War Cry by Wilbur Smith and David Churchill (Historical Novel, 2017). I found this sprawling historical novel readable, yet somewhat disappointing. Smith is a very experienced and respected historical novelist (take note of Stephen King’s front cover proclamation as to his abilities). He’s published several highly successful series, including the Courtney Family books, of which this […]
Read more "REVIEWED: War Cry"No Middle Name by Lee Child (Crime/Adventure Story Collection, 2017). Lee Child’s extremely successful and prolific series of books about the tough, ruthless yet honorable (at least on his own particular terms) Jack Reacher are mostly novels. Very successful novels–exciting, uncompromising and damned cool. It’s made him a #1 Bestseller several times over. But Reacher (nobody […]
Read more "REVIEWED: No Middle Name"Trajectory by Richard Russo (Story Collection, 2017). The latest book from Pulitzer Prize-winner Richard Russo is a collection of four novella-length works. Three previously saw publication elsewhere, while the fourth is new. They all display Russo’s skills in characterization, as well as deftly presenting their various settings. In “Horseman,” a young college professor confronts plagiarism from […]
Read more "REVIEWED: Trajectory"Star Wars Aftermath: Empire’s End by Chuck Wendig (Star Wars Novel, 2017). This entry in Del Rey Books’ series of tie-in books concludes a trilogy of original novels by Wendig. They follow The Return of the Jedi but come well before The Force Awakens in the chronology of the ever-growing franchise canon. It shows the final (suitably violent) collapse […]
Read more "REVIEWED: Star Wars Aftermath: Empire’s End"A Game of Ghosts by John Connolly (Supernatural Thriller, 2017). This novel, the latest in along line of books centered around a private detective named Charlie Parker, expertly blends multiple genres to very pleasing effect. Parker sees ghosts (including that of his first daughter) and regularly has to deal with other supernatural threats. Meanwhile, he’s […]
Read more "REVIEWED: A Game of Ghosts"Manderley Forever: A Biography of Daphne Du Maurier by Tatiana De Rosnay (Biography, 2017). The title here is, of course, a reference to the fictional mansion in Du Maurier’s best known novel, Rebecca. As the author makes clear, real life homes fascinated and repeatedly inspired Du Maurier. In particular, ones she lived in (as well as […]
Read more "REVIEWED: Manderley Forever"The Right Side by Spencer Quinn. (Contemporary Novel, 2017). A strong and hauntingly memorable novel about a driven, wounded soul who finds the one companion she can believe in (and relate too) in a previously abused dog. And oh, yes–it’s not sentimental, or anything close to it! LeAnn Hogan went to Afghanistan whole and determined to […]
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