The Changing Season: A Novel by Steven Manchester

The Changing Season: A Novel. Steven Manchester. The Story Plant. February 2016. 276 pp.  ISBN#: 9781611882261.

Billy was a typical Senior in high school, about to graduate, planning to go to college but totally oblivious as to what he was to study or do with the rest of his life.  His one obsessive love is his elderly dog, Jimmy, with whom he shares camping and other adventures.  Billy and his friends, Charlie and Mark get together frequently in Billy’s smelly, unkempt bedroom to play video games.  They are quite content.  Charlie and Mark have college plans for the future and are thinking of careers.  Billy seems totally out of the loop – at first!

The night of graduation, the key note speaker insists that the students will have to face the responsibility and consequences of their actions and decisions; Billy heard it all as more “blah, blah, blah,” never realizing his world was about to change.

Billy accepts a job as an assistant in a dog shelter which he enjoys due to the help and conversations he has with a mentor there. She’s realistic without being preachy which clears the way for Billy to truly “listen.”  On the other hand, Billy’s friend, Charlie, isn’t listening to anyone and he really needs to take advice.  In a fit of rage and jealousy, he acts out a rash action which shatters the world of a family.  Rather than tell the truth, Charlie buries himself in self-pity and fear.  While that happens, Billy finally meets a girl, Vicki, with whom he wholeheartedly falls in love.  She changes his world over the summer, but Billy is broken when an act of omission on his part makes Vicki drop him like a hot potato.

One could say more, but this is too amazing a story to ruin by dropping plot snippets.  Suffice to say, this is, like all of Steven Manchester’s novels, a terrific read.  While there is a somewhat contrived quality to the story, one still roots for the major and minor characters and is always deeply moved by the challenges and outcomes therein. Readers will love and recommend this story of love, loyalty, betrayal and truth!

The Widow: A Novel by Fiona Barton

The Widow: A Novel.  Fiona Barton. Penguin Group (USA). February 2016. 336 pp.  ISBN#: 9781101990261.

Jean Taylor’s husband, Glen, died very recently.  Since then, Jean’s been hiding out at home, a fearful, shaking, exhausted woman who dare not open the door to any of these vulture reporters who smell a harrowing story that will thrill the public and yield even more stories.  None of them are allowed entry, until Jean finds she has silently welcomed tabloid reporter, Kate Waters, into her living room.  Kate has a homey style that comforts Jean, makes her feel that out of everyone Kate would understand. Still, Jean isn’t talking at all.  Kate manages to get Jean out of her home and into a hotel, hoping that a new place will allow her to rest and eventually loosen up enough to talk about her late husband, Glen. 

Detective Inspector Bob Sparkes has a different case plaguing his mind.  A little girl, Bella Elliott, was playing in her front yard one minute and the next minute was gone.  The police haven’t been able to find two year-old little girl since her disappearance in 2006 in Southampton, England; and now four years later after innumerable conversations with Jean Taylor, the truth is about to be told.

Glen Taylor was the suspect at the time of the kidnapping but his wife Jean believed his denial of the crime.  This is truly a psychological crime novel and Jean is a pathetically timid wife who lives her life to please her husband, obeys his every suggestion as well as command, and fears his disapproval although he has never hit her or abused her in any way.  When he’s home, he spends a great deal of time working on his computer, but Jean has no idea what that work actually involves.  She herself works as a hairdresser in a beauty salon, a job that doesn’t thrill her very much.  So Glen is her world – a world that is about to come crashing down with mind-numbing truth and identity-crushing reality!

The Widow: A Novel is a very nicely plotted first thriller story by Fiona Barton!  The character studies say it all!

The Vatican Princess: A Novel of Lucrezia Borgia by C. W. Gortner

The Vatican Princess: A Novel of Lucrezia Borgia.  C. W. Gortner. Ballantine Books/Penguin Random House LLC, New York. February 2016. 400 pp.  ISBN#: 9780345533975.

The Borgias: ruthless, perverted, calculating, infamous!  Lucrezia describes the infamy as a “poison in our blood.”  Some would say the family of Lucrezia was cursed. However, C. W. Gortner, after meticulous research, clearly places Lucrezia in the middle of a fictional world where her father, Rodrigo, bribes his way to the papacy as Pope Alexander VI and her mother Vannozza appears for the bounty to follow.  The whole family seems anxious to marry Lucrezia off to Spain despite the fact that she is really but a child entering her teens, not yet become a “blooded” woman.  So who is this young woman: saint, sinner or both?  We watch this woman brutally pass from the world of her father’s innocent adoration to eventually realizing just how severely her brothers hate each other and how manipulative her own father was and is in the late 15^th Century. Indeed, each member of this family, including the Pope’s mistress, make their own disasters!

The hatred between Juan and Cesare clearly parallels the larger turmoil raging across Europe as Spain and France look for the opportunity to invade Italy and destroy the Borgias.  Even the cities within Italy are constantly waging civil war and seeking foreign assistance to victory.  But the spoils of victory are not necessarily true for the Borgias as the Pope is always borrowing to escape looming debt and bankruptcy of the Vatican.  Lucrezia’s first husband, a Sforza, has little money but large expectations; as the reality looms, his true nature is cruelly revealed to Lucrezia along with that of her brother Juan.  Shocking scenes are the norm herein but one finds it impossible to stop flipping pages and wondering what in heaven will happen in this hellish Vatican world.

Murder, rape, theft and so much more follow within each new chapter.  Lucrezia will briefly find great love in her second husband, Alfonso, but her own treacherous silence will test that relationship to the maximum level! 

Juan, who is worshipped by his father, trusts no one and reveals a force of cruelty and perversion that makes him totally unlikeable and perpetually mistrusted. Cesare, who moves quickly from priest to Cardinal, would rather be a warrior for he also lusts for battle and vengeance.  Lucrezia after one particular scene realizes she must stay far away from Cesare.  The results of that scene will shock the reader many times as the complex, insane plot continues. While there is a touch of repetitive snarling throughout the story, there are brilliant and potent quotes to savor and remember.

The Vatican Princess… is a phenomenal and memorable read that will provoke much talk and controversy in the days to come.  Read it and be amazed at the power and depravity of this family that scurrilously left so much pain and passion in its wake.   

Back Blast: A Gray Man Novel by Mark Greany

Back Blast: A Gray Man Novel.  Mark Greany. Penguin Group (USA). February 2016. 528 pp.  ISBN#: 9780425282793.

CIA Operative Court Gentry has been running around the world, trying to evade those who follow him in order to kill him.  Court can’t understand why these people are those whom he used to work with.  Throughout the beginning of the novel, Court replays past cases in his mind, trying to figure out what he did that deserved a termination order. 

Now Court decides to turn it around and pursue those would-be killers, as he’d had to kill those who almost caught him.  Every death has added to his enemy’s determination to finish what they believe is a former agent gone rogue. So imagine their shock when they discover that Court has invaded a drug den in order to obtain the money and weapons he needs for his mission.  The bloody aftermath has the earmarks of his work all over it but in particular a number 6 etched in the dust, a symbol of the agent known as Sierra Six, Six, the Gray Man, or the most commonly used name, Violator.  Now he’s determined to discover his former superiors and colleagues to try to get out of them the reason for this hunt.

On the other side of the coin, we have Denny Carmichael, head of the National Clandestine Services.  He’s on top of the game and only one man is slotted for his job eventually.  Other men know Carmichael controls every agent and circumstances and fear crossing him.  But not one of them knows the real reason Carmichael is determined to end the life of Court.

In the pursuit of his hunt, Court winds up being responsible for killing more agents or former agents, but it also happens that a hidden sniper kills one of them and the news manipulates the account so that Court is blamed.  Court is wounded seriously but manages to patch himself together as he relentless pursues what he now realizes is more about Carmichael than it is Court.  Back Blast was the beginning of a game that stretched all the way to the Middle East and back to Washington, D.C.

Greany, the writer who co-authored many Tom Clancy novels, knows how to spin a riveting, pulse-racing plot that reads much like spy thriller novels of old, like those of Robert Ludlum.  For those who love crime novels or political thrillers, you certainly will be thrilled with this intense, fast-paced thriller fiction!  Good read for sure!

Brotherhood in Death by J. D. Robb

Brotherhood In Death.  J. D. Robb. Penguin Group (USA). February 2016. 400 pp.  ISBN#: 9780399170898.

Dennis Mira and his cousin, the former Senator Edward Mira, don’t have much in common and disagree in just about everything.  Now Dennis is on his way to his late grandfather’s house as he accidentally discovered that his cousin is having a realtor see the house to sell it.  Their grandfather expressly wanted the house to stay in the family; it’s a lovely, carefully decorated home that welcomes all who enter.  When Dennis enters the home, he hears voices and entering the room he sees Edward sitting in a chair with a bloody face. That’s all Dennis remembers as he’s knocked out from the back of his head before he can say one word!

On awakening, Dennis immediately calls the police as Edward is gone and spots of blood are all that remains of the missing Edward.  Now begins a spine-tingling plot as Dennis’s wife, Charlotte Mira, a criminal profiler, and Lieutenant Eve Dallas begin the NYPSD investigation.  Dallas does the majority of the footwork and brainwork about the Mira family and Edward’s female relationships which are highly suspicious, to say the least.

As a former lawyer, Judge and Senator, Edward certainly had plenty of enemies. But Eve is puzzled when Edward turns up no longer missing but very, very dead in a most gruesome manner and indicative of some sexual fury being part of the killing.  Enough said and so far no spoilers!

Eve and her loving partner aren’t married yet but they clearly are deeply in love.  Some of their past history might get in the way of this investigation but one has the feeling that they will work that out together, like they do everything.  In some ways it makes more of a challenge, but in others it helps them figure out the identity of who they will wind up pursuing to bring justice to this case.  No you can’t predict what will happen but will be pleased by the riveting twists and turns as the case progresses.  Oh, and add plenty of dialogue that’s truly comical, with an extra dash of sexy romance!

Brotherhood in Death is a lively, funny, scintillating and brainy mystery or crime thriller that is sure to be a best seller!  Nicely plotted with a bevy of dynamic characters! Enjoy, all!

The Doll's House: A Detective Helen Grace Thriller by J. Arlidge

The Doll’s House: A Detective Helen Grace Thriller.  M. J. Arlidge. Penguin Group (USA).  February 2016. 432 pp.  ISBN#: 9780451475510.

Helen Grace is well-known to mystery and crime novel fans as the author of Pop Goes the Weasel” and now returns in her third thriller story.  Her Southampton job is to find a psychopathic, serial killer who buries his victims on a nearby beach. 

Now Ruth Sprackler had spent the night drinking and never imagined why her captor would kidnap her and hide her in his basement.  She awakens, not knowing where she is or why she is there. The creepiness and pathologically sickening behavior of Ruth’s captor is so intense it elicits intense fear and horror at what is unfolding.  For those who love the thrill of stories such as this one, you will be more than satisfied and frightened.  Ruth believes she will be successful in finding this killer before he kills again, never imagining another victim is coming close to the end of her life.

Before the killer claims his victims in death, he sends cruel texts to family members of his victims.  The torturous nature of this act is almost beyond imagination but is clearly an edge that makes the killer feel powerful beyond words which he expresses as amusement.  Hallmarks of his identity appear and little by little Helen and her team will figure out the sick motivation behind this killer’s devastating acts.

While Ruth is attempting to solve this mystery before more victims are claimed, she has a problem at work.  A change in personnel leaves Detective Ceri Harwood in charge and pulling rank.  Her jealousy is revealed in the way she tries to block Ruth from pursuing this killer even to the point of bribery.

The Doll’s House… is the real deal in thriller fiction and sure to enthrall all lovers of the genre.  Stay tuned for more truly frightening, spine-tingling and adrenalin-pumping thrillers from this highly skilled author, M. J. Arlidge!

Casualties: A Novel by Elizabeth Marro

Casualties: A Novel.  Elizabeth Marro. Penguin Group (USA).  February 2016. 368 pp.  ISBN#: 9780425283462.

Ruth Nolan is an executive in a military defense contractor company.  She’s successful and her biggest worry is her son, Robbie, who is unsure about his future.  Ruth, although truly well-intentioned, is a super-nag!  She doesn’t mean to but can’t seem to control her need to control Robbie’s every step.  She tells him she loves him but Robbie can’t quite feel that through the incessant directions and plans she’s plotting for his life.  So Robbie makes a major decision and carries it out without letting his mother know.  He joins the Marines.  Ruth’s reaction is double-edged.  On the one hand she isn’t worried at all about him now that he’s made plans but the other truly caring side knows he will constantly be in grave danger!  It’s the nightmare military Moms live through on a daily basis.

Meanwhile trouble is brewing at work, big trouble! Without providing a spoiler, it turns out that promises made to military defenders and their families have been ignored to the point where it has become a public scandal.  When Robbie finally returns from serving two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, he’s a different person.  He reaches out first to other relatives, without telling his mother.  When he does appear, Ruth is caught up in a volatile situation at work and after several more attempts Robbie gives up and leaves with an apology note left behind.

This is the story of Ruth’s awakening.  The loss of her son traumatizes her into paying attention to war, the emotional and mental effect of military service on those who serve, the lack of financial, mental and emotional support of the government for those who fight in its name, her own company’s negligence that is far more devastating than just statistics and mistakes indicate. 

We are told, “War is hell.”  However, this is a tale that must be told as numerous men and women return from war broken, forgotten and unsupported.  The questions Ruth asks are so real that it’s painful to read them.  To move beyond reading and to actively make a difference are Ruth’s incentives to the public.  Quietly telling the truth and “being there” in whatever way one responds will make all the difference in the world.  “Thank you for your service” just isn’t enough!  Thanks to Elizabeth Marro for telling it like it is!