Genre: Historical Fiction, Nautical Fiction
Setting: England, and at sea on Francis Drake's circumnavigation of the world, in the late sixteenth century.
First Sentence: It was as fine a morning to be whipped as any I have ever seen.
Our main character is Peregrine James, known as Perry to his friends. Perry is a plucky lad who has lost his position as a cook. Unfairly accused of thievery, Perry must seek his fortune elsewhere. As he is being whipped, Perry gains the notice of Francis Drake, the intrepid sea captain. Perry boldly asks Drake for a position on his ship. Peregrine proves his mettle, and is accepted into Drake's crew.
Perry is the lowest ranking boy on the ship. He must quickly find a place among the experienced sea dogs. As they sail from adventure to adventure, Perry gets by with luck and bravery. Sometimes he causes his own misfortune due to his honesty and idealism.
Where Drake intends to sail is kept secret from the crew. A British ship sailing through waters infested with Spanish and Portuguese ships is always in peril. The crew follows Drake because he is a courageous man of action. They believe that they will be greatly rewarded when they return to England. If Perry can survive the dangers, and pick his battles, he might make his fortune too.
I like this novel. I especially like the author's voice. The novel is told in the first person. The voice used evokes the period in which the novel is set. The dialog also adds to the atmosphere of the novel. I especially liked the creative oaths the sailors use when speaking. Overall, the voice makes the novel fun to read.
I also like the way the action moves forward. Many of the chapters end with a cliff hanger which leads the reader directly into the next chapter. This makes for an enjoyable read.
The novel ended with a cliffhanger, so I'll be eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.
At Drake's Command is how available on Amazon!
From the author:
Hi, Mike:
Thanks so much for reading--and enjoying--At Drake's Command. I
really want to write the second book, Desperate Bankrupts, but that,
unfortunately, depends on how well ADC does.
I will, of course, let you know when it's available on Amazon. Until
then, however, people can pre-order autographed copies at:
http://www.temurlonepress.com/preorder.php
All the best, and THANK YOU for taking the time to review At Drake's
Command!
David H.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Monday, August 20, 2012
A Body in the Bathhouse by Lindsey Davis
Genre: Historical Mystery
Setting: Ancient Rome and Britain, 75 AD
First Sentence: But for Rhea Favona, we might have lived with it.
This novel is the thirteenth in Davis's Falco historical mystery novel series.
Marcus Didius Falco leads a complicated life. He is, after all, an informer and investigator in ancient Rome.
First, he discovers a dead body hidden under the floor in his father brand new bathhouse. Interestingly, the contractors for the bathhouse have departed from Rome. Perhaps they are bound for the Emperor's large construction project in Britain.
Then, it just so happens that the Emperor wants Falco to investigate why the project has turned into a royal money pit.
And, to make matters worse, Falco's sister's house has been ransacked by a stalker. The stalker happens to be Falco's former partner, and current enemy, Anacrites. Falco needs to get his sister out of town to keep her safe.
Finally, Falco has a toothache.
So Falco gathers up his wife, daughters, sister, brothers-in-law, children's nurse and Nux the dog. for a family expedition to barbarous Britain.
Once in Britain, Falco (the man from Rome) stirs up trouble while investigating the fraudulent schemes he finds at the construction site. He and his family could be in danger from angry contractors. Then both the current and former architects are murdered on the same night.
Can Falco keep his family safe, solve the murder of the architects, curb the fraud at the construction project, find the murderous bathhouse builders, and find relief for his dental misery?
I enjoyed this novel. I like Falco as a character. He seems like someone I'd like to meet if I lived in ancient Rome. As usual, Davis has used a large cast of characters in this novel. Thankfully, she has provided a list of principal characters.
Although the novel stands up by itself well, I suggest reading the novels in order. I read this novel out of order and it took me a few chapters to get oriented.
Overall, a good read, and a good chapter in a great series.
A Body in the Bathhouse
Check out my eBook!
Setting: Ancient Rome and Britain, 75 AD
First Sentence: But for Rhea Favona, we might have lived with it.
This novel is the thirteenth in Davis's Falco historical mystery novel series.
Marcus Didius Falco leads a complicated life. He is, after all, an informer and investigator in ancient Rome.
First, he discovers a dead body hidden under the floor in his father brand new bathhouse. Interestingly, the contractors for the bathhouse have departed from Rome. Perhaps they are bound for the Emperor's large construction project in Britain.
Then, it just so happens that the Emperor wants Falco to investigate why the project has turned into a royal money pit.
And, to make matters worse, Falco's sister's house has been ransacked by a stalker. The stalker happens to be Falco's former partner, and current enemy, Anacrites. Falco needs to get his sister out of town to keep her safe.
Finally, Falco has a toothache.
So Falco gathers up his wife, daughters, sister, brothers-in-law, children's nurse and Nux the dog. for a family expedition to barbarous Britain.
Once in Britain, Falco (the man from Rome) stirs up trouble while investigating the fraudulent schemes he finds at the construction site. He and his family could be in danger from angry contractors. Then both the current and former architects are murdered on the same night.
Can Falco keep his family safe, solve the murder of the architects, curb the fraud at the construction project, find the murderous bathhouse builders, and find relief for his dental misery?
I enjoyed this novel. I like Falco as a character. He seems like someone I'd like to meet if I lived in ancient Rome. As usual, Davis has used a large cast of characters in this novel. Thankfully, she has provided a list of principal characters.
Although the novel stands up by itself well, I suggest reading the novels in order. I read this novel out of order and it took me a few chapters to get oriented.
Overall, a good read, and a good chapter in a great series.
A Body in the Bathhouse
Check out my eBook!
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Teleport This by Christopher M. Daniels
Genre: Science Fiction
Setting: At the beginning of the 21st century in space and on multiple planets.
First Sentence: So here we are at the beginning of the 21st century on Earth and, in all fairness, a pretty exciting time to be on the planet.
What if the universe is filled with sentient creatures, and they are all human, or mostly human with some variation in shape and color?
And what if they are not very interested in discovering us, but leave it up to us to discover them?
In Christopher Daniels's universe his two main characters, Simon and Gilbert, decipher a signal from space which contains the instructions for communicating with the advanced humans of the galaxy. Also included are the instructions for building a teleportation device. Using this device Simon and Gilbert are introduced to an interesting array of wise cracking, "alien" humans:
Jon - a computer hacker/con man,
Ellie - his space freighter captain sister,
Ellie2 - a self-aware intelligent computer/robot,
Alicia - a beautiful planetary princess with built-in laser beams,
to name a few.
Simon and Gilbert get mixed up with characters on the run from the law, double crossing con men, and dangerous intergalactic mobsters. As the characters stumble through their adventures they try to make the best of bad situations. Their wise cracking banter makes this novel a humorous romp through space.
I enjoyed this book. It made for a fun, easy, light read. A nice break between more weighty tomes.
Teleport This
Check out my eBook!
Setting: At the beginning of the 21st century in space and on multiple planets.
First Sentence: So here we are at the beginning of the 21st century on Earth and, in all fairness, a pretty exciting time to be on the planet.
What if the universe is filled with sentient creatures, and they are all human, or mostly human with some variation in shape and color?
And what if they are not very interested in discovering us, but leave it up to us to discover them?
In Christopher Daniels's universe his two main characters, Simon and Gilbert, decipher a signal from space which contains the instructions for communicating with the advanced humans of the galaxy. Also included are the instructions for building a teleportation device. Using this device Simon and Gilbert are introduced to an interesting array of wise cracking, "alien" humans:
Jon - a computer hacker/con man,
Ellie - his space freighter captain sister,
Ellie2 - a self-aware intelligent computer/robot,
Alicia - a beautiful planetary princess with built-in laser beams,
to name a few.
Simon and Gilbert get mixed up with characters on the run from the law, double crossing con men, and dangerous intergalactic mobsters. As the characters stumble through their adventures they try to make the best of bad situations. Their wise cracking banter makes this novel a humorous romp through space.
I enjoyed this book. It made for a fun, easy, light read. A nice break between more weighty tomes.
Teleport This
Check out my eBook!
Monday, August 6, 2012
The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Potzch & Lee Chadeayne
Genre: Historical Mystery
Setting: Schongau, a town in 1659 Germany
First Sentence: October 12 was a good day for a killing.
It is the middle of the 17th century. Years of plague and war have left the town of Shongau fearful of the wrath of God. The townspeople fear the unknown, witches and the Devil.
In this dark and gloomy German town three young boys have been murdered. Each bears an arcane sign, proof of the work of a witch. Also, two young girls have gone missing. The frightened townspeople immediately accuse the local midwife of being a witch. She is quickly imprisoned. The town's leaders want to torture and execute her to avoid a bloody witch hunt.
Lurking in the dark streets of Schongau is a strange assortment of characters: Jakob the town's hangman, his daughter Magdelina, Simon the young physician, strange foreign soldiers, and perhaps the Devil himself. The hangman, his daughter, and the physician believe that the midwife is innocent. They must find the proof in a town gripped with superstitious fear.
Who has ordered the deaths of the children? And why?
Can Jakob, Simon and Magdelina solve the mystery and prevent more gristly deaths?
I enjoyed this novel. Unlike many mystery novels, there is no clever sleuth. There is no grand evil plan. The characters, both good and evil, make choices and take action. Ultimately, luck plays a large role in the outcome of the story. For me, this makes the plot more believable.
The fact that this novel was translated from German to English made it an interesting read. The translator made some interesting word choices. The German place names and character names were a challenge but did not take away from my enjoyment of the novel.
Overall, a unique historical mystery, and a good read.
The Hangman's Daughter
Check out my eBook!
Setting: Schongau, a town in 1659 Germany
First Sentence: October 12 was a good day for a killing.
It is the middle of the 17th century. Years of plague and war have left the town of Shongau fearful of the wrath of God. The townspeople fear the unknown, witches and the Devil.
In this dark and gloomy German town three young boys have been murdered. Each bears an arcane sign, proof of the work of a witch. Also, two young girls have gone missing. The frightened townspeople immediately accuse the local midwife of being a witch. She is quickly imprisoned. The town's leaders want to torture and execute her to avoid a bloody witch hunt.
Lurking in the dark streets of Schongau is a strange assortment of characters: Jakob the town's hangman, his daughter Magdelina, Simon the young physician, strange foreign soldiers, and perhaps the Devil himself. The hangman, his daughter, and the physician believe that the midwife is innocent. They must find the proof in a town gripped with superstitious fear.
Who has ordered the deaths of the children? And why?
Can Jakob, Simon and Magdelina solve the mystery and prevent more gristly deaths?
I enjoyed this novel. Unlike many mystery novels, there is no clever sleuth. There is no grand evil plan. The characters, both good and evil, make choices and take action. Ultimately, luck plays a large role in the outcome of the story. For me, this makes the plot more believable.
The fact that this novel was translated from German to English made it an interesting read. The translator made some interesting word choices. The German place names and character names were a challenge but did not take away from my enjoyment of the novel.
Overall, a unique historical mystery, and a good read.
The Hangman's Daughter
Check out my eBook!
Monday, July 30, 2012
Murder in a Mill Town by P. B. Ryan
Genre: Historical Mystery
Setting, Boston: 1868
First Sentence: "We quarreled last March," aid Nell Sweeney in a manfully deep working class English accent - or her best attempt at one - embellished with just the slightest quaver of lunacy.
This novel is the second in P. B. Ryan's Gilded Age mystery series.
In this installment of the series Nell and Will are back together. Nell is an Irish girl with a troubled past. She serves as the governess of a high society Boston household. She takes care of a young girl named Gracie. If her employers discovered the truth of Nell's past, she might lose her position.
Will is a former opium addict, a morphine addict, and a professional gambler. He is the estranged adult son of her employers. And he is Gracie's biological father.
Together they make an unlikely investigative duo. They have a unique friendship which might be more but for both of their past experiences.
As we read we learn more about Nell's sordid past. There is a murder, and once again Will's brother Harry is an early suspect. But a threat from Nell's past puts her reputation, and life, in danger.
Can Nell and Will solve the mystery, save Nell's reputation and her life?
Ryan is my new favorite author. The best Historical Mysteries are also well written Historical Novels. Ryan's novels are extremely well written, and thoroughly enjoyable. I can't wait to read the next novel in the series.
Murder in a Mill Town
Check our my eBook!
Setting, Boston: 1868
First Sentence: "We quarreled last March," aid Nell Sweeney in a manfully deep working class English accent - or her best attempt at one - embellished with just the slightest quaver of lunacy.
This novel is the second in P. B. Ryan's Gilded Age mystery series.
In this installment of the series Nell and Will are back together. Nell is an Irish girl with a troubled past. She serves as the governess of a high society Boston household. She takes care of a young girl named Gracie. If her employers discovered the truth of Nell's past, she might lose her position.
Will is a former opium addict, a morphine addict, and a professional gambler. He is the estranged adult son of her employers. And he is Gracie's biological father.
Together they make an unlikely investigative duo. They have a unique friendship which might be more but for both of their past experiences.
As we read we learn more about Nell's sordid past. There is a murder, and once again Will's brother Harry is an early suspect. But a threat from Nell's past puts her reputation, and life, in danger.
Can Nell and Will solve the mystery, save Nell's reputation and her life?
Ryan is my new favorite author. The best Historical Mysteries are also well written Historical Novels. Ryan's novels are extremely well written, and thoroughly enjoyable. I can't wait to read the next novel in the series.
Murder in a Mill Town
Check our my eBook!
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Final Battle In Her Name: Redemption, Book 3 by Michael R. Hicks
Genre: Science Fiction
Setting: In the far future, in space and on multiple planets.
First Sentence: The world was strangely white, so unlike the darkness of Death, so unlike the place where the First Empress's spirit had waited all these generations for her awakening, and where only he among all mortals had ever been.
This novel is the third in Michael Hicks's In Her Name: Redemption series. the action picks up immediately after the action in Book 2. If you are interested in this novel, I stronly suggest that you read books 1 and 2 in order.
As this novel begins, the main character, Reza, is recovering from near fatal wounds sustained at the end of book 2. He has been wrongly accused of murder, and has been accused of treason. He has been taken to Earth to stand trial for his "crimes".
The Kreelan empire, as a whole, seems to have lost the will to fight. The human leaders sense the possibility of finally defeating the Kreelans and ending the war.
While he is on Earth, Reza is framed for the murder of the Confederation president. Reza also discovers that he has a son. Reza's human friends help him to escape because they feel that he might be able to end the war with the Kreelans.
Unfortunately, Reza's old nemesis, Markus Thorella, has other plans for Reza and his friends. Can Reza find his son, and help end the war?
I enjoyed this novel. There is lots of action. The plot moves along. And like the other books in this series it is just plain fun to read. And I enjoyed the evil bad guys!
Final Battle
The first book in the series - In Her Name: Empire
Check out my eBook!
Setting: In the far future, in space and on multiple planets.
First Sentence: The world was strangely white, so unlike the darkness of Death, so unlike the place where the First Empress's spirit had waited all these generations for her awakening, and where only he among all mortals had ever been.
This novel is the third in Michael Hicks's In Her Name: Redemption series. the action picks up immediately after the action in Book 2. If you are interested in this novel, I stronly suggest that you read books 1 and 2 in order.
As this novel begins, the main character, Reza, is recovering from near fatal wounds sustained at the end of book 2. He has been wrongly accused of murder, and has been accused of treason. He has been taken to Earth to stand trial for his "crimes".
The Kreelan empire, as a whole, seems to have lost the will to fight. The human leaders sense the possibility of finally defeating the Kreelans and ending the war.
While he is on Earth, Reza is framed for the murder of the Confederation president. Reza also discovers that he has a son. Reza's human friends help him to escape because they feel that he might be able to end the war with the Kreelans.
Unfortunately, Reza's old nemesis, Markus Thorella, has other plans for Reza and his friends. Can Reza find his son, and help end the war?
I enjoyed this novel. There is lots of action. The plot moves along. And like the other books in this series it is just plain fun to read. And I enjoyed the evil bad guys!
Final Battle
The first book in the series - In Her Name: Empire
Check out my eBook!
Saturday, July 21, 2012
A World of Trouble by Jake Needham
Genre: Thriller
Setting: Dubai, Bangkok, Hong Kong - present day
First Sentence: I have the right to remain silent and mostly I have exercised that right.
This novel is the third in Jake Needham's Jack Shepherd thriller series.
Jack Shepherd seems to attract trouble. Everyone seems to think that he knows more than he really does. This is because some of his friends are questionable. He is a lawyer. He can be a smart aleck. And he is too curious for his own good.
Due to the events of the previous two novels, Jack has only one client: Charlie. Charlie is General Kitnarok, the deposed leader of Thailand. Jack manages Charlie's financial assets.
In Dubai, there is an assassination attempt on Charlie. When Jack returns to the scene of the attack, there is no evidence that the attack occurred. Soon after, Jack meets an FBI agent who is investigating illegal arms sales. It seems that one of Charlie's financial holdings is involved. And, due to the work that Jack does for Charlie, Jack is a trustee of the company.
So once again, Jack is trying to make sense of a web of intrigue that involves the FBI, the CIA, and Thai Intelligence.
Will Jack make sense of it all? And can he prevent a violent civil war in Thailand?
This novel is a fast paced page turner. I enjoyed reading the descriptions of exotic locales that Needham uses as the backdrop for his story. I like Jack Shepherd as a character. He asks questions and gathers evidence, and tries to think his way through to the solution.
I can't wait to read another of Needham's great novels.
A World of Trouble
Check out my eBook!
Setting: Dubai, Bangkok, Hong Kong - present day
First Sentence: I have the right to remain silent and mostly I have exercised that right.
This novel is the third in Jake Needham's Jack Shepherd thriller series.
Jack Shepherd seems to attract trouble. Everyone seems to think that he knows more than he really does. This is because some of his friends are questionable. He is a lawyer. He can be a smart aleck. And he is too curious for his own good.
Due to the events of the previous two novels, Jack has only one client: Charlie. Charlie is General Kitnarok, the deposed leader of Thailand. Jack manages Charlie's financial assets.
In Dubai, there is an assassination attempt on Charlie. When Jack returns to the scene of the attack, there is no evidence that the attack occurred. Soon after, Jack meets an FBI agent who is investigating illegal arms sales. It seems that one of Charlie's financial holdings is involved. And, due to the work that Jack does for Charlie, Jack is a trustee of the company.
So once again, Jack is trying to make sense of a web of intrigue that involves the FBI, the CIA, and Thai Intelligence.
Will Jack make sense of it all? And can he prevent a violent civil war in Thailand?
This novel is a fast paced page turner. I enjoyed reading the descriptions of exotic locales that Needham uses as the backdrop for his story. I like Jack Shepherd as a character. He asks questions and gathers evidence, and tries to think his way through to the solution.
I can't wait to read another of Needham's great novels.
A World of Trouble
Check out my eBook!
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