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!

The God's Eye View by Barry Eisler

The God’s Eye View.  Barry Eisler. Thomas & Mercer.  February 2016. 374 pp. paperback and e-book. ISBN #: 9781503949614.

NSA Analyst Evelyn Gallagher is divorced and her life revolves around her deaf son, Dash.  She’s very, very good at her job at designing facial recognition and camera recognition programs, but she makes a big but accidental mistake.  She tells the Director of the NSA Program that she’s suspicious that there are others using a different program.  Director Theodore Anders hears her out and offhandedly calms her fears; but later he is determined to have her watched.  Add to that the fact that some investigators and now a journalist have coincidentally and accidentally died, all of them connected with the NSA Program.

It takes quite a while to discover what the God’s Eye program is all about, but Anders is willing to do anything to make sure no one can connect the dots between the separate parts of the program.  Terrorism is widespread throughout the world and Anders believes that unless the American government knows everything that is possibly going on as well as what is really happening, we will be attacked for sure and be losers rather than victors.

Now the tension notches up many levels.  The investigator Manus who is assigned to watch Evelyn finds himself having feelings he hasn’t experienced for years upon years.  He also is deaf because of his father’s abusive, drunken behavior; he’s also a closed book normally to any kind of sentimental feelings. But Dash awakens something gentle and kind and Manus is one notch less of a faithful dog for Anders, something it doesn’t take Manus long to find out.

One investigator passes along the secret to a journalist and things rapidly jettison out of control, with Anders out of control and beginning to make things happen that go way beyond the behavior allowed to an American government worker.  To say more would spoil what is a vibrantly complex but satisfying plot. 

This is a story that could be real in our day as we discover terrorists are now communicating through encrypted messages that not even our government can break and terrorist acts occur that are either directed by ISIS or ISIS-like groups or individuals who are copy-cat terrorists but no less deadly.

Fans of spy or thriller novels will love this novel by a talented and knowledgeable writer, Barry Eisler – nicely done and highly recommended!

Written on My Heart: A Novel by Morgan Callan Rogers

Written on My Heart: A Novel.  Morgan Callan Rogers. Penguin Group (USA).  February 2016. 384 pp.  ISBN#: 9780147517043.

Florine Gilham and Bud Warner have married young and immediately are expecting a baby.  They are deeply in love and that love will be sorely tested through this story.  Two parts of this novel stand out vividly – the depth and richness of this couple’s love and Florine’s intense love for The Point, part of the Maine shoreline, in all of its beautiful, powerful and raging moods as the seasons regularly change. One fact in Florine’s past, however, destroys any peace she finds. 

Years ago Florine’s mother, Carlie, simply disappeared one day.  While Bud believes Florine should put away her worrying and endless preoccupation with the mystery of her mother’s leaving, the reader understands Florine’s obsession.  How could it be otherwise, to lose one’s mother so unexpectedly for no apparent reason? 

Add to the mystery that Florine begins to receive anonymous letters with one or two sentences.  At first Florine begins they are from Carlie but then more messages appear that are threatening.  At Bud’s insistence, Florine turns them over to the town sheriff. 

This young couple struggles with having two very young children and not enough time to love and dream of a better future.  At the same time, Bud begins to question what he’s doing as a car mechanic, seeing no viable future of doing better.  He begins to drink too much and he’s not a nice guy when sloshed. 

Meanwhile there are some odd neighbors who begin to factor into the mystery of Carlie’s absence and the evolution into the truth is intense and eventually quite shocking in its unexpected truth.

Morgan Callan Rogers has written a fine romantic, mystery novel that is earthy in its humor and intensity, while maintaining the puzzling and frightening ambience of emerging mental illness and betrayal.  Very nicely crafted, Ms. Rogers!