Genre: Alternate History
Setting: In an alternate version of Earth during the World War II time period.
First Sentence: Lieutenant Commander Matthew Reddy, High Chief of the Amer-i-caan Clan, Supreme Commander (by acclimation) of All Forces United Beneath (or beside) the Banner of the Trees, and Captain of the old Asiatic Fleet four-stacker destroyer USS Walker (DD-163, loved baseball.
This novel is the seventh in Anderson's Destroyermen alternate history series.
The series begins in the Western Pacific at the very start of World War Two. The USS Walker, attempting to evade a Japanese battleship, enters a strange storm cloud. The ship emerges in an alternate version of Earth. There they become involved in a war between two sentient species: the peaceful lemur-like Lemurians and the vicious, reptilian Griks.
At first the destroyermen believe that they are the only humans in this alternate world. They soon discover that the are several different groups of humans who have arrived at different times throughout Earth's history.
As the series has progressed, the scope of the "known" world has widened. At the beginning of this novel the destroyermen have encountered humans from the South American continent westward across the Pacific and Indian oceans to Africa.
Central to the plot of this novel is the battle against the evil Grik. The novel begins slowly as the author reintroduces us to the characters of the novel, where they are, and what they are doing. The Americans and their allies are gathering ships, planes and other technologies for a grand attack. Led by the traitorous Japanese admiral Kukokawa the Grik have been improving their weapons and battle tactics.
When the action of the battle begins, the pace of the novel picks up. Soon the pages fly by. Victory is not assured. It takes the might of the combined allied forces, along with some interesting surprises, to determine the outcome of the battle.
At the end of the novel, Anderson leaves us some interesting clues about several new human, lemurian, and reptilian cultures. Some may be friendly to the allied cause. Some may be friendly to the Grik cause. And some may have their own ideas about conquering the world.
I read this book voraciously. I like Anderson's writing style. The battle scenes are especially interesting to read. I can't wait for the next novel of the series.
If you are interested in the Destroyerman series, I strongly suggest that you begin with the first book: "Into the Storm". There are so many characters that starting in the middle of the series might be confusing.
It's a great well-written series. Check it out!
Check out my eBook!
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Sunday, November 10, 2013
The Ambassador's Wife by Jake Needham
Genre: Thriller
Setting: Singapore and Bangkok
First Sentence: When his cell phone rang, Inspector Samuel Tay considered ignoring it.
Inspector Tay is not your super sleuth detective. He is an overweight middle-aged policeman; an inspector for the Special Investigations Section of the Criminal Investigations Department of the Singapore police.
When a woman is found horribly murdered in an upscale hotel, Inspector Tay recognizes that there is something peculiar about the crime scene. Some one has set up the scene to make it difficult to identify the victim.
Eventually, Tay learns that the victim is the wife of the American ambassador. The Americans pat Tay on the head and tell him that they will handle the investigation. Tay, however, is not the small town policeman the Americans think he is.
When another woman, this time in Bangkok, is murdered in almost exactly the same way, Tay goes to Thailand to investigate.
Working slowly, gathering clues, Tay gets closer and closer to solving the case.
But when Tay's estranged mother dies in New York, the case and her death launch him into a midlife crisis. In the end Tay must decide what is more important: justice or truth?
In Inspector Tay, Needham has created a unique character. I like him. He seems like a real person. He has real problems. He sometimes doesn't know what to do or say. He probably needs to lose weight and stop smoking.
I enjoy Jake Needham's writing. He sticks to the plot. He has believable characters. His style of writing is very readable.
Two thumbs up for a terrific novel.
Check out my eBook!
Setting: Singapore and Bangkok
First Sentence: When his cell phone rang, Inspector Samuel Tay considered ignoring it.
Inspector Tay is not your super sleuth detective. He is an overweight middle-aged policeman; an inspector for the Special Investigations Section of the Criminal Investigations Department of the Singapore police.
When a woman is found horribly murdered in an upscale hotel, Inspector Tay recognizes that there is something peculiar about the crime scene. Some one has set up the scene to make it difficult to identify the victim.
Eventually, Tay learns that the victim is the wife of the American ambassador. The Americans pat Tay on the head and tell him that they will handle the investigation. Tay, however, is not the small town policeman the Americans think he is.
When another woman, this time in Bangkok, is murdered in almost exactly the same way, Tay goes to Thailand to investigate.
Working slowly, gathering clues, Tay gets closer and closer to solving the case.
But when Tay's estranged mother dies in New York, the case and her death launch him into a midlife crisis. In the end Tay must decide what is more important: justice or truth?
In Inspector Tay, Needham has created a unique character. I like him. He seems like a real person. He has real problems. He sometimes doesn't know what to do or say. He probably needs to lose weight and stop smoking.
I enjoy Jake Needham's writing. He sticks to the plot. He has believable characters. His style of writing is very readable.
Two thumbs up for a terrific novel.
Check out my eBook!
Sunday, November 3, 2013
King's Gold by Michael Jecks
Genre: Historical Mystery
Setting: England, 1326 - 1327
First Sentence: Matteo di Bardi hurried up the lane.
This novel is the twenty-eighth in Jeck's Knights Templar mystery series.
King Edward II of England has been deposed. England is in turmoil. Some want to return Edward to the crown because he is God's anointed king. Some want his son to be crowned the new king. Many are angry at Edward because of his relationship to Sir Hugh le Dispenser. And some are looking to enrich themselves by gaining control over the king's gold.
As this novel develops, Jecks introduces a large cast of characters. There are the Florentine bankers who are trying to appease both sides of the conflict. Then there is the henpecked carter and his shrewish wife. Also, there are several knights and men-of-war who want to free Edward and return him to the crown. And there are those who wish to end the wars and bring peace to England.
The novel follows the various characters. Eventually, the plot brings them to Berkley castle where Edward is imprisoned. Along the way several of Jecks' newly created characters are murdered. There is not much mystery to these killings. We know or can quickly deduce who the murderers are.
The main characters of the series, Sir Baldwin and Simon Puttock, do not make their entrance until the eighth chapter. They are mostly concerned with protecting Edward.
In my opinion, this novel is not a mystery. It is a well written historical novel about an interesting time in English history. I was disappointed that Sir Baldwin and Simon had such small roles in the plot.
The introduction of so many new characters made the beginning of the novel a little hard to follow.
I enjoy Jecks' writing style. So I enjoyed reading this novel. I think a reader new to this series might enjoy this book as an introduction to the series since it does not rely much on the action in previous novels.
Check out my eBook!
Setting: England, 1326 - 1327
First Sentence: Matteo di Bardi hurried up the lane.
This novel is the twenty-eighth in Jeck's Knights Templar mystery series.
King Edward II of England has been deposed. England is in turmoil. Some want to return Edward to the crown because he is God's anointed king. Some want his son to be crowned the new king. Many are angry at Edward because of his relationship to Sir Hugh le Dispenser. And some are looking to enrich themselves by gaining control over the king's gold.
As this novel develops, Jecks introduces a large cast of characters. There are the Florentine bankers who are trying to appease both sides of the conflict. Then there is the henpecked carter and his shrewish wife. Also, there are several knights and men-of-war who want to free Edward and return him to the crown. And there are those who wish to end the wars and bring peace to England.
The novel follows the various characters. Eventually, the plot brings them to Berkley castle where Edward is imprisoned. Along the way several of Jecks' newly created characters are murdered. There is not much mystery to these killings. We know or can quickly deduce who the murderers are.
The main characters of the series, Sir Baldwin and Simon Puttock, do not make their entrance until the eighth chapter. They are mostly concerned with protecting Edward.
In my opinion, this novel is not a mystery. It is a well written historical novel about an interesting time in English history. I was disappointed that Sir Baldwin and Simon had such small roles in the plot.
The introduction of so many new characters made the beginning of the novel a little hard to follow.
I enjoy Jecks' writing style. So I enjoyed reading this novel. I think a reader new to this series might enjoy this book as an introduction to the series since it does not rely much on the action in previous novels.
Check out my eBook!
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