THE BOOK OF SPIES by Gayle Lynds – review
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As F. Scott Fitzgerald said, the rich are not like most of us. And in this fast-moving thriller, there are ten ultra-rich men who place themselves above all the rest of us, not only in accumulating wealth, but hoarding the world’s treasures in the form of hundreds of gold- and precious gem-covered books in a secret location. Then one of the books, “The Book of Spies,” is smuggled out and becomes the source for the location of the “book club.”
Meanwhile, a clandestine, super-secret CIA group discovers an alleged link between the library and a terrorist bank account, setting off a chase around the world. A former curator for the Getty Museum, Eva Blake, serving a sentence for the vehicular murder of her husband, is enlisted to assist in the effort. She’s teamed with Judd Ryder, a troubled ex-military intelligence operative. Together, they chase leads from Paris to Rome, to Athens and Istanbul, seeking the secret location. More on page 5708
Theodore Feit @ September 1, 2010
Laura Lippman on Craig Ferguson show 8/31/10
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Here is a clip of Laura Lippman on the Late Late Show last night with Craig Ferguson.
Brian Lindenmuth @ September 1, 2010
September 2010 Pull List
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After the jump check out the September 2010 releases that I’m looking forward to.
How about you, what are you looking forward to?
Brian Lindenmuth @ September 1, 2010
THE MAN FROM BEIJING by Henning Mankell – review
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The reader is treated by the author of the ever-popular Kurt Wallander series to a sweeping narrative with origins in the mid-19th century United States and spanning four continents. The tale begins in a little town in Sweden where a rare [if ever] occurrence of the mass murder of several inhabitants takes place. The police are mystified until they arrest a local ne’er-do-well who confesses to the murders but then hangs himself in his cell. Case closed.
But little makes sense to a woman judge who was raised in the village by foster parents when she visits the town and begins to uncover various clues raising questions about the police solution. She continues to ponder the why of it all, including taking a photograph of a possible perpetrator with her when she visits China with a friend. Needless to say, this act places her in a great deal of danger. More on page 5706
Theodore Feit @ September 1, 2010
Resume With Monsters by William Browning Spencer – review
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I originally reviewed Resume With Monsters on November 3, 2006
Over the course of 16 years, 4 novels and 2 story collections William Browning Spencer has been quietly carving out his own bit of territory. His voice is singularly unique combining a vivid imagination and an always odd and sometimes bizarre sense of humor.
In Resume With Monsters William Browning Spencer (yes, that’s his name and no he isn’t a Romantic Poet) asks the audacious question that cube monkeys everywhere had been asking themselves ‘Is there a connection, or more specifically an unholy alliance between corporations and Cthulu?’ The gloriously demented answer is YES! Cube monkeys of the world rejoice, their secrets are finally exposed (but remember to only rejoice at a pre-approved scheduled time that is off company property, please see your supervisor to have your leg chains unlocked)
Brian Lindenmuth @ August 31, 2010
DON’T LOOK TWICE by Andrew Gross – review
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Ty Hauck, the Greenwich, CT, Detective Lieutenant, is confronted with an ever-shifting set of circumstances following the murder of a Federal prosecutor at a local convenience store, the bullets narrowly missing Ty and his daughter. Initially, the clues seem to indicate a revenge killing not even related to the victim.
But all is not what it appears to be. More murders ensue, and as Ty delves deeper and deeper, he discovers that the first victim had a gambling problem, leading to involvement of an Indian casino. With each succeeding murder, a different twist develops in the investigation, even reaching to politics in Hartford and corruption in Iraq. More on page 5704
Theodore Feit @ August 31, 2010
FATALLY FLAKY by Diane Mott Davidson – review
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Goldy Schulz, caterer deluxe, returns in her 15th appearance in this series. It is summer in Colorado, and she is about to do a wedding for the bride from hell, who has already changed the wedding date twice, along with every other aspect of the nuptials, Bridezilla Billie, as Goldy thinks of her, is 36 years old, and getting married for the first time after having been jilted by two fiancés, and is also apparently a complete flake. The change of venue from Goldy’s own catering space to the Gold Gulch Spa, owned by her nemesis, Victor Lane, is the last straw. When the big day finally arrives, Goldy’s primary thought was a prayer that it would all be over quickly, an emotion I found myself sharing. [The minutiae of the planning was getting to be a bit much, for both of us.]
Goldy’s husband, Tom, is an investigator with the Furman County Sheriff’s Department, and he has his hands full when two days before Bridezilla’s wedding Doc Finn, the best friend of Goldy’s beloved godfather, Jack, is found murdered. More on page 5702
Gloria Feit @ August 31, 2010
Spinetingler hits 100 thousand
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Since the reboot in February, in just 28 weeks, Spinetingler has had 100,000 visitors.
To you, the 100,000th visitor and to all of the others we say thanks. Here’s to another 100,000.
Brian Lindenmuth @ August 30, 2010
SILENCER by James W. Hall – review
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Thorn is a unique character. In the previous installment of this series he inherited a billion-dollar corporation, but spurned any involvement in its operation, leaving the day-to-day activities to his girlfriend, Rusty, who seems to be doing a bang-up job. Both, however, are interested in preserving the environment, and toward that end, Rusty develops a deal in which the State of Florida buys acres and acres of the company’s land holdings for $500,000, which money can then be used to buy the Coquino Ranch and preserve it in its natural state, in which it has existed for generations.
But things are never easy where Thorn is concerned (he seems to get himself into all kinds of situations) and this deal is no exception. More on page 5700
Theodore Feit @ August 30, 2010
Three Days to Never by Tim Powers – review
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I originally reviewed Three Days to Never on October 31, 2006
We are introduced to recent widower Frank Marrity and his 12 year old daughter Daphne. Upon the death of his grandmother in 1987 they discover some things in her shed that finds them in the middle of a covert war between the Mossad and a group called The Vespers. The two groups are vying for control of a time travel device that Albert Einstein invented and used a couple of times but kept secret because of the dire ramifications. Charlie Chaplin gets tied into this as well, accidentally using the machine once. A lost movie of Chaplin’s is discovered as well that contains such powerful symbolism that watching it evokes a strong response from those who view it, including latent pyrokinetic abilities in Daphne. The Mossad and The Vespers each have different pieces of the puzzle and desperately want the various pieces of that puzzle that the Marrity’s hold (whether they know it or not). There is one time traveler from 2006 who gets involved (though I wont say who) in the events of 1987 for selfish reasons, and like many a past character in a Tim Powers novel that mis-uses magic or in this case science, pays a price for it also. All of these story threads come together in a metaphysically action packed climax.
Brian Lindenmuth @ August 30, 2010
