Stars Over Sunset Boulevard by Susan Meissner

Stars Over Sunset Boulevard.  Susan Meissner. Penguin Group (USA). January 2016.  400 pp.  ISBN#: 9780451475992.

Christine McAllister discovers a hat that looks familiar.  It is, in fact, a hat worn in the filming of Gone With The Wind in 1938.  She has a strong sense that she needs to return it to its owner and in doing so will learn of a friendship that endured so much mistruth and even accidental betrayal.

Back in 1938 Violet Mayfield has come to Hollywood to escape heartbreak of a lost love, a severe illness and the knowledge she will never get to have the family with children she so desperately longed for. On arrival she immediately meets Audrey Duvall, who is in Hollywood to achieve her movie star dream.  Audrey had once been chosen to be a star in a big film but that movie project was canceled at the last minute.  Now she’s just as determined to attain her dream with hard work and placing herself near those in power who make the decisions on who will be the next big film star.  So far Audrey’s efforts have been in vain.  On meeting Violet at the railroad stations, Audrey and Violet hit it off and decide to become roommates.  Violet brings zest and old Southern comfort food cooking to brighten up Audrey’s bleak days.

Violet and Audrey work as stenographers in the production offices and later get to work on the actual set of Gone With The Wind.  They find plenty of good times after work with an old friend of Audrey, Bert.   Violet will make a huge mistake in trying to connect Audrey with a well-known star, hoping she will be noticed and asked to audition for a role.  Although her effort was totally innocent and loving in intention, it turns out to be a huge mistake that almost destroys their friendship.  Other scenes of an even worse nature will follow which test their relationship to the max.  The family backgrounds of both women, as well, are painful and await reconciliation.

Years later, Bert and Violet are married, happy in their work and taking care of a daughter who calls Violet’s best friend Aunt Audrey.  Secrets will gradually be revealed that will test again relationships, secrets that should have been honestly exposed years earlier.

Stars over Sunset Boulevard is an intense, engaging and riveting novel about what Hollywood offers and the adventure-filled, exciting but costly consequences of entering the limelight of stars, assistants and underlings who work in the evanescent atmosphere of those who yearn for fame.  Be careful, indeed, for what you wish!

Very nicely crafted, Susan Meissner!

This is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

This is Where It Ends.  Marieke Nijkamp. Sourcebooks.  January 2016. 288 pp.  ISBN#: 9781492622468. 

It could happen anywhere and it has happened in far too many places, places where a deeply disturbed individual decides to leave a memorable imprint of a hopeless, damaged person crying out for meaning and dignity.  Noble words to express the deepest hurt and rage imaginable!

This is the scene the reader meets in this intense and poignant story of students in the ironically named Opportunity High School.  Over the next 54 minutes, we will watch Tyler, a seriously troubled student, kill far too many teachers and students at the tail end of the principal’s encouraging speech for the upcoming semester.  It happens gradually and in between the random shots we learn his story, that of his family and those of his acquaintances (since he insists he has no friends).

There’s Tyler’s sister, Autumn who dreams of being a classical dancer and her newly discovered girlfriend, Sylv.  Tomas, Sylv’s brother, and Fareed, an Afghanistan friend, attempt to unlock the chained doors during the disaster.  Claire, Tyler’s ex-girlfriend, believes she’s the one responsible for this disaster and seeks to find a way to break the momentum of his killing.  There’s a young man who’s physically challenged but not pitied enough to avoid being shot.  These and other forceful scenes play out.  Some characters will truly examine the past and attempt to analyze the background of Tyler in order that he might realize they do care.  Some will show troubled backgrounds modified by attempts to reach out to each other in their obvious or partially revealed needs.

In between the account of these terrible hours are snippets of emails being rapidly sent, some caring and concerned, some prurient in their looking to sensationalize what is already beyond the word “sensation.”

The purpose of such a novel is to sensitize readers beyond the horrific events of this day to seeing the lives herein as more than worthy, hurting and therefore in need of being addressed as issues that could just as easily erupt elsewhere.  

A highly commendable and recommended, necessary account!

Crouching Tier: What China’s Militarism Means For The World by Peter Navarro

Crouching Tier: What China’s Militarism Means For The World.  Peter Navarro. Prometheus Books. November 2015. 300 pp.  ISBN#: 9781633881150.

While the world presently is ultra-focused on the global threat of ISIS or ISIL as it is sometimes called, the world is missing the possibly brutal threat of China.  Navarro’s thesis concerns China’s hegemonic desire to become a superpower through its military, economic, and political policies.  According to the author, China will probably succeed until American and Euro policies succeed in addressing this formidable threat.  Readers will find their certainty about America’s superiority challenged and perhaps misunderstood.

It has been repeatedly stated that unless we learn from history, it will repeat itself, perhaps even exceed its own record. One needs then to read and then analyze the theories and facts herein carefully delineated. Every chapter begins with a question and possible answer choices.  It isn’t hard to figure out the answers after a while.  One might respond fearfully unless one thinks about other unknown American policies to contradict the Chinese realities. 

For example, in one chapter we discover that China is seeking to establish military bases throughout Asia, all the way south to Vietnam and Cambodia to counteract the presence of American military bases also throughout Asia.  Combine that with the chapters about the military armaments that both America and China possess, and one realizes there is a massive power struggle playing out.  The question becomes what happens when an accident or first response action occurs and we are on the brink of WWIII?  One can’t ignore the serious possibilities within such scenarios that Navarro predicts might actually occur.

It’s no secret how much American debt is being covered by China. Navarro describes how China is wooing many Asian nations for economic domination and how successful they are in such ventures.  It is even suggested that an economic war might be all that is necessary to control the world.  While America is cutting back on military spending, the needs for more spending are placing America in a precarious position, according to the author.

The author explores all of these areas and even posits possible responses to maintain peace that may help but actually might not change one iota of this chessboard game playing out globally.

Rather than spoil the remaining presentations, this reviewer suggests focus on this nonfiction book might be one of the best things for Americans, especially its politicians and economists, to read. 

Highly recommended reading!

The Forgotten Soldier: A Pike Logan Thriller by Brad Taylor

The Forgotten Soldier – A Pike Logan Thriller.  Brad Taylor. Penguin Group (USA). December 2015. 432 pp.  ISBN#: 9780525954910.

In a heavy-duty fight in Afghanistan, Guy George’s brother, Sgt. First Class Timothy George, is killed. It turns out that Guy’s brother was searching out terrorists but did not anticipate that they would get to him first or why.  Guy receives the material remains of his brother and his entire perspective changes when he finds the pictures of four of the men who were the objects of his brother’s search.  Guy realizes these were the men who directly or indirectly are responsible for his brother’s death, and Guy’s rage is palpable even to the reader. 

Guy belongs to a Task Force that is off the record but approved by a Committee of upper echelon government players, including the President.  The Task Force includes Pike Logan, a friend and brother, no not by blood but by the bonds formed to protect and honor each member of the Team. After talking it over with his Team, Guy realizes that his brother is just another casualty and the American government couldn’t care less. Indeed at a meeting of this Committee, the players on Guy’s Team realize a very harsh reality, several realities in fact.

Greece is collapsing and the rescue of the Euro is paramount to worrying about a fallen soldier!  In fact, there are political machinations occurring, including betrayal by an American Senator.  No spoilers here but no one anticipates that Guy is about to go rogue and an Arab business owner, needed and used but not connected to Arab royalty, tied to his government will go to any length to guarantee their mission which is far from innocent. Will he succeed or be denounced and perhaps assassinated himself should he meet failure. The threats and dangers are vividly obvious!

Into the mix come Guy’s teammates who are trying to stop him and at the same time halt two other missions that may become globally destructive very, very soon.  The pace in this complex plot is relentless, the violence is mind-blowing in its ferocity, and the world of terrorism and assassination is starkly depicted in this all-too-real scenario. The hunter become the hunted and vice versa. 

Get ready for a great read that will keep you up hours past your bedtime and compel you to seek out the other novels of this very talented, skilled writer.  Nicely done, indeed, Brad Taylor and highly recommended novel!

The Song of Hartgrove Hall: A Novel by Natasha Solomons

The Song of Hartgrove Hall: A Novel.  Natasha Solomons. Penguin Random House, LLC. December 2015. 400 pp.  ISBN#: 9780147517593.

Harry Fox-Talbot spends most of his time reliving the years since 1946 when he first met the love of his life, the love who has died a year ago and whom Fox finds it extraordinarily difficult to live without.  Fox’s passion is music but since Edie died he has no incentive to compose, play or even poorly sing anything.  In fact Fox is obviously deeply depressed and stuck in his grieving.

This looming melancholy for the reader ends as Fox shares his memories.  In 1946 their home at Hartgrove Hall, was falling apart and was in such deep financial straits that initially the family decided it must be sold.  However, Fox and his brothers decide they will unite to restore Hartgrove Hall and the accompanying farm to its original splendor.  Into this almost impossibly challenging situation comes Edie, a famous wartime singer.  Fox instantly falls in love with her but her romance seems to grow for Jack.  But Fox is quite oblivious for whom Edie’s attentions are really pining.  Thus he escapes Hartgrove Hall, abandoning his brothers’ project and telling himself that sending money is an equivalent way of helping them to restore their home.  While away he pursues his passion of composing and having orchestras perform the folk tradition oral stories common to the English countryside. For loving your brother’s fiancé is definitely forbidden. Later that reality will change to a need for forgiveness, but the real question is who was responsible for breaking Jack’s heart?

As a mourning widower, Fox has a new project when he discovers that his grandson, Robin, is a four year-old prodigy musical genius.  He can sit down and play absolutely anything on a piano without looking at musical notation.  As the narrator describes these astonishing scenes, the reader can almost hear the music to the point where one is mesmerized by the talent and personality of this young boy and how Fox nurtures it, albeit through many challenging and dire situations.  For Fox is helping Robin to become a decent human being and not just a spoiled brat prodigy.

Fox also takes us back to the intricacies of his development as a composer and the genius behind those who conduct and present those works of beautiful musical art.

The Song of Hartgrove Hall is one of the best novels this reviewer has read.  It highlights both the greatness and smallness of human beings, also introducing the reader to the difficult and glorious moments of composers and musicians, as well as singers.

Highly recommended historical fiction that is absolutely delightful reading!

The Conqueror's Wife: A Novel of Alexander the Great by Stephanie Thornton

The Conqueror’s Wife: A Novel of Alexander the Great.  Stephanie Thornton. Penguin Group (USA). December 2015. 512 pp.  ISBN#: 97800451472007.

What do we truly know about the man, Alexander the Great, who is known as the Macedonian soldier in Greece in the year 330 B.C who evolved into the hero who would “conquer the world?”  Although readers will discover different answers to this question, including the reality of his immense ego, his sexual proclivities, his tendency to over-the-top cruelty within this novel, the vivid depiction of his life is presented by the diverse woman he encountered. This is the unique, powerful and poignant essence of this remarkable novel!

Meet Thessalonike, Alexander’s sister, who wants to travel on campaign.  Her fascination with warfare is evident in the way she obsesses about becoming equal to any of Alexander’s soldiers.  Her Amazon-like sister, Cynnane, finally agrees to train her and succeeds as will be proven in later scenes.  Then there is Drypetis, the daughter of King Darius, who would love to be an engineer rather than someone’s wife.  There’s something noble and dignified in her bearing that demands respect and leads others to bypass her outrageously offensive quips to everyone she meets.  That may soften one iota, however, when she learns to love someone very close to Alexander.  Move on to Roxana, the daughter of a nobleman who beats her at every opportunity. She is determined to marry and possess Alexander.  Her goal eventually becomes maliciously misdirected in scenes that the reader could never have imagined, with dire consequences for everyone in this novel.

Alexander’s general, best friend since childhood, and lover, Hephaestion, is a captivating character who seems the only person who can elicit Alexander’s better self, even sometimes calming him before he can do something that Alexander’s soldiers will not forgive and forget.  He also falls in love with Drypetis but is constantly frustrated that she fails to realize his care and instead regales him with verbal abuse and questions.

Multiple scenes of battles in which Alexander’s genius wins the day are juxtaposed with other stories about tenderness, abominable cruelty, depravity, betrayal, and noble efforts at rebuilding conquered cities abound.  Some minor characters collaborate to effect major changes in both people and places.

This reviewer has the highest respect for Stephanie Thornton, who has graced us with novels about Theodora of Byzantium, the woman in the world of Genghis Khan and his family, and now the woman in Alexander the Great’s world.  The Conqueror’s Wife… is superb historical fiction written by a highly skilled historian/writer who knows her subjects well and excels at presenting intricate and intimate details, personalities, passions and conflicts.  Highly, highly recommended historical fiction meriting numerous accolades!

The Guise of Another by Allen Eskens

The Guise of Another.  Allen Eskens. Prometheus Books. October 2015. 269 pp.  ISBN#: 9781633880764.

Nothing is more embarrassing than being an excellent detective respected by your peers in Minnesota and now shunned.  Alexander Rupert hears kind words from his former peers but the conversation is always laced with the shadow of his awaiting a corruption hearing.  Now he’s working in the Fraud Division and at least he now has a case to sink his teeth into, one to distract him from the tension regarding the charges against him and wondering what his future holds – or doesn’t hold.

Even worse is the fact that his wife treats him like a stranger now, cold and avoiding him on a daily basis.  Is she fooling around with another man?  Rupert fears the worst which makes him even more forlorn. What ever happened to unconditional love and support? At first he spends his days replaying the past, both about the job and his wife. But now he’s got a chance to prove himself and he proceeds, as he always does, with everything he has in his powers and skills.

This then is the story of searching for who stole the identity of James Proctor and then wound up dead.  To say more would be to spoil one tension-riddled story that involves a hit man who seems to have killing in his genetic makeup.  It will be Rupert’s brother who is truly there for the search and then the grand finale of this mystery!

Criminal fiction is often predictable and stereotypical – not so here.  Allen Eskens knows exactly when to lay on the mystery and when to insert scenes of careful thought and planning.  Well done, Allen Eskens – great read for those who love mysteries, adventure and crime stories with a punch!