I will be the first to admit that I am not one of the most well-read book readers. I know very little of great literature other than the books I had to read for school. So, when The Gilded Chalet by Padraig Rooney came in the mail, I was not sure what to think. Once I started reading the book, however, I grew to enjoy its excerpts from great Western writers and its history of those writers in Switzerland and the world.
What Kisor offers is a police procedural/mystery with an interesting hook and the people, history and culture of the Upper Peninsula as a setting and important background. Having gotten to know Steve MArtinez and his world it is easy reading to slip back into that world and watch as he tackles the latest mystery (while juggling the politics of being a county sheriff not to mention a relationship).
Pharaoh Tamose lies mortally wounded. The ancient city of Luxor is surrounded, All seems lost. Taita, advisor to the Pharaoh, prepares for the enemy’s final, fatal push. The ex-slave, now general of Tamose’s armies, is never more ingenious than when all hope is dashed. And this is Egypt’s most desperate hour.
Let's take a quick look back at 2016 as it pertains to books. My year in books as it were. For this post I just want to take a high level look. In a separate post I will get into favorite books of the year.
The Fate of the Tearling by Erika Johansen, the last book in the Tearling trilogy, finishes the series with a bang and twist. It is just as good, maybe better, as the other two books in the series. From the publisher: In less than a year, Kelsea Glynn has transformed from a gawky teenager into a powerful monarch. As she has come into her own as the Queen of the Tearling, the headstrong, visionary leader has also transformed her realm. In her quest to end corruption and restore justice, she has...
Bernard Cornwell’s The Flame Bearer is the tenth book in the Saxon Tales series. It is as well-written as the previous nine books. Here is a summary from the publisher: Britain is in a state of uneasy peace. Northumbria’s Viking ruler, Sigtryggr, and Mercia’s Saxon Queen Aethelflaed have agreed a truce. And so England’s greatest warrior, Uhtred of Bebbanburg, at last has the chance to take back the home his traitorous uncle stole from him so many years ago—and which his scheming...
I usually stray away from noir-themed books due to their very nature, but this book intrigued me based on the plot. Like all noir novels, this is a bleak and depressing story. Despite the very dark nature, Garnier writes beautifully. He captures the scenes in the book perfectly by allowing the reader easily visualize the scenes.
Khadra captures Turambo's guttural feelings for his surroundings - whether they are in the ring entertaining Europeans or in the brothel. Her descriptions leap from the page and engage the reader. A good look at colonial Algeria from the perspective of an Arab-Berber.
Through the loss of his friends and the loss of his sight, Snyder comes away a stronger and better person. His will to overcome his disability led him to the U.S. Paralympic Team and reconnected him to his love of swimming. A truly inspirational story.
It is great blend of urban fantasy, police procedural, and mystery. Peter Grant is a strong lead character but there is a nice mix of secondary characters, including London itself, and with enough action to keep the plot moving. Highly entertaining.
