The Job
By Janet Evanovich
What a breath of fresh air this book was ! No more heroines who couldn't find their way of a closet with the door opened ! I am so happy that she has aco-author who is not afraid to portray female protagonist who are not afraid of taking care of themselves ! Kate knows how to defend herself and is not afarid too ! Yeah ! Enough of my waxing poetic ! This is a good story. It is cross and double cross and is really well writen. I can see this as a TV series that I would gladly recorded and re-watch. Kate O'Hare and Nicolas Fox, the main characters in the story, make great team. In this story, they team up to bring down a vicious killer who has changed his body to avoid capture, or recognition. Nick knows human psychology and is not afraid to use it, to catch a killer. He uses a universal truth, you can change your exterior, but you will always be the same on the inside. He s so right, if you like wine, you will always like wine and so forth. A person can change their face, their hair color, the color of their eyes, but they will always like wine. This works well in the story. Of course it helps that are supported by a cast of characters straight out of central casting, not that that is and thing, it works really well.
The story is fast paced and well plotted and is a joy to read. This is anew series that has potential and I look forward to reading more of their escapades ! If you are tired of Stephanie Plum never growing up and loping in the same old, same old, read this one ! You will be pleasantly surprised, I know I was ! Thank you Janet !
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Friday, December 19, 2014
The Killer App
by John Writher
What would you do if the world was on the verge of becoming unsustainable ? What if you could die and go back and live your life again ? Only this time you would be more productive because you could avoid the mistakes that you made the first time around ? Would you do it ? What if you had the chance to be the first, not really knowing what would or could happen ? Would you ? These are the questions that the author asks in this book and it really makes you think about our world and your choices.
The story is set in the not to distant future when on country, Great Britain, is facing very difficult times. Science has lengthened our life spans but not our ability to remain productive members of society. This is really not so fictions, it is happening now. Young workers are working at lower paying jobs and paying into a system that supports an aging population. In this work of fiction, three people realize that they have the means to reverse this. They realize that people, as they age, might just want to go back and be young again. They could be more productive, they could ease the burden on the younger generation by doing so. The story never examines too closely the moral implications of such a decision, rather these decisions are left to a population, that they know will prize youth above all. The author handles this well. He does not become judgmental about such a choice. The main characters devise a way to see if people can be persuaded to go back and start all over again.
The main characters in the story are not particularly likeable, they all have their ulterior motives and agendas For the story to work, they need to be this way. Mr. Writher presents us with a world where decisions are made on a cost effective basis, not all that far from real life.
The ending is mixed, the plan does not go exactly as hoped for , but then again not that far off. The last page is a cliff hanger, I will not spoil it here.
This book should make you think about some important questions facing human kind. I do not recommend this way but it makes for fascinating reading. I can envision this book for book clubs because there is so much here to discuss. Well done !
Janie
by John Writher
What would you do if the world was on the verge of becoming unsustainable ? What if you could die and go back and live your life again ? Only this time you would be more productive because you could avoid the mistakes that you made the first time around ? Would you do it ? What if you had the chance to be the first, not really knowing what would or could happen ? Would you ? These are the questions that the author asks in this book and it really makes you think about our world and your choices.
The story is set in the not to distant future when on country, Great Britain, is facing very difficult times. Science has lengthened our life spans but not our ability to remain productive members of society. This is really not so fictions, it is happening now. Young workers are working at lower paying jobs and paying into a system that supports an aging population. In this work of fiction, three people realize that they have the means to reverse this. They realize that people, as they age, might just want to go back and be young again. They could be more productive, they could ease the burden on the younger generation by doing so. The story never examines too closely the moral implications of such a decision, rather these decisions are left to a population, that they know will prize youth above all. The author handles this well. He does not become judgmental about such a choice. The main characters devise a way to see if people can be persuaded to go back and start all over again.
The main characters in the story are not particularly likeable, they all have their ulterior motives and agendas For the story to work, they need to be this way. Mr. Writher presents us with a world where decisions are made on a cost effective basis, not all that far from real life.
The ending is mixed, the plan does not go exactly as hoped for , but then again not that far off. The last page is a cliff hanger, I will not spoil it here.
This book should make you think about some important questions facing human kind. I do not recommend this way but it makes for fascinating reading. I can envision this book for book clubs because there is so much here to discuss. Well done !
Janie
The Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust
by Alan Bradley
Flavia doe it again, and with her usual charm and style ! Bravo Flavia. The story opens up where we left her. Flavia is now on her way to a school for young women in Canada. She is totally alone in a brave new world which she is totally unprepared for ! The stage is for murder, mystery and mayhem when a body falls out of the chimney in her new room. What a way to start ! Flavia must negotiate the challenges of a new school, new mates, new everything while she outs her best detecting skills to use to solve the mystery of the corpse ! Along the way she meets new friends and discovers things about herself that she would never have discovered had she stated in England.
I have to say that I did miss the interaction between her and her sisters, whom are absent from this book. They always brought out her poisonous side. None of the new characters do the job as well.
We are lead to believe that the corpse that falls out of the chimney is old and that the mystery may never be solved. However, Flavia is at her best and this is not the case at all. During the course of solving this mystery, Flavia is introduced in to the world of spy craft, and that is all I will say about that ! I hope that these new skills that she is learning will be put to good in use in future adventures !.
The murder, it turns out, was committed and covered up for the most basic of human reasons, the human heart.
Mr. Bradly has done it again, a great story with a great heroine !
Janie
by Alan Bradley
Flavia doe it again, and with her usual charm and style ! Bravo Flavia. The story opens up where we left her. Flavia is now on her way to a school for young women in Canada. She is totally alone in a brave new world which she is totally unprepared for ! The stage is for murder, mystery and mayhem when a body falls out of the chimney in her new room. What a way to start ! Flavia must negotiate the challenges of a new school, new mates, new everything while she outs her best detecting skills to use to solve the mystery of the corpse ! Along the way she meets new friends and discovers things about herself that she would never have discovered had she stated in England.
I have to say that I did miss the interaction between her and her sisters, whom are absent from this book. They always brought out her poisonous side. None of the new characters do the job as well.
We are lead to believe that the corpse that falls out of the chimney is old and that the mystery may never be solved. However, Flavia is at her best and this is not the case at all. During the course of solving this mystery, Flavia is introduced in to the world of spy craft, and that is all I will say about that ! I hope that these new skills that she is learning will be put to good in use in future adventures !.
The murder, it turns out, was committed and covered up for the most basic of human reasons, the human heart.
Mr. Bradly has done it again, a great story with a great heroine !
Janie
Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death
by Mark Reuthlinger
This is simply a mystery, well plotted and delivered. I finished this is one setting and for me that is unusual. I do however appreciate a fast read every now and again.
What did I like abut the book ? Well for openers I liked the fact t hat he used older characters to be his detectives and solve the mystery. The story is set in a retirement facility so there are plenty of older characters to choose from. And I'm glad that for the most part he did. He only brought in younger characters when it was absolutely necessary, and when he did, they were well written and likeable. Bravo. The story actually revolves around solving a mystery. There are no current event headlines to push their way in to the story as happens in so many stories. Of course we call those thrillers now a days ! This one stays true.
What I really disliked about the book was the constant insertion of Yiddish and the necessary translations. It took away from the flow of the story and stereotyped older Jewish people. Both of which I found unnecessary and offensive. He didn't need this to move his story along.
Notwithstanding, the book has its charms. It is well written, plot and characters and I think that you will enjoy it. It is book club material, but it will satisfy the need for a good who done it !
Janie
by Mark Reuthlinger
This is simply a mystery, well plotted and delivered. I finished this is one setting and for me that is unusual. I do however appreciate a fast read every now and again.
What did I like abut the book ? Well for openers I liked the fact t hat he used older characters to be his detectives and solve the mystery. The story is set in a retirement facility so there are plenty of older characters to choose from. And I'm glad that for the most part he did. He only brought in younger characters when it was absolutely necessary, and when he did, they were well written and likeable. Bravo. The story actually revolves around solving a mystery. There are no current event headlines to push their way in to the story as happens in so many stories. Of course we call those thrillers now a days ! This one stays true.
What I really disliked about the book was the constant insertion of Yiddish and the necessary translations. It took away from the flow of the story and stereotyped older Jewish people. Both of which I found unnecessary and offensive. He didn't need this to move his story along.
Notwithstanding, the book has its charms. It is well written, plot and characters and I think that you will enjoy it. It is book club material, but it will satisfy the need for a good who done it !
Janie
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