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Thursday, December 29, 2016

Review: A Darker Domain

A Darker Domain A Darker Domain by Val McDermid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow!
Complicated, long winded and twisted story. Could not guess most of the twists and although long it was still very gripping and suspenseful. And tragic.
The reality of the miner-strike integrated very well as the background for this novel.
Highly recommended. Standalone - Val McDermid at her possible best, but I still like her series even more, even though some books drag a little in the middle.



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Review: Where The Dead Ones Play: A Supernatural Horror

Where The Dead Ones Play: A Supernatural Horror Where The Dead Ones Play: A Supernatural Horror by Kyle M. Scott
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Just started it for breakfast (I read everywhere and often during eating), language is rich.
Slow start, with more tell and no show (so far).
At 38% and 37 min. reading time left (which is unreliable) I hope to finish this soon, also to start something more suspenseful or even interesting.
Although the horror starts to built, so far not twists, more musings from a loving father and a boring son, who I would gladly kill off where this my book, to write something interesting.
As at least two persons whose reviews I follow liked this book, I am still hoping for a surprise twist and as this has not happened yet, I see a meager 2 stars coming, 1 of them for the language, but that does not save it, yet.

Rate this 2.5 Stars, rounded down to 2.
Language was rich and very good descriptions, but also too much from the MC inner musings, which where boring. Nice fight scenes and a little supernatural Horror, and while I did not guess the twists, I was also not gripped as other by this book. This also shows in the reading time, I started up (and finished some) a few different books, while this is a not a long book, it took me to long as I found it boring, while it gets brutal, bloody and cruel, I could not connect to any of the (few) people in the book, and could not care less if some other explanation had been written. A little past romance, a little explicit lonely sex-scene. Could in my view probably still rated for YA, not very adult. Would not recommend this to anyone, as I found it not really scary, but younger teens (12-14 yrs) might find this better, but probably not the intended target group.

In end, most everything is neatly solved. The language was great, very vivid descriptions, but also at times too much, nearly repetitive, and the father-boy relationship was way overplayed.

In comparison to one of the last books I read: Lost Girls, a solid 5 star, that one is as horrific, and even more realistic as it does not stray into the fantastic. As this book is outside of my normal reading genre, I am not too surprised (should read Lovecraft again, to see wether I still like him, maybe that also has changed, as it could have been 1990 or earlier since I last read him), I wanted to see how I like this, well, this is answered.

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Review: Blue Labyrinth

Blue Labyrinth Blue Labyrinth by Douglas Preston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Review to follow, sorry, that I am late in writing reviews.
To lazy and too late to write a real review.
Too obvious, therefore only 4 stars.
Getting bored of Pendergast.

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Review: White Fire

White Fire White Fire by Douglas Preston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

.Review to follow, sorry, that I am late in writing reviews..
While still good, I think the series should come to an end.
This books is with Corrie Swanson, which is more interesting, the next books tend to be more of the same Pendergast stories and I am more interested in Corrie S. than in Pendergast nowadays.

Still recommended, although other reviews speak of factual or logic errors, bad sign if that is true, that I overlooked them.

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Review: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Rogue One: A Star Wars Story by Alexander Freed
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Not having seen the movie (yet, waiting for the Blu-ray), I pre-ordered this book August 31, 2016 and think it is a wortwhile, very good adaption, as stated by the publisher with additional scenes giving more insight.
Well, that remains to be seen, when compared to the movie. Will add to this review then, or add that as a comment.

Dark, so far as I remember from the official Star Wars movies/books the highest body-count. Body-count being counted as viewed deaths on-screen, so killing and showing 10 people during combat counts, blowing up a city or a moon does not count, as you do not see the people die.

Reasonably fast read, also as I did only know the other parts of the story (Princess Leia, RIP Carrie Fisher meeting R2D2/C-3Po etc.), only few things where obvious. Some twists where not, and the newly introduced persons where complex and well written, mostly. The blind Jedi was a bit repetitive with his chanting and musings, and could have been deeper and more developed.

Recommended, even for non-Star Wars-fans. But normal fans will get more out of this book.



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Review: Snarl

Snarl Snarl by Celina Grace
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The best so far in this series. Also feels like in the UK most of the time, only very little romance and I think the book is better that way, some sex mentioned, but no explicit or long scenes, also rather tame, nothing kinky.

Would have liked a deeper look or more meat around the story of the main baddy. The twist with the crime as revealed in the end could not be guessed, and I was rather sad to see the story ending there. Would have liked more of that, and the nearly always unanswered question what happens after the crime is solved? While the storyline as presented was so far the best of all the Kate Redman books (some I read out of order), the ending left me unsatisfied. Given that, I normally like it, that the books in the series are short novels, and a fast read, but this could have been longer
for me.

Highly recommended, with 4 stars, would have been 5 one or more of my problems would have been adressed. Just to be sure, I state it again: for me so far the best in the series.

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Review: Lost Girls

Lost Girls Lost Girls by Angela Marsons
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow! Unicorns jump through Rainbows, light Music is playing in the background, while you stroll barefoot through grass and savor the wet feeling from the morning dew. HEA all around. SCREEEETCH the sound of fingernails on the
chalkboard
, sorry, took a wrong turn.

Trigger-warning: children, psychological and physical torture promised and short torture-scenes, but not too explicit or drawn out. Cruelty to animals. No rape, little to no romance, no sex.

Nearly read this great page-turner in a day, only sleep and the need to cook and eat something prevented that - although I usually read while eating. This was also fueled by great pacing, no dull times in the middle and a lot of relatively short chapters - you always think, you can read just one more ... .

Gritty, horrific, dark tale, and I tried to guess the mastermind, but was wrong twice.

The hint at a coming romance in the last book was not pursued. Great storytelling, great women, betrayal, the whole lot.

Ending is it a bit much, but believable written in the situation with Kim running towards the end-fight. Nicely done, and she is not entirely alone this time.

Very highly recommended page-turner, as good as the last book, and I do not regret that I already bought all available books in the series. Just have to keep myself from reading them back-to-back, as there are only two left and sometimes (James Patterson, I am looking at you!) I get fed up with too much writing in the same style from the same author.

After a few disappointments, or series which tend to offer too much Romance (Celina Grace - Kate Redman Mysteries, which I still consider good, but not supergood 3-4 stars), this is even better than Robert Bryndza - Detective Erika Foster, which so far only features 3 books.

In 2016 these 3 series (Kim Stone, Erika Foster, Kate Redman) where all new to me, and while comparable, Kim and Erika score the highest points in (to me) new crime-thriller-mystery, fiction, non-SF, non-Fantasy. Not as far out as Mo Hayder, who also had some lesser books (Pig Island, Tokyo/Devil of Nanking dragged in places), not as epic as Val McDermid.
Angela Marsons is an author I will probably buy other books without hesitation and without checking reviews or blurbs first (until I get burned).

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Review: The Braque Connection

The Braque Connection The Braque Connection by Estelle Ryan
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Snatched this up for free, as I was not too satisfied with the last book, I would not have bought this.
Not sure, if and when I will read it.
Not recommended. A few short suspenseful scened (the beginning) could not save it, without spoiling it, it is dangerous to say more. Not enough twists, and I think there should have been more people killed. Would have liked to be surprised, but sadly I was not, it plays out like I expected from nearly the beginning, and even that could been more interesting. The little group huddles together and manage to somehow solve the crime, not very convincing. While the idea was good and different in the first book, now it is worn out for me and too much of the same is not very interesting. Still regard the second book as the best so far in the series (the crime was better). Sex is mentioned, romance is advancing, but no details, which I think is ok for this story, explicit (or kinky) sex-scenes would have been nice, but would not have saved the book and would not have fit in the feeling from the first two books.
Took me too long to read it, as I had to force myself to finish it. Thought about DNFing it, but my Kindle displayed a supposed 90min. reading time left, which did not warrant it to DNF for me. That said, the 90 min. was stretched into 3 days while looking in other books and doing other things.
Glad I did not pay for it, may not even read the next books if the they are free for me.

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Review: Silent Scream

Silent Scream Silent Scream by Angela Marsons
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

On a lark and as the price was ok, I bought the (current) rest of the series, having already bought this one in 2015 and the fourth book June 2016.
Setting is in the UK (hm, for some reason I thought Ireland, not sure where that came from).
This is comparable to the Kate Redman series and the Erika Foster series.
So what is the difference or why should you read it - or not)?
First you might read this review of the third Erika Foster, a clear 5 star and this review if Imago (Kate Redman).

So what is this book? As a first in a series, and because I feel like it, I gave 4 stars. The UK-feeling is bit better than, in "Imago", but still not as good as in the "Erika Foster" books. But that may change with the next books, for better or worse. What is also comparable are the the heroines, Kim vs. Erika vs. Kate, all are strong willed, flawed and do their own thing, being single, mostly keeping to themself and getting reprimanded despite their success-rate.

Interesting twists, which although clues where given (I did not check back, but believe they where given), most I did not see coming, one is rather surprising, one I did see coming, it was just too obvious, but I cannot write about it, without spoiling the story. As most twists where near the end, it became a bit much, and one felt like a break in the story, not being built-up to it, just directly after the first reveal.
Also in the middle (as I find a lot of crime books, even Val McDermid at times) it dragged a little, with suspense highest in the beginning and the last third. So it was not entirely a page-turner and took me too long, but that may also be because of other duties beside reading.

Highly recommended, I do not believe that will change with the next books, but wether they warrant 4 or even 5 stars remains to be seen.

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Review: Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A collection of short stories or novellas centering around one of my favourite characters from The Mortal Instruments: Simon Lewis. Being a geek/nerd myself, this is the character I can most relate to.

Most stories are very good, all offer more insight in some of background of what happened, even going back two centuries with a tale from Tessa about London in the late 19th Century, although not having read Clockwork Prince nor (obviously) Clockwork Princess I was mildly spoiled by what I did not know yet (but guessed from other books) about Tessa.

The next to last story "Born to Endless Night" was the one I disliked most, while a surprise, it was not what I wanted to read, also I am no fan of Magnus Bane, have not yet bought nor read some of his extra stories, and am not sure I will.

This is not really functioning as a standalone, and regarding the spoilers, you should already have read all 6 books from the Mortal Instruments and all 3 from the Infernal devices.

As I thought this was somewhat mild, not much happening, it went out with a bang, although I guessed that twist, it was still surprising.

Still, even with the story I did not like, highly recommended.

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Review: The Lost Girls

The Lost Girls The Lost Girls by Allison Brennan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Pre-Ordered (as is the next one in this excellent series) this as soon as it was possible.
Another one in my favorite "Lucy Kincaid"-series by Allison Brennan.
This might just work as a standalone, but I advice against it.

Excellent twists and turns, although one twist was obvious for me, I will not mention it, so as not to spoil it. Romance between Lucy/Sean takes a left turn, while in the beginning planning the marriage.
Complicated, and with Lucy a bit over the top, both her inner turmoil and her actions. So what, it is very well written, as always and even with the distressing themes a real page-turner.
Highly recommended, but it helps to have read some or all of the books in the Lucy Kincaid-series, or even some of the others in the Universe of Kincaid/Rogan.

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Review: Bitter Moon

Bitter Moon Bitter Moon by Alexandra Sokoloff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow! As dark as it gets, with horrifying crimes committed and described in detail.
Alternating POV between Cara (Past) and Agent Roarke (Present), who takes the same path which Cara took Age 14, growing up and killing IT whenever she can, IT being people with the evil inside, like a demon or the devil in disguise. The FBI-Agent is on sabbatical in the beginning of the book, but gets sucked into Cara's past and is as conflicted about her, as ever.
Page-turner if you can stand it. My guess is, this will be an easy 5star recommended for hard-core readers, who have read Mo Hayder, Simon Beckett, Michael Slade etc. . Can be read as a standalone, and out of order, as most what happened is hinted or repeated during the telling, without being boring or repeating too much - granted it has been a rather long time since I read the last book in the series, so I maybe wrong.
Extremely recommended, one of my favourite books this year, 5stars strong and easily.
Not too much action, but the search for one of the killers and the decision wether to kill him or not and how the story may go on in the next book (there is strong indication that there will be next book), keeps this real and I like the way the decision falls. The Cara - Roarke relationship is together with Chelsea Cain's Archie - Gretchen one of the strongest and best pairs in crime, as unusual as female serial-killers are (wether Cara is one may be up for debate). My only regret is the waiting time till the next book.

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Review: Matt Helm - The Intimidators

Matt Helm - The Intimidators Matt Helm - The Intimidators by Donald Hamilton
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Not the book I searched for.

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Saturday, November 5, 2016

Review: Mord am Mikro: Steiners fünfter Fall

Mord am Mikro: Steiners fünfter Fall Mord am Mikro: Steiners fünfter Fall by Martin Olden
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Adult crime, not available in English, I think.
Interesting take after the turn in the last book, after the MC gets cut badly and (view spoiler).
The crime is ok, but the side-story how the MC copes with his situation (btw. I am disabled myself, sitting in a wheelchair) is very detailed and even with the sex-scenes maybe something not everyone wants to read. The radio-moderator is interesting and the playlist would contain music I grew up with, shows how old I am (currently 50), and most music I like, I even searched some songs and listened to them when they where mentioned in the book.
Adult read, not very fluffy, but romance and as mentioned sex does happen.
The crime-story is rather straight forward, you get to know the murder nearly at the beginning, and the only little twist is how he will be caught. Nice touch would have been if he got away with it.
Not very suspenseful, recommended for the back story and the insight how to live with a wheelchair.

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Thursday, November 3, 2016

Review: Without Mercy

Without Mercy Without Mercy by Jefferson Bass
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As per the afterword my guess is, this might the last book in the series - which given the age of one of the two authors of the duo, something I expected, but still regret.
For that, 1 star extra, not entirely warranted, as it dragged from 30% till the first real twist at 50% or so. And then again shortly after that.
Still, interesting as usual and quite up to date with the extremists, hate, KKK, (neo) Nazis, militia, etc. But quite a lot in the book, while presented in an interesting way, and connecting dots, which may help uninformed readers, I was familiar with a lot of it. Nicely done, though, but not very suspenseful.
Probably more realistic for being sometimes a bit dull (real police work may consist of waiting for results, like DNA takes time to be processed, as it is stated in the book).
Still recommended, even if this is not a page-turner, like some others in the series, or Kathy Reichs.
And not entirely worth 5 stars, as stated above, at some time I might even have given 3.5 star rounded down to 3, but the ending saved it for me.

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Monday, October 24, 2016

Review: Dark Water

Dark Water Dark Water by Robert Bryndza
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Had this one pre-ordered and was looking forward to it, and although I just started today I am already at 40%, and reading this just after Pulse: A Kate Redman Mystery: Book 10, I see the difference, why this will probably get 5 deserved stars, and the other got 3.5 rounded to 3: more mystery, page-turner, more suspense, better heroine (way better, and my kind of MC). Very little romance, and what is made of that, keeping it real. This book is way longer, but being a real page-turner with the case always taking more space, you do not feel it (one thing that did not bother me, with the other book, that was a fast read). The whole, cold Sunday (October 23d, 2016, with temperature outside 8 degrees Celsius/46 degrees Fahrenheit) I read till I finished the book with minutes to spare till Midnight. There was no dragging in the middle, as sometimes even by very good authors, where I could have stopped.

Comparing this to the other book, it is obvious for me, why I like this a lot more and gave 5 stars, oh well, I mentioned it above. There are a few short hints of sex-scenes, one explizit gay sex-scene, but nothing fetish or kinky (sadly). Also, even though the MC commits nearly the same mistake as the MC in Pulse, it does seem more real to me and also it plays out differently (so far, that may change). And the MC is not weak, rather stubborn and headstrong, one of the reasons she is advancing in the Police. Even her Sister plays a strong part here, with a nice turn during the final night in Erika's flat.
Also, with the tea-drinking, and the places and all, it does feel way more like the UK than the descriptions in Pulse, although the difference is minor.

The crime is rather twisted, with quite a few deaths, a few twists could be guessed, I did not, and some twists need the tell-all (Agatha Christie-like) in the end by one of the guilty parties, as not all facts are discovered by the police.

Highly recommended and can be read as a standalone, as Erika (the MC) has changed jobs, as was the ending of the book before, where she took her superior up on his offer to quit (minor spoiler if you have not read that one yet).

This author is on my lists for auto-email when a new book is published. New books in this series are an instant buy, and also, not too expensive. This is surely a book I will recommend to my family, but so far this is not available in our native German.


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Review: Dark Water

Dark Water Dark Water by Robert Bryndza
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Had this one pre-ordered and was looking forward to it, and although I just started today I am already at 40%, and reading this just after Pulse: A Kate Redman Mystery: Book 10, I see the difference, why this will probably get 5 deserved stars, and the other got 3.5 rounded to 3: more mystery, page-turner, more suspense, better heroine (way better, and my kind of MC). Very little romance, and what is made of that, keeping it real. This book is way longer, but does being a real page-turner with the case always taking more space, you do not feel it (one thing that did not bother me, with the other book, that was a fast read).

This was a page-turner, but long, although it did not feel like it. The whole, cold Sunday (October 23d, 2016) I read till I finished the book with minutes to spare till Midnight.

Comparing this to the other book, it is obvious for me, why I like this a lot more and gave 5 stars, oh well, I mentioned it above. There are a few short hints of sex-scenes, one explizit gay sex-scene, but nothing fetish or kinky (sadly). Also, even though the MC commits nearly the same mistake as the MC in Pulse, it does seem more real to me and also it plays out differently (so far, that may change). And the MC is not weak, rather stubborn and headstrong, one of the reasons she is advancing in the Police. Even her Sister plays a strong part here, with a nice turn during the final night in Erika's flat.
Also, with the tea-drinking, and the places and all, it does feel way more like the UK than the descriptions in Pulse, although the difference is minor.

The crime is rather twisted, with quite a few deaths, a few twists could be guessed, I did not, and some twists need the tell-all (Agatha Christie-like) in the end by one of the guilty parties, as not all facts are discovered by the police.

Highly recommended and can be read as a standalone, as Erika (the MC) has changed jobs, as was the ending of the book before, where she took her superior up on his offer to quit (minor spoiler if you have not read that one yet).

This author is on my lists for auto-email when a new book is published. New books in this series are an instant buy, and also, not too expensive. This is surely a book I will recommend to my family, but so far this is not available in our native German.


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Saturday, October 22, 2016

Review: Pulse: A Kate Redman Mystery: Book 10

Pulse: A Kate Redman Mystery: Book 10 Pulse: A Kate Redman Mystery: Book 10 by Celina Grace
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Received an ARC from the Author for an honest review.
Read and liked the first 3 books in the series, but have not yet read books 4 till 9.
Interestingly from the start it feels like not a lot is missing (for me from the story), I wonder what happened in these books.
A bit too much romance and thinking about how to handle the situation between Kate and her lover (do not want to spoil it here, in case this is your first book with Kate Redman), but I am not too far, with the second body just found, so hopefully this will change.

At 60% now, Kindle shows 40min. remaining reading time. Still too much thinking about romance by Kate, boring. Not enough suspense, it is as I feared in my review of the second or third book, quality sinks below 3.5, so far this might get 3 stars, still recommended, but meh, not too sure about this series, I still regret not having read the 6 books in between this one and the third. Now I am not too sure, wether that will be worth-while.
In this book Kate is unsure when she has to present (not even defend most of the time!) her gut-guesses. This is not my kind of independent heroine and together with the way too long romance-love-story which I can do without and no sex-scenes to speak of, and a second Drama-Queen (or rather -King) hinted at, this reads more like fluffy romance with a bit crime thrown in. If that is what you want, ok, I want a suspenseful, twisty, realistic, crime, preferably with a strong female MC. While Kate is not really whiney, she comes across as more unsure than in the first books, and instead she should have grown more confident and less dependent on her boss.

And also, again, I do not really feel like it is set in the UK most of the time, ok, some expressions are un-american, but then, I am not too sure, they are even used in the UK anymore (if ever). Just a feeling, maybe others feel different.

Just finished the book, and with a few twists at the end, which where a nice surprise, still too much romance, and I would have liked more deaths and more gruesome details.

At least no vigilantie-killings. And nicely shown and done: actions or in this case - something not done - have consequences and rightly so. But the ending smells just too neat, even with the final consequence (will not spoil it here) for the police.

For me this is an unsure 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 for too much romance. A fast ok read - if you want that, and I will probably at some point read the 6 books up to this one, but am not sure, wether an 11th one is warranted, for me I guess not.


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Friday, October 21, 2016

Review: Crimson Frost

Crimson Frost Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Interesting turn with the romance in the end, just my kind of book.
Also not too much romance, good fight scenes, as with the other books.
The developing character of Gwen, the MC, is believable, not too whiney and not too unsure, at least not the whole time, although she tends to struggle with her decisions - making her more humane in my eyes. She does not kill easily and is not easily killed, but if need be she does not shy away from self-sacrifice.
Highly recommended and for me the best yet in the series, which I will certainly read till it ends.

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Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Review: Halloween Frost

Halloween Frost Halloween Frost by Jennifer Estep
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Nice fluffy, but too short. Should have been given away for free, as I paid for it, 50 ct. (Euro) would have been ok, I paid three times as much, knowing what I did (and buying other books at the same time).

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Monday, October 17, 2016

Review: Ultraviolet

Ultraviolet Ultraviolet by R.J. Anderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If I remember right, this was compared to one of my favorite books by an author I read for the first time (and I think a debut?): The Unbecoming of Maya Dryer. And I see why, although for me what comes to mind are two other books (one I did not finish yet). These are both taking place in a mental institution, as does this one: I Never Promised You a Rose Garden and Red Orc's Rage.
All highly recommended (even though I did yet finish "... Rose Garden").
Farmer's "Red Orc's Rage" has a similar concept like this one, I do not count that as a spoiler, at least I hope not, or that most will not know both. Farmer will probably be read after reading the first 5 books in the "Word of tiers"-series, without knowledge of that, it might seem overly weird.

So, how about reviewing this one without spoiling anything?
A bit short, but there is a sequel, which I have already bought, when I bought this one.
The female MC struggles with a bad thing that happened, leading to her own mother calling the police and getting her committed into an insane asylum. All this takes place in Canada, although regrettably (I like to look up places on Google Earth) some of it is made up.

Alison (the heroine) reveals on the first page that she has killed someone. This sets the stage for her twisted journey inside the Asylum, given drugs, questioned by police and her doctor, bullied by inmates and constantly thinking about what happened and what to reveal and what to do.
Another doctor, Faraday (sic!), helps her and diagnoses her conditions. Just then you think, it might get in a romance direction, the story takes a left exit and reveals how much Alison (and the reader) does not know, I have not guessed most twists, so thats a plus.

Another twist, and then - the ending, which is ok for me, open enough for a sequel, rather realistic (for me, others may think different).
Although I do not see too many similarities to Mara Dryer, this is good, not totally 5 stars, but 4 highly recommended and I will surely read the next book after taking a breather with something different. As a trilogy it could be as earth-shattering as Mara Dryer, but I think it was planned for two books, with the second book taking another turn, if I guess right.

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Review: Ultraviolet

Ultraviolet Ultraviolet by R.J. Anderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If I remember right, this was compared to one of my favorite books by an author I read for the first time (and I think a debut?): The Unbecoming of Maya Dryer. And I see why, although for me what comes to mind are two other books (one I did not finish yet). These are both taking place in a mental institution, as does this one: I Never Promised You a Rose Garden and Red Orc's Rage.
All highly recommended (even though I did yet finish "... Rose Garden").
Farmer's "Red Orc's Rage" has a similar concept like this one, I do not count that as a spoiler, at least I hope not, or that most will not know both. Farmer will probably read after the first 5 books in the "Word of tiers"-series, without knowledge of that, it might seem overly weird.

So, how about reviewing this one without spoiling anything?
A bit short, but there is a sequel, which I have already bought, when I bought this one.
The female MC struggles with a bad thing that happened, leading to her own mother calling the police and getting her committed into an insane asylum. All this takes place in Canada, although regrettably (I like to look up places on Google Earth) some of it is made up.

Alison (the heroine) reveals on the first page that she has killed someone. This sets the stage for her twisted journey inside the Asylum, given drugs, questioned by police and her doctor, bullied by inmates and constantly thinking about what happened and what to reveal and what to do.
Another doctor, Faraday (sic!), helps her and diagnoses her conditions. Just then you think, it might get in a romance direction, the story takes a left exit and reveals how much Alison (and the reader) does not know, I have not guessed most twists, so thats a plus.

Another twist, and then - the ending, which is ok for me, open enough for a sequel, rather realistic (for me, others may think different).
Although I do not see too many similarities to Mara Dryer, this is good, not totally 5 stars, but 4 highly recommended and I will surely read the next book after taking a breather with something different. As a trilogy it could be as earth-shattering as Mara Dryer, but I think it was planned for two books, with the second book taking another turn, if I guess right.

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Saturday, October 15, 2016

Review: Ein MORDs-Team - Band 13: Die fünfte Dynastie

Ein MORDs-Team - Band 13: Die fünfte Dynastie Ein MORDs-Team - Band 13: Die fünfte Dynastie by Andreas Suchanek
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Warning: this is the 13th of a serial, rather short, so only 4 stars, but worth-while.
Recommended but you should have read the 12 books before, as a standalone this will not work.


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Review: Böses Netz: Steiners vierter Fall

Böses Netz: Steiners vierter Fall Böses Netz: Steiners vierter Fall by Martin Olden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Got an email from lesen.net on a day this was offered for free, so I got it.
This is a German crime series (probably not available in english translation), which takes a major turn at the end in this book, the fourth. Have another one (the 6th) from this series, might buy the fifth, but not the first/second one if I have to pay the regular price for it, they are not expensive, but still too much imho.
Can be read as a standalone.

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Review: Pop Goes the Weasel

Pop Goes the Weasel Pop Goes the Weasel by M.J. Arlidge
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Top notch, dark, highly recommended.

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Review: Zorn - Tod und Regen: Thriller

Zorn -  Tod und Regen: Thriller Zorn - Tod und Regen: Thriller by Stephan Ludwig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Stumbled across this as it was filmed for a TV-Movie in Germany.
Ok read, but brutal and bloddy. This TV-Movie is with Katrin Bauerfeind (a redhead), and not as brutal or bloody, and story was a little changed.
Will read the other books in the series and try to watch all TV-movies when they show up.
Not available in translation, I think, sorry for that.


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Review: Firespell

Firespell Firespell by Chloe Neill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

More like 3.5 star, rounded to 4.
Nice fluffy read about paranormal life in a Chicago Boarding School.
Lily is feeling like the odd-one-out after being sent by her parents to this fancy, expensive school when her parents take a sabbatical in Germany, for studies of philosophical documents.
The usual snobby group of fashion-cheerleaders-leaders prank her and force her to take sides between them or her newly found friend Scout, one other odd-one-out.
Mild suspense (could have been more), as it develops as nearly expected.
When I read this review I think, 4 stars are not really warranted, I should have round down to 3.
Whatever.
A little romance, but luckily no love-triangle, no sex, no drugs, no insta-love. So, very tame.
Feels a bit like Hex Hall, and Born at Midnight - so if you like it, you know what to expect.
Still like it, recommended it, if you like this stuff, and will certainly read the next book in this series.



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Friday, September 30, 2016

Review: The Bones of Others

The Bones of Others The Bones of Others by Vickie McKeehan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Over the time frame of a few years I got a mail from Bookbub each time a book from this series was available for free, so I managed to pick up the 4 books for free.
More like 3.5 rounded to 4 for being the first in a series.
Very good integration of the fantasy/paranormal in the crime story.
With its theme of sexual abuse and abduction it is certainly not for everyone, but the author handles that sensible and in a realistic way, going deep in the feelings and background of Skye, as far as I can tell.

It is a near page-turner, but the conclusion and the vigilante MC's do not sit well with me, at some point the police should have been involved and the criminals should have been imprisoned, not killed (sorry, if that counts as a spoiler).
A little romance blossoms, but it remains open if and how it will develop in the next books.
Recommended with the above caveats. If that does not matter to you, pick it up.
For some reason I am reluctant to read the next book although I already own it.

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Sunday, September 25, 2016

Review: A Shroud for Delilah

A Shroud for Delilah A Shroud for Delilah by Anthea Fraser
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

DNF at 27%, I will FF the rest of the book to get the main story.
Read the blurb and stay away from this book, I fell for it, as I skimmed reviews, but obviously the wrong ones. Even the blurb is misleading, in no way this is a fast-paced book, I have watched my dryer tumble clothes way more suspenseful than this.

No romance, no sex (so far, I am at 27%) only some VERY old-fashioned relationship (wife has to have marriage and a husbund, yadayadayada), the author is obviously living in a different reality.
If you want HEA or romance pick up something different, if you want crime, mystery and suspense you should also pick up something different.
This was a freebie via Bookbub, and the cover and the mentioned blurb lead me to get it, at least I did not pay for this bore. Will never read another book by this writer.

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Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Review: Splinter the Silence

Splinter the Silence Splinter the Silence by Val McDermid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Big changes, leaked information to the press and a self-set task turns into a real murder investigation. Brutal, very up-to-date with the theme of cyber-bullying, misogynists against feminists, hacking and murders.
Disturbing though, that the disregard for (privacy) laws is used to track down people and the higher-ups know but tend to turn a blind eye. For once I would like to read a book there the main group of investigators sticks to the rules and the law.
Not really full 5 stars, more like 4.5 rounded up for that behaviour.
Highly recommended page-turner, a few lose ends for reading the next book.

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Monday, September 19, 2016

Review: Cross and Burn

Cross and Burn Cross and Burn by Val McDermid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow! So many books, but these still stand out.
Setting is in the UK, and this book part of the Carol Jordan-Tony Hill-series, should not be read as a standalone.
Too much happened in the books before and the last one before this The Retribution is a must read with it devastating conclusion and fall-out of the MC's.
Brutal and no easy solutions.
Not for the faint of heart, rape, torture and mutilation - but then that is a given for this series, where sometimes even the MC suffer during the story.
Extrem highly recommended, and unlike some others in the series, no dragging plot in the middle.
One of the best of the series. For Fans of Simon Becketts David Hunter-series and Mo Hayders Jack Caffery-series (with a second series in between "The Walking Man"). Currently reading the next in the series, could not wait (and had both this, and the next pre-ordered and on my TBR for quite some time).

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Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Review: Imago

Imago Imago by Celina Grace
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After I read the first and second in the series, as I got them for free, I wanted to read the third, and found I already bought it - together with the first and second as a bundle/omnibus just 2 months earlier.
So I can read this now, and it was as good as the others. Not 5 stars, and could have done with a few twists during the book (most where at the ending).
Shorter, I think, but that is ok for me. Not entirely page-turner, a bit too much thinking and romance. POV alternating between MC Kate and the Killer, with a nice twist when the killer is revealed and a few just before that.

Still, highly recommended. As with the books before, not really feeling it that the setting is in the UK, others have done this better. More romance, and a little sex, but not described or explicit. Like the stile, but something is missing for me. There next 3 are also available as a cheaper bundle, so I will probably buy these when I feel like it and read them. But if nothing changes, I think the series might sink to 3.5 stars - rounded down to 3.

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Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Review: Don't Turn Around

Don't Turn Around Don't Turn Around by Caroline Mitchell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Without thinking and without skimming the blurbs, I bought both this and the second Time to Die book in the series for a reasonable price after picking up the third for 0.99 Eur a month ago - I tend to read series in order, mostly.
So I wanted a UK based page-turner crime. What I got was meh. Skimming a few 4 and 5 star reviews and with the supernatural twist revealed, I thought, this might really be good (or should be at least).
Well, not for me. The setting was UK, ok, some expressions and a little bit of scenery was good, but not enough for me, could have been way more english. And from the blurb and the reviews I was expecting a page-turner, I wonder which book the others read they are reviewing, not this one.
Instead, like some really good books I read (Val McDermid comes to mind, there it happens a few times) at around 40-44% there is certain lack of story, not enough action, no suspense and too many side-stories which only function together when all is revealed in the end and it comes together. But that does not save it for me. Having bought the next two books already I have wasted my money, but might look into them to fast-forward read them if they get better.
Sometimes the writing gets better after the author has settled and written more, the late Eva Hudson comes to mind (although the series took a nosedive for me with the takeover of the writing after her death by her friend and editor and I abandoned it), so here is hoping.
The MC is ok, and the background is interesting, but the writing is not. To explain that, the author has published a non-fiction book about a real, documented haunting that took place in the house she (her family) bought. That could be interesting, but I have not read it yet, and that does nothing for the suspense and possible entertainment I wanted from this book.

So this is not really recommended, barely warranting 3 stars for a good idea and a start of a series (and does this count as a debut? not sure about that).

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Monday, August 29, 2016

Review: Eeny Meeny

Eeny Meeny Eeny Meeny by M.J. Arlidge
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Waited with buying this till the price sank to my desired level, and bought both Kindle and Audible versions.
Very dark beginning leaning on borrowing from the SAW movies. Not for the faint of heart.
Very well done in describing the problems of the destroyed but still surviving victims.
Not entirely satisfied with the ending, it was to be expected, would have liked a twist there.
As with other authors, the MC makes the usual mistake of going places alone and without telling anyone, hopefully this will not happen to often in the next books in the series.
Setting is UK, so expect a few different words and places, but the usual f-word is used time and time again, like in US-written books, I am so tired of it, can do without it, but maybe a sign of how much influence the US (TV/books) has in the UK.

Highly recommended, will read more in this series, from this author.

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Review: Deadly Lies

Deadly Lies Deadly Lies by Chris Patchell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is mostly everything I wish for in a good present-day crime book:
dark, suspenseful, twisted, features sex, drugs and rock'n roll (really), modern technology, cybercrime. And violence, but not detailed and not very graphic, but rape is mentioned.

So why is not 5stars? The missing star is for the Cybercrime scenes.
These should have been more detailed, with the couple of MC's both in the business (IT and Cybercrime) and met before marrying at a security IT course (Network penetration). The IT in this book is sound, but for me and probably other nerds could have been way more detailed.
Ending also surprisingly dark, and interesting twist.

Standalone, highly recommended, will read more from this author.

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Review: Crimson Shore

Crimson Shore Crimson Shore by Douglas Preston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

To fully understand this book you should have read a few, preferable all, of the 14 (!) books in the series before this one.
As a standalone you will miss out on some nuances of the story.
Although I rated this 5 stars and think it is one of the best in the series, I think the series has run its course and should be ended.

Two intertwined stories complicated and as often with these books on the fringe of science, you have to suspend believe at times which may not sit well for all readers.
The devastating cliffhanger ending saved it somehow, although some villain from the past pops up again (not named, you can only guess). Despite being killed without a body or proof. Like Nazis (which popped up in The Helen Trilogy of this series) bringing back supposedly dead people is something I can do without -which is to say I hate it, when that happens. Well, we will see how it plays out, hopefully with the next book.

Also to further being not comfortable with that, this could warrant reading every book again, just to see wether continuation is logical. Meh, another thing I can do without now.
Next book is supposed to be published October 18th, 2016 and I pre-ordered it already. Like so many others (current count for October is 14 ebooks for just a little over 100 Eur).

Recommended for fans of the series, complicated, not entirely page-turner quality, saved the 5th star with the open cliffhanger ending leading into the next book.

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Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The Perks of Being a Wallflower The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Do not really like the style. Not my cup of tea or Nesquik, as a non-tea-drinker.
Today (August 23, 2016) I tried to FF through the book and am still bored, mostly not only by what happens, which could have been interesting, but the writing style. This is as worse as Catcher in the rye and the like. Non-pc speaking, it feels braindead and retarded. Not at all like a shy wallflower could and should be. Not too fond of Zombies, some are much more alive than this book.

Calling it DNF now at 18%, but may FF through the rest or the ending and/or read a few reviews with spoilers to find out what the frack the point of this book is. Cannot see one.
Strongly not recommended reading big time waster. Also I am not sure wether I will waste my time and watch the movie (which I already bought) but then I know before how long it will take (102min per imdb, so even with pausing or some rewinding it should be 2 hours or less).

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Saturday, August 20, 2016

Review: The Dante Connection

The Dante Connection The Dante Connection by Estelle Ryan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

While first one was ok, for an introduction and the totally different idea, the case was better, more complex, but otherwise this book was only ok, in fact, some repetitions grated on my nerves. Quite a lot from the first review could be repeated here, so read that instead.
Setting is mainly Strasbourg with a few other places thrown in.
Repeat: Recommended but fluffy read, even though there is romance only hinted at, no sex.
Might read the next books (but not pay too much for them!), just now I do not feel like it.

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Review: Hushabye

Hushabye Hushabye by Celina Grace
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Got this free, as the 2nd book was on an Alarm (ReaderIQ) and then I checked this was also free (as expected).
Reasonably fast read, page-turner.
Strongly recommended but not really 4 stars, not enough twists and although it is set in the UK, at times you do not feel it, except for some expressions. The case is simpler and could have been a lot darker for me, so this one is more like a 3.5 rounded up to 4. Little romance, no sex.
An author to watch for, I will certainly read more of her (and having the 2nd book I will do it now!).

Just having read Eeny Meeny before these two books, a comparison: all 3 take place in the UK, but Eeny Meeny (a debut I think) is longer, a little darker, and you get more of a feeling you are in the UK. Structure of all 3 books is quite similar, with a female MC hiding a dark past. So while all 3 books are very good, the 1 star difference towards Eeny Meeny is warranted for me. And looking at my already bought TBR-ebook-pile, want buy the next books in this and the M.J. Arlidge-series. But will try to clean up and look to DNF a few books, I began 2014 and 2015 (or this year 2016).

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Review: Hushabye

Hushabye Hushabye by Celina Grace
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Got this free, as the 2nd book was on an Alarm (ReaderIQ) and then I checked this was also free (as expected).
Reasonably fast read, page-turner.
Strongly recommended but not really 4 stars, not enough twists and although it is set in the UK, at times you do not feel it, except for some expressions. The case is simpler and could have been a lot darker for me, so this one is more like a 3.5 rounded up to 4. Little romance, no sex.
An author to watch for, I will certainly read more of her (and having the 2nd book I will do it now!).

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Review: Requiem

Requiem Requiem by Celina Grace
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Had set an Alarm at ReaderIQ, and got an email when this was available for free. The first book was also free on the same day, so I snatched up both. If you subscribe to her mailinglist (I did), you might receive this and 2 other books also for free.
Reasonably fast read, page-turner.
Strongly recommended but not really 5 stars, not enough twists and although it is set in the UK, at times you do not feel it, except for some expressions. But the case is slightly better, 2 cases intertwined and more complex, still very up-to-date and dark, while the first one would be 3.5, this is a solid 4 star. Little romance, no sex.

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Sunday, August 14, 2016

Review: The Gauguin Connection

The Gauguin Connection The Gauguin Connection by Estelle Ryan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Bookbub informed of the ebook being free back in 2015, so I did not pay for it.
Interesting start, though not much action, but being a former (Computer) Helpdesk Slave, I really enjoy the methods for investigation used. Cannot say for sure, how accurate the supposed autism of the MC Genevieve is. Everything is from her point of view.
Would have liked more details of the technology used, and I find it rather odd, that someone who uses computers for her work to create lists and presentation says of herself to know very little about computer - given the amount of time she spends with computers, she should know Excel, SQL and a few other things very well, or she is not able to do her work very well. There certainly is a difference between a proficient high-end user (I would consider the MC a high-end user), a programer and a hacker, and a professional should know her own limits and when to consult other experts (as she does when teaming up with a good female hacker), but in this book it does belittle herself, also it was late in the book, that just felt wrong for me.
Also this book is not very suspenseful and one of the bad guys is from a limited group of people, so no real surprise.
Recommended but fluffy read, even though there is romance only hinted at, no sex. Felt too long.
So solid 3stars. Will read the next book of the series, as that was free a few days ago (as an ebook).


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Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Review: Ink and Bone

Ink and Bone Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Perfect dark mirror for fans of Fahrenheit 451.
Alternate history steampunk, no TV, no mobile phones, instead steam driven machines or devices which use magic (like the ebook/slate/tablet like devices). World-building is a bit slow, but well integrated, as the books starts with action scenes, no long preface to explain the rules of the world. Some of the rules are explained when the main characters learn them, which is just as well.
The people are all complex, most not simply good or evil, very well written.
Also, there is love, even gay love (later in the book), but no sex.

As in Fahrenheit 451, we have a faction of book-burners, but they are like rebels, not like the firemen in Fahrenheit 451. The main laws are for preserving books or the information within, the originals are stored in the library, while the people use blanks, ebook like magical devices, which can be filled with a book. There is also an underground trade of original books, which are illegal to posses - they belong to the library. To explain more would spoil the book, so I will stop here.

War is waging in England and people get killed, and the group of people get send there to save books as the library in Oxford still has a cache of rare original books after it was evacuated.
The surviving characters get offered assignments according to their capabilities (or not, whatever), which they can take, for different time-spans (a year, 5 years, some a life-time), starting with an apprentice-like training.

This book could be read as a standalone, the end of the book is not a cliffhanger.
Highly recommended! The second book of this trilogy was published July 2016, with the third to be published July 2017 (which can still slip). So I will not read the second book soon, but pace myself and read probably in December 2016 or when I feel like it.


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Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Review: The Countdown

The Countdown The Countdown by Kimberly Derting
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

After the cliffhanger-ending of The Replaced (The Taking #02), this starts faster.
And a little yai for no love-triangle gets squashed by a love-square...
Bodycount is rather high and there are a few very bloody and gory scenes.
You have been warned. Trying to finish it today (August 1st, 2016).
As it is today the 3d, I obviously did not manage to finish the last 1.5 (or less) hours the 1st.
Just looked at my reviews of the 4star first book and 3 star second book and do not have much to add to the review of the second book, most also could be said for this book, and I had a hard time, even at the 50%, to get into it.
Again too much romance, no sex whatsoever.
Surprisingly high body-count, and more than 200 killed indirectly (off page - off screen for a movie).
Also very bloody and brutal, some cold, cold actions by the MC, and though she (and others) think about it, it was for "the greater good" and sometimes self-defence. But not all where really needed and necessary, imho. Given the no sex rule, this was typical US-style, violence, killing, blood, so it is ok for YA aimed at teenagers?
Although the 3 stars for this and the second are solid and the first even 4 stars, the whole 3 books did not grip and there was not as much suspense as say in the Mara Dyer trilogy. Also, the ebooks (Kindle) should have been cheaper, for all 3 I paid more than 25 Eur, which is way too much, with the first two books just under my self set 10 Eur barrier at which I would not have bought either.
Just checked amazon.de, now you can get all for 15 Eur, with the third book being the most expensive, but altogether that is just ok for this 3 books.
The ending, not to spoil it, I hope, was mostly as expected and after that an Epilogue, as a clean-up, so no loose ends dangle around. For me sex, and suspense where missing and while the action was ok, it did not grip me in any way. And did I mention, yeah, I did, too much romance.
The whole trilogy should be read on a rainy weekend, but given how long it took me to read it, with reading a different book in between the reading of the second book (Thirteen reasons why), then waiting for this book to be published, then waiting till I was in the mood to read it - so the conclusion is, I cannot recommend the trilogy.



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Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Review: The Crossing Places

The Crossing Places The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Just stumbled over this again (tangent: link to the shortlist Dead Good Books, read the comment, do not like Patterson too much, read most/all of Reichs and Gerritsen, so I looked up Griffiths and wanted to buy the first book in the Galloways series for Kindle, only Amazon informed I already bought it. Lucky me, would not have been the first time I bought something again.
Currently (July 23d, 2016) reading The Girl on the Train.
Hopefully I can finish "Girl ...", my habit of starting yet another book while not totally abandoning others is starting to hurt continuity, there I have to read parts again to get into a story I started reading too long ago. Arghh, too late, started it ...
A bit long, interesting scenery. Just not enough in the end for 5 stars.
Still, recommended fast read of not entirely a page-turner for me. Will certainly buy and read the other books in the series sometimes.




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Thursday, July 21, 2016

Review: Follow Me

Follow Me Follow Me by Angela Clarke
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Like the book I read before this, Taylor: The Missing - my review, I found this through Dead Good books and again read Malia's Review and mostly agree, the MC Freddie and her former childhood friend Nas are not really likeable and Freddie is crass, too much swearing and anger, although I realize that is probably realistic, only I do not like that and therefore not her. Still, she is a strong MC.
This is on the shortlist of Dead Good Books - The Papercut Award for Best Page Turner. As I was waiting for a delivery this morning, I managed to read 40% today, hoping to finish it today or tomorrow.
While the story is mostly gripping and I cannot guess edited: a few pages later I realize where the killer/killers is. While not exactly who, or what will be revealed. But the main drift is announced and then with a nice turn before the real killer or killers is (are) seen.
Through the book the police is clueless, not pro-active, although in part I can understand them, and the hiring for cheap of Freddie as a social media-advisor - I can really see this happening due to budget-cuts. But Freddie is naive and even for a reporter not very strong, every time she sees blood she faints. Also I really really dislike (hate) then people state the obvious, even in form of the question -
for example "Freddie looked from Moast to Nas to Tibbsy and back again. ‘Can she do that?’ - ‘She can and she did,’ said Nas.". Duh!
For a reporter she should be used to noticing the obvious and not question it. With the reaction to bloody murder scenes and even by her own admission when she thinks about it, she is not fit for the jobs given to her or chosen by her (both reporter and police advisor). She knows a lot about social media and the technology involved, and I can understand that the police does not - in fact from everything I see here in Germany, they are even more dumbfounded than the police force in the book, with outsourcing too much.
Also I still cannot stand Freddie, and Nas (her old former ex-friend/school-BFF) is too bland for me, although some parts of and with her are interesting. The main parts of the story would get 4 stars, without the two female MC's, but given that they are there, at this point (84%), they would get 2 stars, giving 3 with barely a recommendation.
Recommended if you can stand the two MC's, 3 solid stars for the use of social media and up-to-date technology without mistakes and not exaggerated or doing thing that are not possible.
Being a former Helpdesk Slave and using VPN and other things on a daily basis, and even TOR sometimes, this is all entirely correct. Reading the material after the end of the story, I might buy the next book and read it, although I am not sure I want to meet Freddie again (which is more or less mentioned in the description).

(Edit a few minutes later...) Forgot to mention, as with the book before, this one takes place in the UK, although some US-expressions are used ("fuck" too often, but not as often as in some US books), some UK (pre-BREXIT) flair is there, but not too much, also, London? Again?


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Monday, July 18, 2016

Review: The Missing

The Missing The Missing by C.L. Taylor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bought this very cheap the same day as I started it, currently not sure, wether it was a promotional price or wether it always is this cheap (1,39 Eur).
Stumbled on this book on The Dead Good Books Award for Most Recommended Book, this is one of 6 on the shortlist. Description from blurb and Dead Good Books sounded interesting.
Beginning is a chat protocol so this should be my kind of book.
Wow! Quite a page-turner, as I could not guess who was responsible (and what really happened).
A few red herrings where masterly laid, cannot go into details (even negative ones) without spoiling it. Very up-to-date with chat logs (later explained to be WhatsApp, but could also have been iMessage or whatever) and computer usage, also no mistakes, very well done.
So why only 4 stars? MC was a bit much, and the use of mental blackouts as a deux-ex-machina-like plot device just a tad too convenient.
Takes place in the UK (Bristol), so slightly different English, and I like it better, than some of the US counterparts.
Looked this up after seeing it on "Dead Good Books" mentioned above and then reading the 3 star review from Malia, and after finishing this, I started with another one Malia reviewed and rated even higher, also taking place in the UK (pre-Brexit, sniff, they are leaving our union, so sad) Follow Me
Highly recommended. Will certainly read other books by this author!

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Saturday, July 16, 2016

Review: Mord Nach Gebot

Mord Nach Gebot Mord Nach Gebot by Dietrich Novak
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Snatched this and the second book in the series for free as an ebook, from an email from lesen.net (ebook/kindle not listed on Goodreads yet).
Ok read, the main twist I guessed early on, the two twists which ended the main story, not, good idea. Free spirited sex mentioned, but mostly happening of page.
Recommended, will certainly read the next one as I already own it. Cannot really say how much I would pay for it (less than 5 Eur / 5 Us$ certainly). Solid 3 stars, not less, not more.
Read this in German, probably not available in English translation.

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Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Review: Gingerbread Man

Gingerbread Man Gingerbread Man by Lee Strauss
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars, rounded to 3 - not 4, as I think, it could have been more suspenseful and not as much convenient deux ex machina's (or coincidences).
Also, it had a love triangle, more or less.
Alternating POV between chapters, which where very well done, if you like such things.
The one major twist in this book I did not see coming, not having read any spoilers or reviews.
As usual I will not mention it, so as not to spoil it for others.
The main situation and people are very well written, and I liked them a lot, with the conflicts of who to like, love, dislike and who to suspect as a villain. Setting is the University of Detroit, with a serial rapist / killer. You have been warned, but is not very graphic, nor bloody.
Also good use of technology: Computers, mobile phones (ok could have been more).
Recommended as a fast read, and do not pay too much for it, it was a serial (3 parts?), and I snatched it for free, as a short novel-omnibus-of-the first 1-3 series. Will certainly read the next books sometimes.


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Sunday, July 10, 2016

Review: Verlockende Opfer (Sex & Crime 4)

Verlockende Opfer (Sex & Crime 4) Verlockende Opfer (Sex & Crime 4) by Harry Hold
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Read this in German (my first language), this is not translated into English.
Good short read. Is Number one in a series. No obvious errors, and the title says all.

Recommended for a sexy crime read on a rainy day instead of a boring romance.

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