I've listened to all of these books so far and am at the stage where I can't imagine reading the book such is the pitch perfect tone of Gerard Doyle'sI've listened to all of these books so far and am at the stage where I can't imagine reading the book such is the pitch perfect tone of Gerard Doyle's narration of the series.
The fourth book in the originally planned Sean Duffy trilogy is perhaps the deepest yet both in terms of characterisation and scale of plot. Duffy is working a murder suicide while also being part of a semi-joint task force responsible for tracking down an illegal arms deal involving American missiles, as the investigation unfolds linkages between the two cases emerge.
While the crime fiction aspect of Gun Street Girl takes center stage, it's the passages of the book about Duffy's personal life and him as a character in general I most enjoyed; author Adrian McKinity really punishes his protagonist in Gun Street Girl, one mercury tilt bomb at a time. 5/5 stars. ...more
Epic in page count and scope, The Cartel is the fantasy / sci-fi scale equivalent for crime fiction. Through a myriad of characters, Winslow depicts aEpic in page count and scope, The Cartel is the fantasy / sci-fi scale equivalent for crime fiction. Through a myriad of characters, Winslow depicts a trade so heinous that the pages themselves feel blood encrusted. Not exclusively confined to the Adan Barrera / Art Keller confrontation which largely underpins the book, The Cartel spotlights other key elements to the war on drugs through different character’s eyes, namely those portraying the journalistic angle, those involved in political and police corruption/fear mongering, and the once innocent young people their begotten families. Through the harshness of the war, victims aplenty with Winslow given page-time to the innocent and no-so alike – this is, as James Ellroy on the cover stated, the War and Peace of Dope books. 5/5....more
The mixture of prose and comic storytelling infused together by a beautiful use of water colours is well executed and could've been a great accompanimThe mixture of prose and comic storytelling infused together by a beautiful use of water colours is well executed and could've been a great accompaniment to what might have been a great story had it not felt so disjointed. Too many times throughout A.D.: After Death I found myself thinking "what the hell did I just read and how does this fit into a futuristic story where humans have conquered dying?" - that and the constant, seemingly irrational change of tense make this comic (if I can call it that) difficult to enjoy.
There is no payoff for the reader. I kept waiting for that "oh, now I get it" moment; that page, panel or paragraph that ties it all together in one illuminating lightbulb moment of clarity. It wasn't there and I feel cheated; Rather than answers to the Jonah Cooke story all I got were more questions, more plot threads and little meaning.
A.D.: After Death looks great but, for me, those looks are deceiving. I need a story, irrespective of the medium to grip me, to make me want to read it, and, while I don't mind there being questions of where the story is heading, there should be some answers; the story should be coherent and this just wasn't.
2 out of 5 stars. This could have been something special - it still might be; this is book 1 of 3, but it may have missed the opportunity by virtue of the odd opening stanza....more
Pretty straightforward linear private eye mystery, perfectly fitting of the pulp dime store paperback stereotype of old.
Using a character as well knoPretty straightforward linear private eye mystery, perfectly fitting of the pulp dime store paperback stereotype of old.
Using a character as well know as Raymond Chandlers classic private eye was always going to raise eyes for readers well versed in Chandlers purple prose. However, read with no preconceived notions, The Black Eyed Blonde is a pretty fun book; easily readable and engaging.
I wanted to like Night Hunter more than I did. That's not to say the book was bad, it wasn't, but the writing left a lot to be desired. The common theI wanted to like Night Hunter more than I did. That's not to say the book was bad, it wasn't, but the writing left a lot to be desired. The common theme of 'I am going to hunt down these heinous shadowy, ghost-like abominations and make them pay for what they've done' grew tiresome, especially after reading it or a similar phrase well into a third of the book. I get it - Dan Brady wants his family back; they were taking by these shadow figures while he was savagely attacked, barely living through the supernatural ordeal - he's going to move heaven and earth to find them and exact his revenge.
Unfortunately, his mission gets cloudy once released from hospital - distractions by another who has experienced the same fate as him drive Brady down a path of almost unbelievable voodoo and commonplace 1980's C-grade horror-aversion tactics.
You need to suspend your belief but the author struggled to make this read plausible; It could've been, but wasn't. I liked the idea behind the plot, but there was just too many holes and 'what-the?' moments to rate Night Hunter beyond an average read for me.
Catalyst Reads well as a standalone - this is one of those Star Wars books readers could enjoy simply to get a taste of what's to come in Rogue One wiCatalyst Reads well as a standalone - this is one of those Star Wars books readers could enjoy simply to get a taste of what's to come in Rogue One without worrying about the baggage of the new cannon. That said, some familiarity with the characters and earlier movies will improve the reader experience (The Clone Wars features prominently in discussion throughout the earlier stages while Tarkin (A New Hope) is a key figure.
While it lacks the same level of adventure and action as some of the other new cannon books, Catalyst does provide an important look at the early development of the Death Star's eventual world destroying weapon and the nuances that go into getting the Empire established. Remember, most of the people across the galaxy know not of Palpatine's evil ways.
Author James Luceno also wrote another of the Star Wars new cannon novels in Tarkin; this is evident in Catalyst with the character featuring prominently. I loved the way Luceno played Krennic and Tarkin off one another, the dynamic was tense to say least.
As far as the other characters go, there is a little bit of Han Solo to Has; a tried and tested formula that is proven to work, so why not adopt here? Luckily, the typecast suits Has and his character develops into its own, rather than becoming a Han-like clone. The Eros' fit the Rebel mold perfectly while the bit players (Saw most notably) add a little something.
Catalyst doesn't bring much new to the franchise but it does serve its purpose in wetting the appetite for Rogue One. A must read for Star Wars fans but not essential to the casual observer.
The Four Legendary Kingdoms is by far the most new reader friendly in the series (Seven Ancient Wonders, the first book in the Jack West Jr. series asThe Four Legendary Kingdoms is by far the most new reader friendly in the series (Seven Ancient Wonders, the first book in the Jack West Jr. series aside). The book follows on from the events of The Five Greatest Warriors many years after conclusion of that book and feels like it breathes new life into the series. The characters, new and old, are engaging and each adds the overall dynamic of the story.
Hades is a great location for this book. Not only does it allow for a hint of the supernatural to be embedded in the fantastical adventure series but also paves the way for new and interesting characters to enter the fray.
Long time readers of Matthew Reilly will love The Four Legendary Kingdoms for reasons I can't go into because of major spoilers. Needless to say there are many fanboy (or girl, depending on the reader) moments that left a goofy smile on my face.
I've always enjoyed the Jack West Jr. books and am pleased to say that The Four Legendary Kingdoms may just be the best one yet. ...more
No one writes West Australian crime fiction like David Whish-Wilson. Old Scores once again transports the reader back in time, this time to the 1980'sNo one writes West Australian crime fiction like David Whish-Wilson. Old Scores once again transports the reader back in time, this time to the 1980's at the beginning of the urban boom.
Frank Swan, cop turned P.I turned WA Premier's fixer, returns for a third installment bringing with him all the baggage of the preceding books in Line of Sight and Zero At The Bone. This time, however, he's out on his own, solving problems for the Premier before they break the media also while acting as a quasi security guard.
The Premier, having already committed to furthering the urban sprawl has his sights set on prime real-estate to develop. Swan is asked to look over the tenders by one of the Premier's minders to undercover any shady dealings. What Swan finds, is more than he bargained for.
With the ghosts of his past returning to haunt him, Swan navigates through a criminal underworld populated by bikies, drug lords, scam artists, ex-cons, police, and politicians to uncover a spate of illegal and unethical doings by the bidders which, if not carefully handed, could result in dire consequences for the Premier - and Swan himself.
While Swan is the cog that keeps the plot turning, there are a number of threads involving equally interesting characters with unique and deep backstories; Des Foley, the Good Morning Bandit is colorful, and Blake Tracker is a young man harshly dealt with by the law who is on the run after a successful jailbreak. While not seemingly connected to one another in the early stages of the novel, Whish-Wilson brings these threads together to form a single cohesive narrative that is a joy to read.
Old Scores envelopes the reader in not only a time and place, but puts them firmly in the mind of the characters.
The Bronx Kill promised to be gritty, grimy, and noir. Yet what we get is a deeply rooted family drama that's both twisted and perverted amid a backdrThe Bronx Kill promised to be gritty, grimy, and noir. Yet what we get is a deeply rooted family drama that's both twisted and perverted amid a backdrop of a missing persons case that sometimes jumps around a little too much to make sense.
The art by James Romberger is moody and effective. The styling of each character is distinguishable page to page - you never get lost in the narrative trying to define who is who. For some reason I pictured most of this graphic novel taking place in the day time - even though there are a number of clearly drawn night time sequences. The Bronx Kill, the location, that is, that dumping ground of human waste both organic and non, just feels right in the day time - a seedy decrepit dark contrast to the sunshine.
Peter Milligan writes a nicely woven family drama than spans generations of adultery and murder. That was interesting. But a little of the spice was lost when in a matter of pages we jump months or even years without a segue or indication in a panel (bar one scene when Martin leaves America for Ireland and returns 4 months later). It can be confusing to the reader.
The Bronx Kill is a decent read that has a great twist but lacks a little rationale. There is one character, Kerry, who appears late in the book loaded with plot bombs that changes the course of Martin's story. Perhaps if she was introduced earlier, her character would have had more of an impact and the story would've felt more organic. That said, I see what Peter Milligan was trying to do and I liked it.
I'd rate this Vertigo Crime graphic novel a solid 3.5 / 5.
The Five Greatest Warriors is a globe spanning fantasy adventure epic disguised as a 'world outside your window conspiracy thriller'. Take this fictioThe Five Greatest Warriors is a globe spanning fantasy adventure epic disguised as a 'world outside your window conspiracy thriller'. Take this fiction with a grain of salt as Matthew Reilly adds a little bit of spice to the ancient wonders of the world and also enhances his characters with a hint of the supernatural (namely the ability to push through consecutive battles and still be a functioning human being). The superhuman nature of Jack West Jr and his rag tag team of geniuses and special ops expats gives The Five Greatest Warriors a comic-book feel of sorts.
The Five Greatest Warriors does get a little stale in parts due to the set and repeat nature of the missions with a small period of research time between. That being said, any tedium is quickly forgotten once Jack West Jr jumps head first into finding the next vertices.
It's been a long time between books in this series. I went back and re-read this (first read in 2009) in readiness for The Four Legendary Kingdoms which was recently published in Australia (2016). I found the re-read not as good as the first time round but still enjoyable. ...more
I was really impressed with Tania Chandler's debut novel, Please Don't Leave Me Here; a book that explored two very different and unique sides to her I was really impressed with Tania Chandler's debut novel, Please Don't Leave Me Here; a book that explored two very different and unique sides to her lead character Brigitte, a wife, mother and victim. The balance between crime and literary-like insight was perfect and complementary. The follow-up however, didn't hit the same chords.
Dead in the Water sees Tania Chandler return to Brigitte as she rebuilds her life following the events of the first novel. Living on a small island and married to a policeman, she spends a lot of her time traversing back forth from the mainland for work and day-to-day life. It's this daily routine coupled with Brigitte's inner turmoil surrounding her adulterous thoughts that consumes a large part of the novel. At times tedious and, for lack of a better word, boring, I found myself skimming over the chapters just to get to the parts of the novel which focused on the peripheral murder investigation.
The murder of a celebrity chef is the undercurrent that spans Brigitte's own encounter with death, yet again. Requiring the reader to suspend belief is part and parcel when reading fiction, but the amount of bad luck that follows Brigitte is hard to swallow, particularly as it's written in a way which is more sub plot than crime fiction - which is ok if you're into that sort of thing - I'm not.
Dead in the Water was an ok read which didn't match my expectations given how good Please Don't Leave Me Here was. ...more
A sudden and dramatic car crash leaves a top television exec dazed and confused; more so when he realizes a good SamaritSex, lies, and criminal ties.
A sudden and dramatic car crash leaves a top television exec dazed and confused; more so when he realizes a good Samaritan is a sheep in wolfs clothing, and is part of an elaborate ruse to kidnap his family. As Leone Scamarcio investigates the nature of the kidnapping a connection to organised crime and a shady brother in-law emerge as key pieces to the puzzle. With the investigation slipping away, and suspects mounting, Scamarcio’s lone wolf investigative approach might not be enough to save the exec’s wife and child.
Scamarcio’s own connection to organised crime is an omnipresent cloud that hangs over his every move; a cloud that only gets darker as he become embroiled in a power play for the criminal elite. Does trading one problem for another, one side for another clear his debt or double it?
The Hit reads like a bare knuckles Mafioso story and police procedural in one, equally at home amongst Dennis Lehane (Joe Coughlin series) and Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch Series); top notch story telling from beginning to end, the best Scamarcio novel yet.
I was provided a copy by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Eagle in Exile picks up where Clash of Eagles left off with Gaius Marcellinus on the outer of the inner circle of Cahokia despite playing a significanEagle in Exile picks up where Clash of Eagles left off with Gaius Marcellinus on the outer of the inner circle of Cahokia despite playing a significant role in repelling the Cahokians sworn enemy, the Iroqva in the previous book. Beware, Eagle in Exile is not new reader friendly, if you've not read Clash of Eagles, pick that up first before delving into this as the story is a seamless continuation of the events from the previous book.
Eagle in Exile is one of those rare sequels that reads better than the first, which is saying something given how much I enjoyed Clash of Eagles. The alternative history 'what if' trilogy goes from strength to strength as author Alan Smale explores the native tribes and townships along the mighty Mizipian while world-building the Roman footprint on native America thanks the Maecellinus's influence in construction and modern warfare.
There is so much to like about Eagle in Exile, I just didn't want it to end; from characters such as Tahtay, Sintikala, Kimimela, Hadrianus, Aelfric, and Entopy to name a few, to the creative and somewhat plausible flying inventions of the Cahokians, Eagle in Exile is jam-packed entertainment.
The finale book in the trilogy, Eagle and Empire can't come quick enough (due to be published early 2017)!...more
Imagine a Roman empire so mighty that it never fell and crushed all those who stood in their way as they pursued a never ending expansion across contiImagine a Roman empire so mighty that it never fell and crushed all those who stood in their way as they pursued a never ending expansion across continents and into the fertile and dangerous lands of North America.
Clash of Eagles allows history to alter. Bringing the Roman army to the shores of North America and face to face with American natives. Steel swords and sophisticated battle strategy clash with poison arrows, stealth attacks, and the mound-building Cahokiani.
However, for The 33rd Roman Legion, led by Praetor Gaius Marcellinus on their quest for an easy conquest and acquisition of gold ends in a bloody battle at the hands of the fantastical flight warriors of the Cahokiani outside of Cahokia.
With Marcellinus the sole survivor, he switches allegiance and joins the Cahokiani, bringing modernised Roman warfare to Cahokia to give them the advantage in the never ending Morning War against their local enemy of Iroqva.
Clash of Eagles is loaded historical fact and a healthy dose of fantasy; author Alan Smale gets the dosage just right. Clash of Eagles reads as 'real' with a deep core character in Marcellinus and a Cahokiani supporting cast that I just want more of.
Beware, Clash of Eagles, while depicting an interesting side of life in Cahokia also has a fair amount of battle scenes, as you'd expect - they are gory, frenetic and not for the squeamish - but I liked them.
The first book in the Hesperian Trilogy is a great start with a semi-cliff hanger ending (don't worry, Clash of Eagles still feels like a complete read) that has me adding Eagle in Exile (book 2) straight to the top of my 'next to buy' list.
I was provided a copy by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book is a meaty read comprising political intrigue and corruption, world domination by a powerful and influential 1% faction, globe spanning terrThis book is a meaty read comprising political intrigue and corruption, world domination by a powerful and influential 1% faction, globe spanning terror plots, archaeological elements critical to character motives, and a special ops thriller all entwined into a single cohesive narrative that reads 'real'. Thoroughly entertaining from start to finish.
Side note: despite been book 4 in the Curtis O'Connor series, The Alexandria Connection reads perfectly well as a standalone. I've not read the previous three books and it did nothing to curb my enthusiasm or enjoyment of The Alexandria Connection....more
Max and Angela do Hollywood in the 4th installment of the Bruen/Starr humorous noir series collaboration.
Max, now a hardened criminal with an over-inMax and Angela do Hollywood in the 4th installment of the Bruen/Starr humorous noir series collaboration.
Max, now a hardened criminal with an over-inflated sense of self worth and delusions of grandeur, finds himself as the sole mass producer of wonder drug PIMP; a drug that will surely etch his name firmly among the criminal elite as well as make him a bucket load of cash. Out with the blue collar, in with the pimp strut, so to speak.
Angela, of the returned from the dead variety, has managed to work her way through the porn industry into the prime position of producer for a TV series based on hers and Max's criminal exploits entitled 'Bust'. Under the guise of Brandi Love, her pron pseudonym, Angela forges a lifestyle she'd only dreamed of - made real by her easy acquiescence to murder, backstabbing, and bribery.
PIMP is a damn good book to read. I loved every minute and hope to read many, many more crazy tales encapsulating the criminal capers of Max and Angela. ...more
SKIN PALACE paints a picture of a certain kind of book. One where the adult entertainment industry is at the forefront and, being a crime novel, accomSKIN PALACE paints a picture of a certain kind of book. One where the adult entertainment industry is at the forefront and, being a crime novel, accompanied by an ever present underworld influence. That's not what SKIN PALACE is about. It's a character study and so much more; a steady evolution of character through a decrepit viewfinder.
True, criminalities seep into the seedy underworld of sex, drugs and adultery bringing together critical plot elements centered around film, photography and family drama to form a complex topsy turvy narrative depicted in equal parts night and day. Yet it's the lives of the characters that envelope the reader in a shroud of uncertainty, trying to figure out each angle, plot thread, and core direction of story.
A the center of all that happens in SKIN PALACE is Sylvia who's passion for photography leads her to the Canal Zone; a dangerous quadrant of the city and rabbit hole of sorts which brings together a mystery of a man, a bloodthirsty gang, and a cinema (The Skin Palace) owner who sees something in her that her partner (and lawyer) doesn't - exploitation or opportunity?
SKIN PALACE is complex, interesting, and certainly not what I was expecting - in a good way. Despite being book 3 in the Quinsigamond Quintet it reads perfectly well as a standalone. Highly recommended.
The Coughlin saga ends in a satisfying hail of bullets with WOLD GONE BY reaffirming Lehane’s place as one of my go-to-for-a-great-mob-book authors.
JThe Coughlin saga ends in a satisfying hail of bullets with WOLD GONE BY reaffirming Lehane’s place as one of my go-to-for-a-great-mob-book authors.
Joe Coughlin has lost his wife and buried many friends during his life as a fedora wearing, smooth dressing gangster but WORLD GONE BY takes his time in ‘this thing of ours’ to new extremes. Learning of a contract being placed on his head by a less than reputable source does little to crease Joe’s smooth veneer – after all, he’s more a businessman these days, too valuable to the underworld to lie six deep but when the threat steadily emerges and the pieces align to a pistol pointed his way, Joe does what he does best – lean on his standing in the crime community to negotiate a deal to keeps his lungs full of air, and his enemies/friends pockets lined with cash.
Yeah, that doesn't quite work out.
WOLD GONE BY is an emotionally charged book thanks to some very good writing and solid plotting. Joe and his crime compatriots are well defined characters that give life the underworld. I’m still left reeling from the conclusion and suspect I will for some time yet – Lehane has crafted cinematic quality structured scenes written to make an impact – and that they do.
REVOLVER is fine storytelling - seamlessly switching gears through alternating timelines to deliver a multifaceted crime tale, steadily increasing in REVOLVER is fine storytelling - seamlessly switching gears through alternating timelines to deliver a multifaceted crime tale, steadily increasing in complexity as the narrative unfolds. Spanning three generations each enveloped in heady blood red mist of murder and mystery surrounding the deaths of Philadelphia cops Stan Walczak and George Wildey in 1965, Swierczynski ensures his fictitious bullet fired some 50years past is still dangerous in the present.
Audrey is a CSI in training, studying her craft from afar, the family outcast is cast into the spotlight when she seeks to uncover the truth surrounding her grandfather’s murder in 1965. With her father (Jim) a cop and brother (Stas), her keen eye and inherent internal compass for justice (albeit a justice that feels slightly out of character) is right on point. What she discovers is just as destructive now as that day when her grandfather and his partner were gunned down. This time it’s not bullets raining down on her family but syrupy secrets and morbid revelations.
The route REVOLVER takes is not conventional and that’s one of its biggest drawcards. Linking different timelines through a single act of violence without giving away the motivation while embedding a complex family drama element is satisfying reading when done right – luckily it is here.
Readers of Swierczynki’s previous works will see REVOLVER as somewhat of a departure from what’s come before and a progression in his crime fiction prowess. While being a self-contained story, the door is left ajar for further exploration into the Walczak world – fingers crossed Swierczynski revisits it again at some stage.
I recently finished watching the Quarry TV series and this book fits in perfectly with the tone of that Quarry medium. Set approximately two years aftI recently finished watching the Quarry TV series and this book fits in perfectly with the tone of that Quarry medium. Set approximately two years after joining the Broker in the murder for hire business, Quarry is no longer a reluctant killer; as long as the person with the hit on them needs killing for a reason that is. This time round Quarry is joined by Boyd - the lookout who gets much more hands on than he had anticipated, making the story all that much more colorful for it. Both are hired to take out a Reverend causing a stir in St. Louis, only, they aren't the only killers hired for the job...
Quarry in the Black is one of the more pulpier Quarry novels. Like the other books, there is plenty of sex and murder but this one has a little extra sauce to it. That, along with Boyd who is a great sidekick to Quarry make this one of the more memorable reads. 5 stars all the way. ...more
Loading...
