Genre: Historical Mystery
Setting: Egypt, 77 AD
First Sentence: They say that you can see the lighthouse from thirty miles away.
This novel is the nineteenth in Davis's Marcus Didius Falco mystery series.
Alexandria, Egypt was a popular tourist destination in 77AD. It was famous for its lighthouse, and for its Great Library. Nearby, were the pyramids. The library was part of a great center for learning. Students and teachers came from all parts of the Roman Empire to learn and teach in Alexandria.
Marcus Didius Falco and his family are in Alexandria on a sightseeing trip. His pregnant wife, Helena, wants to see the pyramids while she still can travel. They will be staying at the home of Falco's uncle. On their arrival, Falco's uncle throws a great banquet. The guest of honor is the Chief Librarian of the Great Library.
The very next day the Librarian is found dead in his office. Falco feels that he should investigate because the Librarian has died ingesting toxic oleander leaves. And the night before, Falco's family had given him a garland made of oleander blossoms.
During his investigation, Falco discovers that everyone seems to think that he is working for the Emperor. To be sure, Falco has worked for the Emperor in the past. And he is not above letting people believe that he is working for the Emperor now - even if it's not true.
Falco soon finds out the the library is a morass of double-dealing, back-stabbing, murder, and theft. No one will give him a straight answer. But Falco knows that something illegal is going on. To make matters worse, Falco's father shows up. Soon he and Falco's uncle become entangled in the dirty dealings.
Some of the clues that Falco uncovers could point back to Falco's father, uncle, or Falco himself.
Will Falco be able to unravel the complex knot of clues and find out what is really going on in the library?
The ancient city of Alexandria serves as an exotic background for this mystery novel. As Falco works gathering clues, we get a tour of the city and its grand edifices. Davis describes the beauty of the library, the temples, and the city itself.
The plot of the mystery is somewhat confusing with a long list of characters with exotic Roman, Greek, and Egyptian names.
Never the less, I always enjoy a visit with Falco and his unique family. And, Falco's wife Helena gets my vote for the most trusting, understanding, and supportive wife ever!
Alexandria
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Monday, January 14, 2013
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Mike Reads The 2012 Reviews by Me!
I just published a collection of my book reviews from last year on Kindle.
You can find it at http://tinyurl.com/a86hyer
Check it out! Only $ 0.99. Cheap!
You can find it at http://tinyurl.com/a86hyer
Check it out! Only $ 0.99. Cheap!
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Sometimes You See It Coming by Kevin Baker
Genre: Sports Fiction
Setting: 20th century America
First Sentence: The only one who was there at the beginning, the only one who is always there in the middle of everything, was the Old Swizzlehead, aka Rapid Ricky Falls, who was the closest thing John Barr ever had to a friend.
A few weeks ago, I was prowling through my local used book store when I spotted Kevin Baker's books. All of them intrigued me, so I picked Sometimes You See It Coming because it is his first novel. And boy, was that a great choice. Normally, I don't read sports stories, but this novel was a page turner from the get go.
John Barr is one of the best players to ever play the game. He can hit for power and average. He is a gold glove in the field. He can throw runners out at home plate from the outfield.
Off the field, he is an enigma. He came out of nowhere. He has no friends. He doesn't drink. He doesn't date. and he lives alone. But no one cares, because with him on the team, they are pennant contenders every year.
Then came the horrible year. A new manager has messed up everyone on the team. Except John Barr. With his steady play, the team has fought its way back to the series.
Then a note found in John's deceased mother's papers throws John into a horrible slump.
It's up to a teammate and a reporter to find a way to get John out of his slump, and rescue the series.
I enjoyed how Baker organized this novel like a sports memoir. He skips from person to person as they relate stories from John Barr's life and career. The mystery of Barr's life is slowly revealed. For me, the last few chapters flew by as I read to discover the solution to the mystery, and the results of the the series.
This novel would make a great movie, and it was an entertaining read.
Sometimes You See It Coming
Setting: 20th century America
First Sentence: The only one who was there at the beginning, the only one who is always there in the middle of everything, was the Old Swizzlehead, aka Rapid Ricky Falls, who was the closest thing John Barr ever had to a friend.
A few weeks ago, I was prowling through my local used book store when I spotted Kevin Baker's books. All of them intrigued me, so I picked Sometimes You See It Coming because it is his first novel. And boy, was that a great choice. Normally, I don't read sports stories, but this novel was a page turner from the get go.
John Barr is one of the best players to ever play the game. He can hit for power and average. He is a gold glove in the field. He can throw runners out at home plate from the outfield.
Off the field, he is an enigma. He came out of nowhere. He has no friends. He doesn't drink. He doesn't date. and he lives alone. But no one cares, because with him on the team, they are pennant contenders every year.
Then came the horrible year. A new manager has messed up everyone on the team. Except John Barr. With his steady play, the team has fought its way back to the series.
Then a note found in John's deceased mother's papers throws John into a horrible slump.
It's up to a teammate and a reporter to find a way to get John out of his slump, and rescue the series.
I enjoyed how Baker organized this novel like a sports memoir. He skips from person to person as they relate stories from John Barr's life and career. The mystery of Barr's life is slowly revealed. For me, the last few chapters flew by as I read to discover the solution to the mystery, and the results of the the series.
This novel would make a great movie, and it was an entertaining read.
Sometimes You See It Coming
Friday, December 28, 2012
Wheel of Fate by Kate Sedley
Genre: Historical Mystery
Setting: England, 1483
First Sentence: I have heard it said that when you are first apprised of some great, earth-shaking event, ever afterwards you can remember exactly where you were and what you we doing at the time.
This novel is the nineteenth in Sedley's Roger the Chapman mystery series.
Roger was once a novice in a Benedictine monastery. He left the strict monastery life, preferring the free life of a peddler, or chapman. Although he is now married and has children. He still earns his living as a chapman.
In this installment of the series, Roger returns to an empty house. His wife and children have gone to London to visit her relatives, the Godslove family. When Roger arrives, he is plunged into a mystery. It seems that the Godslove family believe that someone is trying to murder them. Indeed, several members of the family have recently died under mysterious circumstances. As Roger investigates, he finds that the Godsloves are harboring an awful secret. Could it be that the deaths and the secret are somehow connected?
Interwoven with Roger's investigation, is the political upheaval in London. King Edward IV has died. His son is not old enough to rule on his own. Several factions are trying to gain power and influence over the new king.
Can Roger solve the Godslove's family mystery while avoiding any political entanglements?
This novel was a difficult read for me. I read it out of order so the exposition at the beginning of the novel was a little confusing. The plot was very tangled with many different characters to keep track of. In my opinion, this was an OK book, but it probably would have been better if it was read in order.
Wheel of Fate
Check out my eBook!
Setting: England, 1483
First Sentence: I have heard it said that when you are first apprised of some great, earth-shaking event, ever afterwards you can remember exactly where you were and what you we doing at the time.
This novel is the nineteenth in Sedley's Roger the Chapman mystery series.
Roger was once a novice in a Benedictine monastery. He left the strict monastery life, preferring the free life of a peddler, or chapman. Although he is now married and has children. He still earns his living as a chapman.
In this installment of the series, Roger returns to an empty house. His wife and children have gone to London to visit her relatives, the Godslove family. When Roger arrives, he is plunged into a mystery. It seems that the Godslove family believe that someone is trying to murder them. Indeed, several members of the family have recently died under mysterious circumstances. As Roger investigates, he finds that the Godsloves are harboring an awful secret. Could it be that the deaths and the secret are somehow connected?
Interwoven with Roger's investigation, is the political upheaval in London. King Edward IV has died. His son is not old enough to rule on his own. Several factions are trying to gain power and influence over the new king.
Can Roger solve the Godslove's family mystery while avoiding any political entanglements?
This novel was a difficult read for me. I read it out of order so the exposition at the beginning of the novel was a little confusing. The plot was very tangled with many different characters to keep track of. In my opinion, this was an OK book, but it probably would have been better if it was read in order.
Wheel of Fate
Check out my eBook!
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Nine-Tenths by Meira Penterman
Genre:: Dystopian Science Fiction
Setting: Earth in an alternate timeline
First Sentence: Nine-tenths of a second is just long enough for someone to make an irrevocable, unforgivable mistake.
If there is one lesson that countless time travel novels have taught us, it is that no good can come of attempting to repair a perceived mistake in the past. For inevitably, a small change in a detail, often results in a more unpleasant future timeline.
Thirty-one years ago, Leonard Tramer caused a traffic accident. In that accident, young Tommy Richardson died. Haunted by his fatal error, Leonard spent the next three decades trying to repair this horrible mistake. His solution was to build a time machine, go back in time, and save Tommy's life.
He succeeds. He saves Tommy's life. But, when he returns to the present, the world he finds is not the world he left. The country is governed by a totalitarian regime similar to East Germany during the cold war. There are political prisons, spies, fascist youth corps, and rationing of basic necessities.
Leonard has no recall of his life in this timeline. He finds he has a wife, daughter, son and job. He needs to figure out how life works in this timeline. One mistake could cost him and his newly discovered family their freedom or their lives.
I was interested in the basic premise of Meira Penterman's novel. I agree with her that a small event in history can create huge differences in the future. I did not find her dystopian alternate world to be very believable. I just felt that the main character would have had a more difficult time surviving in such a dangerous society.
Nine_Tenths
Check out my eBook!
Setting: Earth in an alternate timeline
First Sentence: Nine-tenths of a second is just long enough for someone to make an irrevocable, unforgivable mistake.
If there is one lesson that countless time travel novels have taught us, it is that no good can come of attempting to repair a perceived mistake in the past. For inevitably, a small change in a detail, often results in a more unpleasant future timeline.
Thirty-one years ago, Leonard Tramer caused a traffic accident. In that accident, young Tommy Richardson died. Haunted by his fatal error, Leonard spent the next three decades trying to repair this horrible mistake. His solution was to build a time machine, go back in time, and save Tommy's life.
He succeeds. He saves Tommy's life. But, when he returns to the present, the world he finds is not the world he left. The country is governed by a totalitarian regime similar to East Germany during the cold war. There are political prisons, spies, fascist youth corps, and rationing of basic necessities.
Leonard has no recall of his life in this timeline. He finds he has a wife, daughter, son and job. He needs to figure out how life works in this timeline. One mistake could cost him and his newly discovered family their freedom or their lives.
I was interested in the basic premise of Meira Penterman's novel. I agree with her that a small event in history can create huge differences in the future. I did not find her dystopian alternate world to be very believable. I just felt that the main character would have had a more difficult time surviving in such a dangerous society.
Nine_Tenths
Check out my eBook!
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
The Painted Lady by Edward Marston
Genre: Historical Mystery
Setting: Seventeenth Century London
First Sentence: :A plague on it!" cried Henry Redmayne, smacking the arm of the sofa with a petulant hand.
Arminta Jewell was the most beautiful and coveted maiden in all of London society. Countless rakes and libertines of the upper crust had set their sights on her. Her marriage to Sir Martin Calthorpe did nothing to quell their ardor. On the contrary, for a few base rogues, her marriage intensified their quest.
Arminta's husband sought to preserve her beauty by having her portrait painted by Jean-Paul Villemont, the most popular artist of the day. Monsieur Villemont was so struck by Arminta's beauty that he trespassed into her garden in hopes of catching a glimpse of her. He is observed leaving the garden on the very same evening that Sir Martin is found murdered there.
Our main character, Christopher Redmayne, has been retained to plan and build a grand new residence for Monsieur Villemont. When Villemont is accused of murder, Redmayne stands to loose a substantial amount of money. Redmayne decides to discover who really did kill Sir Martin. Through Redmayne's investigations, we meet some of London's naughtier aristocrats. For them, pleasure is all, and morality a quaint old-fashioned concept.
Can Redmayne find the true killer and save Monsieur Villemont from the gallows?
Edward Marston is one of my favorite authors. His novels are written in a very readable style. And his dialogue is some of the best I've ever read. This novel did not disappoint.
A well-crafted plot written in an enjoyable style with interesting characters made for a very entertaining read!
The Painted Lady
Check out my eBook
Setting: Seventeenth Century London
First Sentence: :A plague on it!" cried Henry Redmayne, smacking the arm of the sofa with a petulant hand.
Arminta Jewell was the most beautiful and coveted maiden in all of London society. Countless rakes and libertines of the upper crust had set their sights on her. Her marriage to Sir Martin Calthorpe did nothing to quell their ardor. On the contrary, for a few base rogues, her marriage intensified their quest.
Arminta's husband sought to preserve her beauty by having her portrait painted by Jean-Paul Villemont, the most popular artist of the day. Monsieur Villemont was so struck by Arminta's beauty that he trespassed into her garden in hopes of catching a glimpse of her. He is observed leaving the garden on the very same evening that Sir Martin is found murdered there.
Our main character, Christopher Redmayne, has been retained to plan and build a grand new residence for Monsieur Villemont. When Villemont is accused of murder, Redmayne stands to loose a substantial amount of money. Redmayne decides to discover who really did kill Sir Martin. Through Redmayne's investigations, we meet some of London's naughtier aristocrats. For them, pleasure is all, and morality a quaint old-fashioned concept.
Can Redmayne find the true killer and save Monsieur Villemont from the gallows?
Edward Marston is one of my favorite authors. His novels are written in a very readable style. And his dialogue is some of the best I've ever read. This novel did not disappoint.
A well-crafted plot written in an enjoyable style with interesting characters made for a very entertaining read!
The Painted Lady
Check out my eBook
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Fuzzy Nation by John Scalzi
Genre: Science Fiction
Setting: A planet 178 light-years from Earth
First Sentence: Jack Holloway set the skimmer to HOVER, swiveled his seat around, and looked at Carl.
John Scalzi is one of my favorite scifi authors. In each of his novels he has created unique characters and well developed universes. His "Old Man's War" universe is one of the best scifi universes ever imagined. In this novel, Scalzi has again created a planet like no other.
Jack Holloway is the main character of this novel. He is, in his own words, ...selfish, and unethical and...happy to deceive to get what I want." Jack is a disbarred lawyer. Disbarred, not because he doesn't know the law, but because he once punched a client in the face in the courtroom. He might be a loose cannon, but he knows the law.
Jack finds himself prospecting on a planet being mined by a ruthless human corporation. Jack accidentally discovers a rich vein of incredibly valuable gems. Jack's miniscule share would make him richer than the dreams of avarice.
Then, one day, he returns home to find one of the cuter members of the local fauna inside his house. As he interacts with the furry creature and its family, Jack notices that they are extremely intelligent. In fact, they might qualify as a sentient species. This would be bad for Jack and the corporation. Legally, the planet and its riches would then belong to the local sentient inhabitants.
As the plot progresses, while sorting out the legal entanglements of his discoveries, Jack manages to anger his former girlfriend, her lawyer husband, the local law, enforcement and the visiting corporate big wigs. Some of whom try to have Jack killed.
The story is told in the third person limited point of view. Yet the author does not let us in to all of Jack's thoughts. This makes following him a real roller coaster. We are in on some of his ideas, but he often surprises us with his legal tricks. And his motivation is always in question.
I enjoyed this novel. I recommend it, and all of John Scalzi's novels.
Fuzzy Nation
Check out my eBook!
Setting: A planet 178 light-years from Earth
First Sentence: Jack Holloway set the skimmer to HOVER, swiveled his seat around, and looked at Carl.
John Scalzi is one of my favorite scifi authors. In each of his novels he has created unique characters and well developed universes. His "Old Man's War" universe is one of the best scifi universes ever imagined. In this novel, Scalzi has again created a planet like no other.
Jack Holloway is the main character of this novel. He is, in his own words, ...selfish, and unethical and...happy to deceive to get what I want." Jack is a disbarred lawyer. Disbarred, not because he doesn't know the law, but because he once punched a client in the face in the courtroom. He might be a loose cannon, but he knows the law.
Jack finds himself prospecting on a planet being mined by a ruthless human corporation. Jack accidentally discovers a rich vein of incredibly valuable gems. Jack's miniscule share would make him richer than the dreams of avarice.
Then, one day, he returns home to find one of the cuter members of the local fauna inside his house. As he interacts with the furry creature and its family, Jack notices that they are extremely intelligent. In fact, they might qualify as a sentient species. This would be bad for Jack and the corporation. Legally, the planet and its riches would then belong to the local sentient inhabitants.
As the plot progresses, while sorting out the legal entanglements of his discoveries, Jack manages to anger his former girlfriend, her lawyer husband, the local law, enforcement and the visiting corporate big wigs. Some of whom try to have Jack killed.
The story is told in the third person limited point of view. Yet the author does not let us in to all of Jack's thoughts. This makes following him a real roller coaster. We are in on some of his ideas, but he often surprises us with his legal tricks. And his motivation is always in question.
I enjoyed this novel. I recommend it, and all of John Scalzi's novels.
Fuzzy Nation
Check out my eBook!
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