Guest Review: The Spy Across the Table

Summary: In this exciting international thriller featuring Japanese antiques art dealer and PI Jim Brodie, a double-murder at the Kennedy Center forces Brodie into a dangerous game of espionage—putting him in the crosshairs of the Chinese, North Korean, and American governments.

Jim Brodie is an antiques dealer, Japan expert, and second-generation private investigator. When two theater friends are murdered backstage at a Kennedy Center performance in Washington, DC, he’s devastated—and determined to hunt down the killer. He’s not the only one.

After the attack, Brodie is summoned to the White House. The First Lady was the college roommate of one of the victims, and she enlists Brodie—off the books—to use his Japanese connections to track down the assassin. Homeland Security head Tom Swelley is furious that the White House is meddling and wants Brodie off the case. Why? For the same reason a master Chinese spy known only as Zhou, one of the most dangerous men alive, appears on the scene: Those murders were no random act of violence.

Brodie flies to Tokyo to attend the second of two funerals, when his friend’s daughter Anna is kidnapped during the ceremony. It is then Brodie realizes that the murders were simply bait to draw her out of hiding. Anna, it seems, is the key architect of a top-secret NSA program that gathers the personal secrets of America’s most influential leaders. Secrets so damaging that North Korea and China will stop at nothing to get them.

Publishers Weekly said, “Readers will want to see more of the talented Jim Brodie,” and The Spy Across the Table is an edge-of-your-seat thriller in Barry Lancet’s wildly popular and highly acclaimed series. -- Simon & Schuster

Booking Pap Pap is in Florida for winter and it seems like he's finally having some time to read! The latest novel is THE SPY ACROSS THE TABLE by Barry Lancet, and it sounds like it was a good one. I think he's read a few in this series and he seems to enjoy the writing and character development. Here are his thoughts:

THE SPY ACROSS THE TABLE is Barry Lancet's fourth book in his series featuring private investigator/antique dealer Jim Brodie as the main character. In this edition two of Brodie's friends, Mikey Dillman and Sharon Tanaka, are murdered during a Kabuki presentation at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Brodie feels some responsibility to track down the killer since he had arranged the meeting between his two friends. When Sharon's daughter, Anna, is abducted at her mother's funeral, Brodie realizes that the original killings were not a random act of violence. Anna is a software genius working for the NSA and holds many military and security secrets that would be of interest to enemies of the United States. Brodie's mission now changes. He must find Anna and safely return her to her family. Against his better judgement, Brodie finds it necessary to work with the U.S. government.

As in other Lancet novels, Brodie confronts several gangsters and spies. In this case he runs into Japanese gangs, a Chinese spy and unfriendly Homeland Security foes. Brodie travels from Washington to Japan to South Korea to North Korea to China as he follows the trail to Anna's whereabouts. In his pursuit of Anna, Brodie puts himself into a precarious situation and puts his life in real danger.

As with other novels of the series, Lancet includes great character development, a lot of great fight scenes and good old fashioned detective work. In THE SPY ACROSS THE TABLE, Lancet deals with current events including electronic spying and the American, North Korea and China relationships. The author's detail of human trafficking along the Chinese-North Korean border is very informative. Lancet also does his normal good job of providing excellent information on Asian art, history and culture.

THE SPY ACROSS THE TABLE is a timely, intriguing and educational thriller that should be of interest to those who enjoy the thrIller genre.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel and to Booking Pap Pap for his review.

Review: I'll Be Gone in the Dark

Summary: “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark will undoubtedly be stocked in the True Crime section, which is fine, but in so many ways it’s a brilliant genre-buster. It’s propulsive, can’t-stop-now reading, which makes it all too easy to ignore the clean and focused writing.

What readers need to know—what makes this book so special—is that it deals with two obsessions, one light and one dark. The Golden State Killer is the dark half; Michelle McNamara’s is the light half. It’s a journey into two minds, one sick and disordered, the other intelligent and determined. I loved this book.” —Stephen King A masterful true crime account of the Golden State Killer—the elusive serial rapist turned murderer who terrorized California for over a decade—from Michelle McNamara, the gifted journalist who died tragically while investigating the case.

"You’ll be silent forever, and I’ll be gone in the dark."

For more than ten years, a mysterious and violent predator committed fifty sexual assaults in Northern California before moving south, where he perpetrated ten sadistic murders. Then he disappeared, eluding capture by multiple police forces and some of the best detectives in the area.

Three decades later, Michelle McNamara, a true crime journalist who created the popular website TrueCrimeDiary.com, was determined to find the violent psychopath she called "the Golden State Killer." Michelle pored over police reports, interviewed victims, and embedded herself in the online communities that were as obsessed with the case as she was. At the time of the crimes, the Golden State Killer was between the ages of eighteen and thirty, Caucasian, and athletic—capable of vaulting tall fences. He always wore a mask. After choosing a victim—he favored suburban couples—he often entered their home when no one was there, studying family pictures, mastering the layout. He attacked while they slept, using a flashlight to awaken and blind them. Though they could not recognize him, his victims recalled his voice: a guttural whisper through clenched teeth, abrupt and threatening.

I’ll Be Gone in the Dark—the masterpiece McNamara was writing at the time of her sudden death—offers an atmospheric snapshot of a moment in American history and a chilling account of a criminal mastermind and the wreckage he left behind. It is also a portrait of a woman’s obsession and her unflagging pursuit of the truth. Framed by an introduction by Gillian Flynn and an afterword by her husband, Patton Oswalt, the book was completed by Michelle’s lead researcher and a close colleague. Utterly original and compelling, it is destined to become a true crime classic—and may at last unmask the Golden State Killer. -- Harper

When I was in high school and college, I couldn't get enough of true crime books. It doesn't seem like they are quite as popular now or maybe my reading tastes have just changed, but I was so excited to see the buzz for I'LL BE GONE IN THE DARK: ONE WOMAN'S OBSESSIVE SEARCH FOR THE GOLDEN STATE KILLER by Michelle McNamara. I had first heard about this author (and her quest to find the killer) almost two years ago when she unexpectedly died. It was a relatively big story because she was so young and married to the actor/comedian Patton Oswalt.

I'LL BE GONE IN THE DARK tells her story about the exhaustive search Ms. McNamara conducted to find the Golden State Killer. It's been almost thirty years since this man wreaked havoc on California -- first raping and then killing for almost ten years. Ms. McNamara became obsessed with finding out who was responsible for these horrific crimes, and it's an amazing book. One one hand, the crime spree of the Golden State Killer is fascinating (in a horrible way). But equally compelling is Ms. McNamara's story about her desire to solve the crime and the ends she went through to do this. I honestly can say that I've never read a true crime book quite like this... and I mean that in the very best possible way.

I'LL BE GONE IN THE DARK is definitely a must-read for fans of true crime and mysteries. Ms. McNamara not only conducted some amazing research on these crimes and the suspects, but she also presented the stories (both the criminal's and hers) in a well-written and cohesive way. There is no doubt that she was a talented writer, but I think it was her honesty and passion that made this book so special. Unfortunately, she died before she could finish writing it, but her lead researcher and colleague pieced some chapters together; and it made the book even more intriguing... in an odd way.

I totally understood Ms. McNamara's sheer determination to find the killer and how she became obsessed with it. It's hard to believe that for thirty years this criminal has gotten away with these crimes, and I know that it's not just Ms. McNamara who has been driven to solve these crimes. Keep in mind that DNA testing wasn't possible thirty years ago, and some of the testing they had was less than accurate. I thought the explanation of the investigative methods thirty years ago versus what is available today was fascinating. I'd like to think that it wouldn't be possible for someone like the Golden State Killer to elude law enforcement now, but who would think that this killer could have wreaked so much terror without being found even back then?

I highly recommend I'LL BE GONE IN THE DARK for fans of true crime and memoirs. It's a very well written story about two obsessive minds that is absolutely fascinating.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.

Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read.

Kid Konnection: The Boo-Boos That Changed the World

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week I'm going to share with you a very fun and interesting picture book!

Summary: Did you know Band-Aids were invented by accident? Earle Dickson's wife would often cut her fingers while working around the house. As the son of a doctor, Earle set out to create an easier way for her to bandage her injuries. Luckily, he worked for Johnson & Johnson as a cotton buyer. Voila! Band-Aids were born. The end.

Not really! Earle's bosses at the pharmaceutical giant weren't convinced, and it wasn't until the Boy Scouts of America tested Earle's prototype that this ubiquitous household staple was made available to the public. Soon Band-Aids were selling like hotcakes, and the rest is boo-boo history. -- Charlesbridge

THE BOO-BOOS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD: A TRUE STORY ABOUT AN ACCIDENTAL INVENTION (REALLY!) by Barry Wittenstein and illustrated by Chris Hsu is a terrific book that's both fun to read and educational. I never knew the story behind the creation of Band-Aids, but it's one of those neat stories that shows just how creative people can be when they need to solve a problem!

THE BOO-BOOS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD tells the story of Earle Dickson and his wife... and how he invented Band-Aids. Earle's wife was accident-prone. When she was cooking, she often times cut her fingers and had to hold a bandage around the wound. The awkwardness of the bandage made her even more clumsy... causing more accidents. So one day Earle, who worked for a company that manufactured hospital supplies, decided to take adhesive tape and put little small squares of sterile gauze every few inches to create "Band-Aids." Problem solved!

The book then explains how Band-Aids were mass produced and then distributed. It might surprise you that they weren't an overnight sensation. The company even had to give away thousands of Band-Aids (including to our military) before they became a household name. I guess you could say, "the rest is history!"

THE BOO-BOOS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD is a really interesting book about a really interesting invention. I liked learning the background story of this accidental invention, but I also thought the information was presented in a cute way. The author has the book "end" many times, only to have to story continue. It's a funny way to present the information that will keep kids entertained.

In addition, I really enjoyed the historical information in the back of the book. There's an author's note that further explains the history of band-aids as well as the inventor's life. There is also a timeline of Earle Dickson's life and a list of other major medical inventions that occurred in the 1920s and 1930s as well as links to other sites for more on Band-Aids.

If you want even more about THE BOO-BOOS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD and the history of Band-Aids, check out this activity guide and podcast!

Thanks to Blue Slip Media for providing a review copy of this picture book.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Guest Review: Dead Wake

Summary: On May 1, 1915, with WWI entering its tenth month, a luxury ocean liner as richly appointed as an English country house sailed out of New York, bound for Liverpool, carrying a record number of children and infants. The passengers were surprisingly at ease, even though Germany had declared the seas around Britain to be a war zone. For months, German U-boats had brought terror to the North Atlantic. But the Lusitania was one of the era’s great transatlantic “Greyhounds”—the fastest liner then in service—and her captain, William Thomas Turner, placed tremendous faith in the gentlemanly strictures of warfare that for a century had kept civilian ships safe from attack.

Germany, however, was determined to change the rules of the game, and Walther Schwieger, the captain of Unterseeboot-20, was happy to oblige. Meanwhile, an ultra-secret British intelligence unit tracked Schwieger’s U-boat, but told no one. As U-20 and the Lusitania made their way toward Liverpool, an array of forces both grand and achingly small—hubris, a chance fog, a closely guarded secret, and more—all converged to produce one of the great disasters of history.

It is a story that many of us think we know but don’t, and Erik Larson tells it thrillingly, switching between hunter and hunted while painting a larger portrait of America at the height of the Progressive Era. Full of glamour and suspense, Dead Wake brings to life a cast of evocative characters, from famed Boston bookseller Charles Lauriat to pioneering female architect Theodate Pope to President Woodrow Wilson, a man lost to grief, dreading the widening war but also captivated by the prospect of new love. -- Crown

I remember when DEAD WAKE: THE LAST CROSSING OF THE LUSITANIA by Erik Larson came out a few years ago. I immediately thought my dad might enjoy it. Here are his thoughts:

In studying world history in high school I learned that the Lusitania passenger ship was sunk by the Germans on May 7, 1915 and was the cause for the United States entry into World War I. But that's not the whole story. In DEAD WAKE, The Last Crossing Of The Lusitania, author Erik Larson goes into great detail in describing the crossing from New York to Liverpool.

He begins the story by pointing out the warnings that Germany posted in the New York papers the morning the Lusitania was to embark on her voyage. Germany reminded readers of the existence of a war zone and that any ship flying the Flag of Great Britain or its allies is at risk of destruction. Even after receiving information of U-boat activity off the Irish coast, ship captain William Turner assured the passengers that the Lusitania was too fast for any German war vessel and was the safest boat on the sea. Larson goes on to give the reader a history of Captain Turner's career and describes many of the more prominent passengers, mainly Americans, traveling on the Lusitania.

At the same time Larson focuses on three additional story lines. First he gives the the reader an insight into President Woodrow Wilson's state of mind at the time. He had lost his wife within the past year and was now smitten by Edith Galt, who would later become his second wife. Wilson also struggled with maintaining the United States position of neutrality? Larson also focuses on submarine U-20 and it's captain Walter Schwieger. U-20 was the submarine that sunk the Lusitania. Larson provides interesting details on the German U-boat warfare at the time. A third and very interesting story line focuses on Great Britain's codebreakers, referred to in the book as Room 40. At the time they were intercepting all communication to and from Germany's U-boats but were very careful not to release so much information that the Germans would become aware of their activity. In telling these stories Larson switches the scene back and forth from New York to Washington to Berlin to London to submarine U-20 and to the Lusitania.

The author gives the reader dramatic detail of the actual torpedo attack and the chaos that followed. He describes the disasters with safety vests and the launching of the life boats. The Lusitania was only 12 miles from shore and amazingly sunk in less than 20 minutes. The author proceeds to discuss several of the 1198 people (123 Americans) who died and actually provides a few stories about some of the survivors and the aftermath of investigations.

Larson describes many factors that had to come together for this disaster to happen. For example a late start from New York, the calm seas, the reduced speed of the Lusitania and lack of a Royal Navy escort and lack of information from Room 40 warning of the submarine U-20 in its path. Larson presents a theory that the latter two issues may have been purposeful actions to draw the United States into the war. If so, it didn't work since the United States did not enter the war until two years after the Lusitania was sunk.

DEAD WAKE is a well written account of the sinking of the Lusitania and will be of interest to anyone who enjoys reading history.

I was happy to see that there's a reading guide for DEAD WAKE. I don't always find them for history/nonfiction books, but this one sounds like it might be interesting to discuss!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book and to Booking Pap Pap for his review.

Review: Blood Sisters

Summary: Three little girls. One accident. A lifetime of lies. From the bestselling author of MY HUSBAND’S WIFE.

Three little girls set off to school one sunny morning. Within an hour, one of them is dead.

Fifteen years later, Kitty can’t speak and has no memory of the accident that’s to blame. She lives in an institution, unlikely ever to leave. But that doesn’t keep her from being frightened when she encounters an eerily familiar face.

Art teacher Alison looks fine on the surface. But the surface is a lie. She’s struggling to make ends meet and to forget the past. When a teaching job at a prison opens up, she takes it, despite her fears. Maybe this is her chance to set things right. Then she starts to receive alarming notes; next, her classroom erupts in violence.

Meanwhile, someone is watching both Kitty and Alison. Someone who never forgot what happened that day. Someone who wants revenge. And only another life will do. . . -- Pamela Dorman Books

I was excited to read BLOOD SISTERS by Jane Corry. I had enjoyed her earlier novel MY HUSBAND'S WIFE, and I was hoping this one was as good. I thought Ms. Corry did a good job with creating interesting characters as well as weaving a suspenseful story, and I knew this novel had already received some good reviews. 

BLOOD SISTERS tells the story of two sisters and how their lives were forever changed after an accident that occurred 15 years ago. Kitty lives in an institution and can no longer speak or even complete the simplest tasks by herself, and she is hard to control because she's prone to violent fits. She doesn't remember the accident but she does have occasional flashbacks that something bad happened to her... especially when she sees a man that seems kind of familiar.

Meanwhile, her older sister Alison is a struggling art teacher who agrees to take a job in a prison to help pay the bills. She's not exactly comfortable with working with the male prisoners, but she's hoping she can make amends for the accident from her past -- one that she believes she's responsible for. It doesn't take long before she starts getting some scary messages, and then violence breaks out in her classroom. 

Both sisters are still haunted by whatever occurred in the past in very different ways, and it seems like someone doesn't want to let them forget....

All in all, I liked BLOOD SISTERS but I'm not sure I loved it. It was a very well written novel with complex characters but something just didn't resonate with me. (I am definitely the odd one out with these feelings.) It's been a few days since I've finished this book, and I still don't know what my problem was. Honestly, I think I might be in a bit of a reading funk.

Having said that, I did appreciate BLOOD SISTERS and I definitely want to give kudos to the author. Ms. Corry wrote a suspenseful novel with quite a few twists, and I thought the pacing of the story was very good. The two sisters' characters were well developed and very interesting, and their relationship (both in the present and the past) was complex.

One of my favorite things about this novel was Kitty's story. She was a sad character, albeit full of anger and frustration, who wasn't able to really know what happened to her... and definitely wasn't able to communicate what she did remember. Her sister Alison, while guilt ridden about her role in the accident, was actually "happy" that her sister couldn't share what happened. When a new technology became available that might help Kitty remember and communicate better, Alison was obviously nervous. As a reader, I enjoyed how the author built the tension and suspense; and I was anxious to learn the secrets from the past!

When the secrets were finally revealed, it was a bit of a disappointment. I don't mean that in a negative way, but I immediately suspected that there was a bit more to the sisters' story... and actually the novel. I was right! There were a few more twists thrown in and one managed to really catch me by surprise. The story ended up being complicated (in a good way!) and I thought the entire book was  well done.

Fans of suspense and mysteries will enjoy THE BLOOD SISTERS. It's a smart mystery with intriguing characters that should keep most readers guessing until the very end.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.

Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read.

Kid Konnection: Toy Academy

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week I'm going to share with you a fun book for middle grade readers.

Summary: Playing is serious business. Welcome to Toy Academy: where toys learn to play. This is where action figures train to battle, stuffed animals study the art of the hug, and collectibles practice standing very, very still.

Though Grumbolt isn't really any of those things, he's determined to fit in. But when the Evil Toy Academy threatens to bring down his school, it's up to Grumbolt to go where no good toy has gone before and prove he's truly a great toy after all.

This laugh–out–loud chapter book by Brian Lynch, the writer of Minions and a writer of The Secret Life of Pets, is a classic in the making. -- Scholastic

I have to admit that the gift box that came with the book TOY ADADEMY: SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED by Brian Lynch and illustrated Edwardian Taylor was absolutely adorable. It included a yoyo, lego bricks, a slinky, and a colorful lollipop. I figured it the promo materials were this fun, then the book had to be too. Hint: it was!

TOY ACADEMY is a fantastic new book written by a screenwriter who has worked on some pretty incredible movies including The Secret Life of Pets, Minions, Puss in Boots, and Hop. He has also written some comic books (but I'm not as familiar with them!) It is a hilarious story about a toy academy where toys learn to play. The academy trains action figures so they can battle, stuffed animals so they can hug, and collectibles so they can stand still. Great concept, right?

Grumbolt isn't really certain what type of toy he is. He's kind of a misfit (in the best possible way). A little girl sewed him but he has two different length arms (which make it hard to hug) and two different ears (so he doesn't really fit in with the cats.) He is determined to become the best toy possible for a little kid.

When the Evil Toy Academy starts sabotaging the Toy Academy, Grumbolt wants to help. He decides to sneak into the "evil empire" and save the say... and in the process, be the best toy ever!

I loved TOY ACADEMY. It is the first book in a new series, and I can't wait until the next one! These toys are awesome characters! The book is very funny and even has a few good messages thrown in. It's extremely fast-paced and certain to keep even reluctant readers attentions. It has a fairly large font and lots of adorable illustrations throughout.

The humor in this book is definitely the best part! It's truly a laugh out loud story that even parents will love. In fact, much of the humor is geared towards adults (and might even fly over kids' heads!) I can't rave enough about how creative this book was. The way the author describes these characters is so darn funny. For example, there are wisecracking jokes about the quality of the plastic as well as how long it takes for a transformer-like toy to switch to its other mode.

I loved TOY ACADEMY as a book but I also think this book would make an excellent movie -- let's hope! Highly recommended to middle grade readers!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book (and the fun toys!)

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Guest Review: The Whites

Summary: Back in the 1990s, when Billy Graves worked in the South Bronx as part of an anti-crime unit known as the Wild Geese, he made headlines by accidentally shooting a ten-year-old boy while stopping an angel-dusted berserker in the street. Branded as a cowboy, Billy spent years in one dead-end posting after another. Now in his early forties, he is a sergeant in Manhattan Night Watch, a team of detectives that responds to all felonies from Wall Street to Harlem between one a.m. and eight a.m.

Billy’s work is mostly routine, but when Night Watch is called to the four a.m. fatal slashing of a man in Penn Station, his investigation moves beyond the usual handoff to the day shift. And when he discovers that the victim was once a suspect in an unsolved murder—a brutal case with connections to the former members of the Wild Geese—the bad old days are back in Billy’s life with a vengeance. -- Picador

Booking Pap Pap is spending the winter in Florida and he's managing to get a little reading done. One book that he recently read has been out for a few years, but it sounds like it was worth the wait.  It's called THE WHITES by Richard Price; and it has won lots of awards including an NPR Best Book of the Year, a New York Times Book Review Notable Books of the Year, a Washington Post Best Books of the Year, an Amazon.com Best Books of the Year, and an L.A. Times Book Prize - Finalist. It sounds like Booking Pap Pap agrees. Here are his thoughts:

THE WHITES is an entertaining story about police work in New York City. Story begins when lead character Sergeant Billy Graham is sent to investigate a slasher case at Penn Station. Graham runs the night watch, a shift that runs from midnight to 8 am. He typically files his paperwork and turns the cases over to the daylight shift, never to be involved again.

But this case is different. Billy recognizes the victim from his days as a member of the Wild Geese in the mid-1990s before he accidentally killed a young boy and sent his career into a downward spiral. The Wild Geese was a self proclaimed name for seven young, bold cops serving in the South Bronx. The victim was Jeffrey Bannon, a criminal referred to as a White by the Wild Geese. They define a White as one who committed a major crime on their watch and never faced justice. It seems each member is haunted by a personnel White even in retirement. The case spurs Graves to renew contact with the 4 remaining Wild Geese, all retired and active in other occupations. When other Whites begin to perish, Graves begin thinking about the possibility of vigilante justice and is torn as to what to do about it.

The author presents a second narrative that pits Detective Milton Ramos against Graves. They don't know each other but Ramos poses a threat to Graves' family over an incident with his wife many years ago. The storyline builds as Ramos starts playing subtle games with various family members and gradually increases the pressure until he and Graves end up in a confrontation. Author Richard Price writing as Harry Brandt blends the two storylines nicely by using alternating chapters to bring both narratives along simultaneously. The reader gets a good understanding of the pressures building in Graves.

 THE WHITES is a very realistic depiction of the work of policemen. The reader is confronted with the reality that the police work in a very ugly world, and it's not unrealistic to assume some of that ugliness remains with the police. In addition to the police drama, the author utilizes great dialog, good character development, surprises, and some humor to deliver a very entertaining story.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel and to Booking Pap Pap for his review.