuts unroasted, carols unplayed, cookies uncooked, a tree un-visible, and guests uninvited.

Until guests start arriving anyway. In pairs and sixes, in sevens and tens—they keep coming. And they stay. For twelve long, hard, topsy-turvy, very messy days. That’s when the Sullivans discover that those moments in life that defy hope, expectation, or even imagination, might be the best gifts of all.

In a bit of holiday magic, Christmas invites itself to their home. If you remember the song “The 12 Days of Christmas,” then you already know what to expect over the 12 days. With Day 1, the arrival of a partridge in a pear tree starts the ball rolling. You can only imagine the chaos that each gift brings!

There were times that I laughed out loud, times that I was almost brought to tears, and times I was crying from laughing so hard. I tried to explain the plot to my wife and she said, “It sounds like a Hallmark Movie!” I wouldn’t go that far, as those stories are more of a romance based plot that all their movies follow. To a point, there is a romantic factor to it, as the Sullivan kids think that if they can find a woman on a dating site for their dad, Christmas will return to their house. However, there is really no “love” story, other than the love of family.

It was an easy read. The whole time I was reading it, I could see it easily being a Christmas movie. I don’t think that there was a sexual situation or profane word in it. It was a fun story that I can easily see myself reading every Christmas. I enjoyed it and I think you will, too.

If you still have your Christmas tree up, get it at your local library or off Amazon. Turn the Christmas lights on, get a fire going in the fireplace, grab a blanket and curl up on the couch and enjoy this fun holiday story.

Brief Thoughts on The Shadow

It has been a VERY long time since I read an entire book in less than 24 hours. That is exactly what I did with James Patterson’s The Shadow. I had only finished the first chapter or two when I wrote my blog yesterday. Once I picked it back up, I couldn’t put it down.

As I read it, it was just like listening to an old Shadow radio show. As a fan of the show, I wonder if that is what kept me turning pages. I was already familiar with the characters Lamont Cranston and Margo Lane, and I thoroughly enjoyed this new adventure.

I have to wonder if someone who is unfamiliar with the Shadow would find it as entertaining as I did. I don’t know. One really doesn’t need to know much about the show to enjoy it. While the cover of the book calls it “a thriller,” I guess it falls into the drama/adventure/sci-fi category in my opinion.

Here is the Amazon.com description:

Only two people know that 1930s society man Lamont Cranston has a secret identity as the Shadow, a crusader for justice. One is his greatest love, Margo Lane, and the other is fiercest enemy, Shiwan Khan. When Khan ambushes the couple, they must risk everything for the slimmest chance of survival . . . in the future.

A century and a half later, Lamont awakens in a world both unknown and disturbingly familiar. The first person he meets is Maddy Gomes, a teenager with her own mysterious secrets, including a knowledge of the legend of the Shadow.

Most disturbing, Khan’s power continues to be felt over the city and its people. No one in this new world understands the dangers of stopping him better than Lamont Cranston. And only the Shadow knows that he’s the one person who might succeed before more innocent lives are lost.

I won’t spoil the ending or give away any secrets. I will just say that I really hope that Patterson and Sitts decide to write more adventures with the Shadow. It is a character that, despite his age, still has many adventures to experience.

Looking for a good book??

I love a good book. I once heard a teacher call a book “a movie for your mind”. This is so true. I touched on this in a blog I wrote on using the imagination. As you read a book, you create a character based on the descriptions the author gives you. You and I could read the same book, but have two very different, yet similar pictures of what a character looks like. You take the descriptions that are given to you by the author and the “movie” in your mind brings thrills, laughter, suspense, and more.

The problem that I run into, as do so many other people, is finding the time to read. It’s much like finding the time to blog – sometimes I have an abundance of time, and sometimes, not so much. I have been lucky enough to read three great books in a row over the past couple months and wanted to share them with you – just in case you are looking for a good one to read at your leisure.

The Escape Artist – Brad Meltzer

I stumbled on Brad’s books when I saw the book The Fifth Assassin in the library. I picked it up because I have always been fascinated with books about presidential assassinations. One of the first reports I ever wrote in elementary school was on the JFK assassination. This book was a part of his Beecher White Series, and I enjoyed it. This lead me to read more by him.

I was excited for the release of The Escape Artist this year and it was on my birthday wish list. It didn’t disappoint. From the first sentence (“These were the last thirty two seconds of her life”) on, I was hooked. It was an amazing book that I did not want to end.

The book is about a government mortician named “Zig”, who works on all high profile and top secret cases. He is assigned to work on the body of Nola Brown. Nola, he realizes, is someone who was a childhood friend of his late daughter. When the body arrives, one thing becomes very clear – it is not the body of Nola Brown. After doing some digging, he also realizes that Nola is still alive and he begins to look for her. It becomes clear that there is some sort of cover up happening from the government higher ups, and as Zig discovers, a prominent historical figure (Harry Houdini) plays a big role.

This was a book that I could have read in one sitting, though time did not allow for that. If you like a good thriller – check this one out. It’s now out in paperback, or you can nab it at the local library.

The Bishop’s Pawn – Steve Berry

I stumbled on Steve Berry also while walking up and down the aisles of the library. I have always been intrigued with the various symbols used by the founding fathers on currency and such. Even though it is fiction, the film National Treasure starring Nick Cage, was something I could totally see happening. Hiding symbols and secret codes and such to point to something like a treasure makes for such an amazing story. Anyway, I read his book The Jefferson Key, which involves an assassination attempt on the President, a cipher created by Thomas Jefferson, and a mystery from Andrew Jackson that can change the Constitution (a pretty good book in itself)!

The Bishop’s Pawn is the 13th Cotton Malone novel, and involves the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. This book takes you back to the early days of Cotton Malone. It involves a rare coin and a secret file of papers that contain some explosive revelations about the MLK assassination, can ruin innocent lives, and threaten the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. After Malone is hired by the Justice Department to do a simple little job, he soon discovers that the Justice Department and the FBI want both the coin and the secret files.

One of the things I love about Steve Berry is his ability to take something from history and then work it into a great book. The Jefferson Key, The Lincoln Myth, The Lost Order, The Columbus Affair, That Patriot Threat, and now The Bishop’s Pawn are all “must reads” for history lovers.

The President is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson

I have to be honest – I wasn’t sure what to expect here. I have read many James Patterson novels and loved almost every one. I really did not know what to expect from Bill Clinton. The title of the book peaked my interest before I even knew who wrote it. I figured with Patterson helping, it had to be at least a decent read. What I found was that this was a very realistic, believable, and enjoyable book. I read it in a matter of two days. It moved quickly and with the close of each chapter, made me want to read more.

The book opens with the President rehearsing for impeachment proceedings. Then we learn of a threat to the United States. The more you read about that threat, the more scary it becomes because it is a real possibility and if it happened would send the country into mass chaos. The threat involves a virus that would not only kill the internet, but would erase almost everything on anything connected to it. Think about that! Powerful. At any rate, it is a race against time thriller which gives us a glance into the daily routine of a President as well as how he must juggle things and prioritize what is most important for the country and the American people. I enjoyed it very much.

While the book itself would make for a fantastic film, however, Entertainment Weekly says that the Showtime network has actually decided to use the book as the basis for a series. You can read about that here:

https://ew.com/tv/2017/09/22/bill-clinton-president-missing-james-patterson-showtime/

What’s Next?

I anxiously await the new book by Andrew Gross! I stumbled on Andrew’s book 15 Seconds while walking through a local used book store. It reminded me a lot of Andrew Klavan’s True Crime. It was a great page turner. This lead me to pick up more and more of his books. All of them were what Amazon calls “Suburban Thrillers”. Then, I read The One Man. WOW! What an amazing book! Imagine having to break into Auschwitz to find (and escape with) a renowned physicist, who is the one man whom the Allies believe can help them win World War II! It was one of the best books I have read over the past few years! He followed that with The Saboteur, which was just as good. I would suggest adding both of them to your “to read” list.

Button Man is the new Andrew Gross book, and it just hit the stores. I only know what I have read about it online, but I am looking forward to reading it. Amazon describes the plot as ” a stirring story of a Jewish family brought together in the dawn of the women’s garment business and torn apart by the birth of organized crime in New York City in the 1930s.” I anticipate it being very good.

What are you reading? Any suggestions for me? Feel free to comment and let me know!

Happy Reading!