Review: Helpless by Daniel Palmer

Posted on February 4, 2012 by Jenn

  • Hardcover: 416 pages
  • Publisher: Kensington (January 31, 2012)
  • ISBN-10: 075824665X
  • Source: Author

Former Navy Seal Tom Hawkins doesn’t have the best of relationships with his teenage daughter, Jill. Frankly, he has no relationship with her, thanks to his ex-wife. When she dies, apparently an accident while jogging, Tom is forced to attempt to make amends with Jill. Jill has grown up listening to her mother’s lies about Tom and, traumatized by her mother’s death, isn’t in the mood to trust him right now.  They attempt to allow life to get back to normal, as normal as it can be at least.

Soon their attempts at normalcy are put on hold; the town’s police sergeant insinuates that Tom is a suspect in his ex-wife’s death. As if things can’t get worse, an anonymous Tumblr posts accuses Tom of having sex with one of the girls on the soccer team he coaches. Jill is also on this team and these accusations essentially put a halt on any attempts  of progress in the relationship with her father.  Tom willingly gives up his work computer to the police, simply wanting to rid his name of any accusations of guilt. When he’s arrested, not only for the accused relationship with his player but also several other pretty heinous crimes, Tom realizes all of these false accusations, these attempts to imprison him, to ruin his life, are all due to his actions over a decade ago.  A secret he’s kept hidden for so many years, the reason his wife left him. Someone is willing to ruin his life to protect this truth he’s buried for all this time.

Without a doubt, Helpless is one of the most terrifying books I have read in some time. In this book, Palmer unveils a world of sexting and cyber crimes that is all too realistic, of how easy it is for an individual to infiltrate your computer system,  to ruin your life. It’s all too incredibly chilling. The storyline is truly unique and incredibly realistic, adding to the terror and chills that flooded my body as I read this book. This is yet another book that has fueled quite a lengthy conversation with my pre-teen son about what is appropriate to share online.

Additionally, the identity of the “culprit” truly keeps you guessing up until the last several pages.  Several times, I thought I had it all figured out and each time I was completely floored when my guess was disproved.  Another key to the success of this book are the father and daughter characters of Tom and Jill. You become invested in their lives, want the to survive and have a healthy parent-child relationship again.

Bottom line, if you are looking for a dynamic thriller with genuine characters, Helpless is the book for you. If you haven’t read Palmer’s previous book, Delirious, I encourage you to do that as well. Highly recommended.

 

Posted in Kensington, Review, Thriller | 5 Comments

Frightful Friday: Defending Jacob by William Landay

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Jenn

Frightful Friday is a weekly meme in which I feature a particularly scary or chilling book that I’ve read that week.

The featured book this week is Defending Jacob by William Landay

  • Hardcover:432 pages
  • Publisher:Delacorte Press (January 31, 2012)
  • ISBN-10: 0385344228
  • Source: Publisher (BEA)

Every parent likes to believe they know their child: what kind of person they are, what they are/are not capable of. What happens when it turns out that you didn’t know your child quite as well as you believed?

Andy Barber is a well-respected Assistant District Attorney in the small Massachusetts down where he, his son Jacob, and his wife Laurie reside. They are your typical suburban family, content with their lives.

One morning things change.  A boy who attends the same middle school as Jacob is found murdered, stabbed to death on a path in the woods that leads to the school. Since it has the potential to be a high-profile case, Andy accepts the case. He joins the police in interviewing the students about the deceased. One individual suggests he check out what is being said about the crime on Facebook. When he does, he sees that Jacob’s best friend implicates Jacob in the crime, reporting to have seen him with a knife. He takes this news at face value: it appears to be just a bunch of kids posting their opinions on social media. Nothing to be worried about. Yet, he’s completely shocked by what happens next: Jacob is arrested for the murder. For obvious reasons, Andy is put on paid leave, removed from the case completely.

As the case builds and evidence is introduced, the Barber family begins to become unraveled. Andy and Laurie want to stand behind their son, want to believe he’s innocent of the crime. When Andy reveals a secret about his own family it all begins to crumble away. Andy & Laurie, normally an extremely close couple, begin to become strangers to one another. They, Laurie in particular, looks back at Jacob’s childhood. Were there any indicators that he may predisposed to this sort of anger?

In a whirlwind court case, Andy and Laurie stay by their son’s side, posing a united front, at least in appearances. In the back of their minds, they can’t help put wonder: How well do I know my child? Just how far will I go to protect him?

Defending Jacob is without a doubt one of the most suspenseful, emotionally-tolling books I have read in some time. As the mother of a middle-schooler myself, I couldn’t help but wonder what I would do in the Barber’s place? Just like the Barber’s, I believe I know my child. Yet this book inspired me to learn more about my own child, the emotions he’s feeling, the relationships he has at school. It generated quite a lengthy, but healthy and important discussion with my son, one that will continue.  Assuming life is grand, everything is perfect isn’t the way to live life, as the Barber’s unfortunately learn.

What was truly memorable about this book was the way Landay was able to pace, to portray, the unraveling of the Barber family. Laurie was always the one people turned to when they had a problem, she always had a perfect demeanor and could withstand anything. The true impact of the trail is unveiled through Laurie and the physical and emotional toll it takes on her. Throughout the book, Andy comments on this:

“She had lost so much weight that her hipbones protruded, and when we were together she spoke less and less. In spite of it all, I never softened in my determination to save Jacob first and heal Laurie later.”

And later during the trial:

 “She never stopped defending Jacob, never stopped analyzing the chessboard, calculating every move and countermove. She never stopped protecting him, even in the end.

This last line plays a very poignant role in this storyline, sort of a foreshadowing of what is to come.

Bottom line: Defending Jacob is a tremendous read: memorable, thought-provoking, intense. I stayed up until the wee hours of the night to finish this one; I couldn’t bear to step away once I got involved in this story. This is a book that will resonate within you, change your perceptions of life and love, forever. Without a doubt, this book will be added to my favorites of 2012 list. Highly, highly recommended.

Posted in Crime Fiction, Delacorte Press, Frightful Friday, Mystery/Suspense, Random House, Review | 10 Comments

Audio Book Review: King of Plagues by Jonathan Maberry

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Jenn

  • Listening Length:16 hours and 7 minutes
  • Version:Unabridged
  • Publisher:Blackstone Audio, Inc.
  • Release Date: April 7, 2011
  • Source: Personal copy

After his last mission left Department of Military Science agent Joe Ledger emotionally broken, he decides to “unofficially” retire from his duties. However, when a terrorist attack destroys the Royal London Hospital, killing thousands of innocent people, Ledger leaps back into action. The attack on the Royal London is just the first move in a series of attacks at the hands of The Seven Kings, a terrorist group made up of seven of the most dangerous people of all time. The terror they unleash isn’t by their own hands, but those of innocent people, threatened to the point of submission by a man referred to as the Spaniard.

The Kings have seemingly unlimited resources, turning to bioweapons in an attempt to unleash the modern version of the biblical Ten Plagues of Egypt. Worse is the implication that the Kings are everywhere, even among the members of the DMS. Ledger, Church, and the other DMS agents are put on edge until they can found out who the traitor/double agent is and put an end to the acts of the Seven Kings before it is too late.

The King of Plagues is the third book in the Maberry’s Joe Ledger series, after PATIENT ZERO and THE DRAGON FACTORY. By this time, the characters, including Joe Ledgers, are well established, their history as a team is established. As with THE DRAGON FACTORY, we now see a deeper, more emotional and sympathetic side of Ledger. Still vulnerable after the death of his love interest, Ledger is reluctant to leap immediately back into the folds of the DMS. In a sense, he craves to be normal but also realizes that he lives in a world in which this is not possible. The addition of Ghost, his dog/DMS agent, adds a new element to Ledger’s character.

As with all of Maberry’s other books, the storyline is genuinely unique and engrossing. Had this not been an audio book (which I only listen to during my commute to and from work) I would have finished this book in one evening. It is that suspenseful, demanding all of my listening time. In addition to the new evil characters unveiled, I was both surprised and a bit excited to see two of the DMS’ most notorious arch nemesis making a return appearance.

A note on the audio production: As I’ve stated over and over again, Ray Porter, to me, is the very essence of Joe Ledger. He captures his hard exterior, his soft interior, perfectly.

Bottom line: As with any of Maberry’s books, I can’t recommend The King of Plagues and the entire Ledger series enough. A bad-ass government agent with a witty sense of humor, in touch with his emotional side? How can you resist. Highly recommended.

Posted in Audiobook, Horror, Paranormal Fiction, Review | 8 Comments

A Month in Review: January

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Jenn

I realized it’s been far too long (since October!) since I have published a month in review post. Admittedly, I do these posts for myself than anyone else. I like to reflect on all the books I’ve read that month. Additionally, keeping track of my favorites of the month aid me in creating my “best of” list at the end of the year. Of course, sharing my favorites with you all is a reward in and of itself!

Books Reviewed

Total books reviewed: 14

Books read, not reviewed yet:
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
Alienation by Jon S. Lewis

Pick of the month: Impossible to choose just two this month, so it is a tie between American Dervish and The Baker’s Daughter.

Special Events


I’ve begun preparation for my cozy mystery themed event. Stay tuned for more details!

Posted in Month in Review | 2 Comments

Prime Suspect/A Face in the Crowd by Lynda La Plante

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Jenn

To celebrate the re-release of the Prime Suspect series, I’m pleased to present you with reviews of the first two books in this series.

  • Paperback:288 pages
  • Publisher:Harper Paperbacks (January 17, 2012)
  • ISBN-10: 006213437X
  • Source: Publisher

New female Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison is struggling to gain the acceptance of the chauvinistic Scotland Yard detective squad. She’s put in her time, unfortunately this isn’t recognized by the men she leads nor those higher up.  Tennison is forced to work in an extremely hostile work environment. Still, she’s quite desperate to succeed in this incredibly political squad, desperate enough to put her work in front of everything else, including her personal life.

When the body of a prostitute is discovered, Tennison’s battle must be put on hold. The body appears to be that of Della Mornay but it doesn’t take the squad long before they realize the body has been wrongly identified, mainly due to the true brutality of the killing. This woman is merely the first in a spree of killings by a truly sick individual. It becomes a race against the clock: will Tennison and her squad be able to put an end to the killings before another woman is brutally murdered?

I’m ashamed to admit it, but when I accepted these books for review, I wasn’t aware that the Prime Suspect novels were made into television shows, let alone a shortly-lived one here in the states. Perhaps seeing this version of Jane Tennison would have provided me with a better outlook on her character.

I can completely sympathize with Tennison and her struggle to burst through the glass ceiling hanging over the Scotland Yard detective squad. But frankly, I despised her character. Yes, she was strong, unfaltering, dedicated…but perhaps it was too much. The portrayal of her dedication to rising above those her were trying to hold her down made her seem like a completely selfish and uncaring bitch. Working in a man’s industry, I can get how hard it is to rise above but I think Tennison’s character went a bit too far, not caring who she hurt on her struggle to climb the ladder to the top.

Additionally, I had a bit of a hard time getting into the story. It just didn’t flow well for me, I couldn’t get immersed in the story and my feelings about the main character hindered the experience even more. I found having to reread pages, not because I’d skimmed but because it didn’t seem to connect. At some point, however, I finally got immersed in the story, able to put my feelings about the main character aside. The procedural part of the investigation was pretty spot on. Although the reader is pretty sure they know the identify of the perp, the investigation is compelling enough, the individual’s pure evil chilling enough, that this is all overlooked.

Despite my feelings about Tennison’s character, I think Prime Suspect is the first in a series I can find myself enjoying, looking forward to the subsequent books in this series. Recommended.

  • Paperback:256 pages
  • Publisher:Harper Paperbacks (January 17, 2012)
  • ISBN-10: 0062134396
  • Source: Publisher

When the body of a young black female is found in one of London’s poorest districts, Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison knows she has her work cut out for her. Not only is she still caught in the drama of the lack of respect provided to her by the detective squad, but the city is already in a pretty brutal racial battle.

They believe the body to be that of a young woman missing for several years. Even the girl’s mother is convinced the body is that of her daughter, claiming that items found with the body are her daughter’s. Further forensic testing disproves this, meaning yet another innocent young woman has been killed. Tennison and her squad have to trace the history of the property on which the body has been found.

It isn’t until a cast of the victim’s face is made that Tennison is able to get any headway (no pun intended) into the investigation. They uncover series of particularly brutal unreported assaults and with that a truly sick individual, set on ruining Tennison’s reputation. The detective squad is hit with endless accusations of brutality, not surprising considering the racism that runs pervasively through the squad. Can Tennison rise above these personal attacks and finally bring to justice a man who had been brutalizing young girls for years.

Given my apprehension over the previous book in this series, I can’t deny I was skeptical about how I would feel about A Face in the Crowd.  It didn’t take me long to get over these feelings for I became almost instantly wrapped up in Tennison’s most recent case. Aiding in my new perspective was the “toned down” Tennison, not nearly as blood-thirsty in her attempts to rise to the top as she was before.

Additionally, I found myself caring about her character a bit more, actually rooting for her when she stood up for herself against those in power. This new and improved Tennison is a woman not to be messed with, a woman not only dedicated to her job but those citizens whom they protect.

Given the nature of the crimes, the depictions of the acts are quite brutal. I found myself getting queasy at some of the descriptions, if that gives you an indication of the severity. This book isn’t one that I would recommend to just anyone for this reason. That said, I’ve become quite invested in Tennison’s character and find myself hoping that she finally gets the recognition she deserves. Recommended…with caution.

Thank you to TLC Book Tours for providing me the opportunity to review this series of books. Please check out the tour page for the other stops in this tour.

Posted in Harper Books, Mystery/Suspense, Review | 7 Comments

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading This Week?

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Jenn

a1

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading This Week? This is a weekly event to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finish this week. It is hosted by Sheila from One Person’s Journey Through a World of  Books so stop by and join in!

Books Completed Last Week

The Baker’s Daughter by Sara McCoy (review)
Taken by Robert Crais (review)
Prime Suspect by Lynda La Plante
Prime Suspect 2: A Face in the Crowd by Lynda La Plante

Currently Reading

Defending Jacob by William Landay
King of Plagues by Jonathan Maberry (audio)
The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey

Books to Complete This Week
A Good American by Alex George

What are you reading this week?

Posted in It's Monday What Are you Reading This Week | 3 Comments

TSS: Catching Up on Life

Posted on January 29, 2012 by Jenn

I’ve been traveling a bit for work (two trips in two weeks) so I feel I’ve been missing out a bit on life. I don’t have to travel again for another week and a half so I’m hoping to catch up/reunite myself with all the things I love in that time.

The plus of traveling is all the time to read on the plane.  Here is just a snippet of some of the books I’ve read in the past few weeks:

These are just the books I’ve reviewed; I’m still trying to put into words my feelings about The Snow Child; it’s truly a uniquely powerful book, a type that we as readers don’t often come across.

I’ve started planning a cozy-mystery feature week which will take place in May. I pushed it back a bit, preventing any conflicts with other similar events. If you are interested in participating (as an author or reader) feel free to get in touch with me. I’ll also be adding a sign-up sheet as we get closer to the date.

Ok, I’m off to reunite myself with my life. Enjoy!

 

Posted in The Sunday Salon | 4 Comments

Frightful Friday: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Jenn

Frightful Friday is a weekly meme in which I feature a particularly scary or chilling book that I’ve read that week. Feel free to grab the button & join in!

This week’s featured book is Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake:

  • Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  • Hardcover: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Tor Teen; First Edition edition (August 30, 2011)
  • ISBN-10: 0765328658
  • Source: Publisher

Theseus Cassio (Cas) Lowood is a ghost hunter, a trade he inherited when his father was brutally killed by a ghost he was chasing. Armed with his father’s powerful athame (a knife that is able to “kill” ghosts), Cas and his mother travel around the country on the hunt for evil spirits.

Cas’ latest “case” brings him to Thunder Bay, Ontario, on the hunt for a ghost referred to as Anna Dressed in Blood. She was killed in the late 1950s and now haunts her former home, killing whomever crosses the threshold. She still wears the same white dress she wore when she died, now dripping in blood. Anna has quite the reputation as a pretty serious and dangerous ghost, killing dozens of people each year. Cas doesn’t get just how dangerous she is until he witnesses one of these deaths. Not a pretty picture, to say the least. Yet he’s the only person alive who has lived through a sighting of Anna. For some reason, she spares his life.  This first time, at least.

Before he can put an end to Anna’s murderous rage, he must find out the cause of her death, the motive behind her anger. Along the way, he becomes fascinated, almost obsessed with her. With the help of a handful of his classmates, this motley crew of ghost hunting teens devises a plan to trap Anna and rid this small town of her evil acts.

Overall, I enjoyed Anna Dressed in Blood.  Blake provides a fairly unique story. Definitely a spooky tale; I found myself scared several times. While classified as a book appropriate for ages twelve and up, I’d be reluctant to allow my twelve year old to read it. There is a good amount of swearing. I’m talking the f-bomb, so not on the light end of the swearing spectrum. Additionally, there is a good deal of gore, not for the weak of stomachs.

What I definitely did not like about this book was the romance. It frustrates me that, as of late, all YA has to have some sort of romance happening. I’m not certain if that’s what gets young adults to read this sort of book or, thanks to Twilight, authors feel they must add an injection of love to anything they write geared toward teens. In the case of Anna Dressed in Blood, I think it was forced, unnatural, and quite frankly, a little eerie.

That said, if this is something you don’t have objection to or an issue with, this is definitely a book I would recommend. Despite my issues with this book,  I’m looking forward to the next book in this series, Girl of Nightmares, due out in August.

 

Posted in Frightful Friday, Horror, Review, Tor Books, YA | 4 Comments

Review: Taken by Robert Crais

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Jenn

  • Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  • Hardcover:352 pages
  • Publisher:Putnam Adult (January 24, 2012)
  • Source: Publisher

Krista is a first generation Hispanic-American.  When she goes off on a trip with her boyfriend and doesn’t return when planned, her mother doesn’t worry. Nor does she worry when she receives a call demanding money for her daughter’s release.  She assumes her daughter has run off with her boyfriend, Jack, and gotten married. When days go by with no word from Krista and reluctant to call the authorities, she calls Elvis Cole, whom a recent newspaper article refers to as the “World’s Greatest Detective.”

Cole soon learns that Krista and Jack have unwittingly gotten mixed up in an illegal immigration ring. Coyotes, individuals who require immigrants to pay exorbitant amounts of money to cross into the States, often are preyed upon by Bajadores, criminals who attack other criminals. These bajadores kill the coyotes and hold the immigrants hostage until their families are able to pay the ransom. Some families are able to pay the ransom  while others have already given everything they have to get their loved ones across the border. In this world of illegal immigration, no lives are safe. Oftentimes, once the bajadores receive their money they kill their hostages anyway, having no reason to let them go free.

Cole, realizing what danger Krista and Jack are in, immerses himself into this incredibly dangerous crime world and is taken hostage himself. His partner and friend, Joe Pike, scrambles to rescue Cole (as well as Krista and Jack) before it’s too late.

Taken is the 15th book of the Elvis Cole/Joe Pike series and Crais’ skill at pulling at the heartstrings of readers while simultaneously making their heart race is tremendous. I was quite impressed at Crais’ unique take on illegal immigration, a side of a dangerous trade that we don’t often learn about. It’s not frequent that we are exposed to a world so deadly and unforgiving.

The one thing that I feel affected the pacing of this book in particular was the timeline; rather than telling what took place in a linear timeline, Crais jumps around, some chapters before and others after Cole is taken. I found myself flipping back to the beginning of the chapter to remind myself of the timing of that particular chapter. Ultimately, it wasn’t that big of a distraction; after I was in a few chapters I was able to pick up on the jagged timeline.

As with his past books, Crais allows us to see a softer side of his seemingly strong characters. After Cole is taken, Pike feels vulnerable, void of control over what happens to Cole. He immerses himself in things that he does have control of, but seems quite out of place an inappropriate given what is going on around him, like feeding Cole’s cat.  This sense of vulnerability in Pike is heartwarming; while the two friends/partners are tough-skinned there really is a deep friendship there.

Fans of Crais’ writing (known as Craisies) will once again be rewarded with another stellar Pike/Cole novel.  Those new to the series won’t be lost if this book is their first introduction to this dynamic duo, but I warn you: you’ll want to go back and read all the previous books in the series as I did when I read my first book. Additionally, in Taken, Crais brings back characters from previous books, characters I hope to read more about in the future. Highly recommended.

Posted in Mystery/Suspense, Putnam, Review, Thriller | 6 Comments

Review: The Baker’s Daughter by Sarah McCoy

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Jenn

  • Hardcover: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Crown (January 24, 2012)
  • ISBN-10: 0307460185
  • Source: Publisher (via Netgalley)

Germany, 1945: Elsie Schmidt is relatively secluded from the dangers of the world, thanks to a high-ranking Nazi officer who wishes to marry her. On Christmas Eve the facade begins to fade, two separate incidents cracking the shell that has surrounded her for so long. 

El Paso, TX Present time: Reba Adams is working on an up-beat, feel-good, Christmas piece for a local magazine.  She’s been attempting to secure an interview with the owner of a local German bakery for some time. She’s relatively new to El Paso, her difficult childhood has left her unable to settle down in one location for too long. Her fiance, Riki Chavez, works as a Border Patrol agent.

When Reba is finally able to meet the owner of Elsie’s German Bakery, the relationship takes an unexpected turn.  She begins making repeated visits, Elsie and her daughter Jane become integral parts of Reba’s life. Through her conversations with Elsie, Reba learns of the darker times of Elsie’s childhood, the circumstances that brought her to El Paso, seemingly an entirely different world as compared to Nazi Germany.  While the two aren’t necessarily the same, they share similar components.  Still, the difficulties that Riki deals with as a border agent pale in comparison to what Elsie dealt with as a young woman in Germany. Her stories of her sister Hazel’s sacrifices in the name of  the Fatherland are heartbreaking, almost unbelievable.  It is with Elsie that Reba deals with the often hidden truths of the pasts and discovers the importance of forgiveness.

The Baker’s Daughter is a truly beautiful story of two women, separated in age by decades, who really aren’t that different at all. Coinciding with the stories of these two women are the difficult topics of cultural inclusion (and exclusion), a topic that is very timely in our country at this time.  Elsie is a an incredibly brave and selfless individual, the transition the reader sees in her as a young woman into a business woman in El Paso is tremendous. Thanks to Reba, Elsie opens up about her past, sharing with her daughter, Jane, secrets long buried.

I’d be remiss not to mention the food aspect of this book. Elsie’s family, the Schmidts, are a family of bakers whose shop barely survived the War. The reader is teased by discussions of delicious German pastries and baked goods, ultimately rewarded with recipes at the book’s conclusion. A woman of German heritage myself, the food, the terms of endearment, the history this family shared brought back fond memories of my own.

McCoy paints a very honest and obviously quite well-researched story about how unveiling the past can help those in the present, how past traumas can be used as moments of inspiration and growth. The Baker’s Daughter is a story that I will forever cherish, a story that sparked hours of discussion with my husband (a history buff), a truly inspirational tale.  Highly recommended.

 

Posted in Crown Books | Tagged , | 14 Comments