The Atria International Book of Mysteries

Sample excerpts from 15 different authors from around the world.

This book delivers exactly what it promises.  The Atria takes the works of authors from around the world and gives just of a sample of each.  Some samples are just one chapter and some a little longer, but all of them leave the reader hanging. 

Choosing a book by the title and a short description of the story line can sometimes leave me disappointed. Although the plot may be good, the writing is flowery or overly descriptive which is just not what I enjoy.  With a sampler like this, I was also able to determine whether I like the style in which the author writes. 

I think the one that piqued my interest the most was the sample from Shunning Sarah by Julie Kramer. Her main character, Riley Spartz is a female a television investigative journalist in Minneapolis.  I not only was interested in the topics, but was able to decide whether or not I would like her writing style.

Link to purchase The Atria International Book of Mysteries

Live Second by Doug Bender

I was looking for a new yearly devotional and was happy to find this new one.  It didn’t take long, however, to decide this wasn’t the one for me.  This seems to be an attempt to be a new and modern devotional, and it may very well be attractive to the under 25 age group. 

The first assignment of the week is to go to a website and watch a video.  For this review, I decided to try a couple of random videos.  The first two links took me to “page not found”.   The third was an odd lecture on a sensitive topic and a testimony.   I tried another and this one was rather long, but in the end was a beautiful testimony of God performing a miracle.  The backdrop for the videos is a single white chair in the middle of a room with a spotlight overhead. It reminded me of the old movies when someone was being interrogated by detectives.  There is also quite a bit of bouncing camera shifts for artistic value.

I was taught to put God first. This modern version is put self second. In the attempt to put self second, you bring the vision of self forward, and to me seems self defeating.

The e-book presentation has a QR code by each weekly entry which really seemed to be there just to prove how new and youth oriented it is.  I believe the movement is sincere. However, links to the website and the constant requests to tweet your thoughts using the website hashtag appears to be an attempt to get everyone to advertise the website which just happens to have books, materials and t-shirts for sale.

Amazon link for Live Second

The Death Relic by Chris Kuzneski

The Death Relic starts out strong in this archaeological mystery. Dr. Maria Pelati is invited to Cancun to discuss employment working for an archaeologist studying Mayan civilization, Terrance Hamilton. It is out of her expertise, but she is curious and decides to at least meet with Mr. Hamilton.  At their initial meeting, he steps out to retrieve some information and disappears.

The book is compelling as it introduces us to Maria, Hamilton, and her friends, Payne and Jones.  This is a “buddy” type story with Jonathan Payne and David Jones, long time friends. The information about the Mayan people and civilization was interesting, and the description of the area was done well.

Unfortunately, there were a few things that kept this from being a 5-star book for me.  First the crude language added nothing to the personalities of the characters and left me thinking they weren't as smart or sophisticated as they were supposed to be.  As the book progressed, the bantering between the two friends started to wear thin. It was like listening to the dialog of 14 year old boys, not adult men. Another distraction for me was the repeated references to a previous case and the relationships between the characters in some previous story.  If you have read his previous books, you may enjoy this one, but I came to a point where I just didn't care how it ended.

I received a review copy of this book in return for an honest and fair review.  I provide a link to Amazon.com to purchase the book, but it is only as a courtesy and I receive no compensation if purchased.

Rally 'Round the Corpse by Hy Conrad

This would have to be my dream vacation.  Travel around Europe with a guided tour and collecting clues while trying to solve a crime. In Hy Conrad’s new book a real mystery develops during one of Amy Murano’s agency tours. Before the tour is over the writer of the mystery tour is found dead 

There is a little of everything in Rally ‘Round the Corpse with a real mystery, a light romance, and travel.  There was a good balance of dialog and narration, which is always an important factor for me. The writing is good with plenty of lighthearted banter.    The characters are a good variety of personalities and they are well defined. 

I also read his previous book, Things Your Dog Doesn't Want You to Know, so I had a feeling I would be in for a delightful mystery experience with this book.

I received a review copy of this book in return for an honest and fair review.  I provide a link to Amazon.com to purchase the book, but it is only as a courtesy and I receive no compensation if purchased.

Link to purchase Rally ‘Round the Corpse by Hy Conrad

Eating Right in a Nutshell by Susan Whittaker

This is another e-book I picked up for my Kindle, but I was surprised by some of the content. Care must be taken when reading a book that makes health claims by someone who is not a healthcare professional. Although the book does have a disclaimer that it is for "educational purposes" and "not to be considered medical advice", the author makes several claims about diseases that simply are not true. There is also an encouragement to perform a regular home health care procedure that could prove to be dangerous.

I was especially interested in reading the Growing Your Own Herbs and Sprouts section, but that turned out to be 4 or 5 paragraphs about her failed attempts and then her on-going attempt to grow sprouts. There was not real information on the proper growth and care of herbal plants.

The author mentions  things she has seen on TV that she has tried for "gut flora" and a type of food fermentation, but no real instructions or additional information. I understand the author's own struggles with health made her want to help others, and we all want to eat right and be health, but do a little research before following someone else's experience and non-professional advice.


Link to purchase Eating Right in a Nutshell

Home Made Cookies Recipes for Beginners by Ravi Kishore

This book has a nice selection of recipes and they are definitely not just for beginners. The book is divided by cookie ingredient type with several recipes for each. There are several peanut butter, several oatmeal, several chocolate chip, etc. There are even fortune cookies recipes. Also included are recipes suitable for children and easy recipes using cake mixes. I found quite a few I'd like to try, but I think the recipes I want to try first are Red Velvet Butter Cookies, Fresh Toffee Apple Cookies, and the Homemade Fresh Lemon cookies.

Link to purchase Home Made Cookies Recipes for beginners

I provide a link to Amazon.com to purchase the book, but it is only as a courtesy and I receive no compensation if purchased.

Dinner at Deadman's by C. J. West

Picker, junker, hoarder, whatever they call them these days, Lorado Martin’s hobby is collectibles and antiques. When someone dies, he arranges for the estate sales, adds to his own collection, and makes a little money off of the sales. He makes his living building and maintaining homes for recovering addicts. He also employs some of these same addicts and helps them with their fight to stay clean. The death of an elderly woman from one of his sales haunts him, especially when he finds a note hidden in one of her belongings – with his name on it. 

Dinner at Deadman’s is an intriguing mystery that unfolds slowly to introduce each character and their role in the story. I appreciated the fact that although these characters were working to improve their community, they were also realistic people with major flaws. 

There were several things I really liked about this book. The mystery takes several rabbit trails as Lorado misinterprets events that take place. The author details the physical and psychological permanent damage from drugs that has take place in these recovering addicts. I also found interesting Lorado’s mixed feelings in helping these broken people, but also seeing them as takers in society compared to his father’s work ethic. That part of the book really stood out to me.

I did have two issues that were difficult for me. First, all of the women in the book are pretty much defined by their breast size. Then there was the beginning of the book. It was not a pleasant start. The overly descriptive bodily function was difficult to get through, but if you can get through that first chapter, you will find a satisfying mystery with interesting characters.

Link to purchase Dinner at Deadman's

I received a review copy of this book in return for an honest and fair review.  I provide a link to Amazon.com to purchase the book, but it is only as a courtesy and I receive no compensation if purchased.

The Concrete Kiss by David Grace

Detective Ned Danes is in a bind. He can keep quiet and an innocent man will go to jail or report misplaced information to the DA, make an enemy, and lose his job.  Fortunately, he has an old friend, FBI Agent Phil Abbot, who can help him out.  The bond that develops between these two men is an "I've got your back" friendship.

I liked the character of Ned Danes, and his work with cold cases drew me right in to the story.  I was a little disappointed when Ned fell into the background and Phil Abbot's story came to the front, but was pleased as the story progressed and the two of them teamed up again.

The character of Phil is an FBI agent who has adopted an autistic child with a tragic past.  She is able to communicate through her computer and uses her hacking talents to find a killer.  During Phil’s investigation a situation arises in which he now needs Ned’s help.  The back and forth with these two characters was a major theme of the book.  Just when I thought the story was wrapping up, Ned stumbles upon the answer to another cold case.   

Although I had a problem believing that FBI Agent Phil would allow his child to be involved with some of the illegal hacking, I still think The Concrete Kiss is another great book by David Grace.

 Link to purchase The Concrete Kiss

I received a review copy of this book in return for an honest and fair review.  I provide a link to Amazon.com to purchase the book, but it is only as a courtesy and I receive no compensation if purchased.

Real Ghost Stories from the South by Kevin Bozard

This is a fun quick read with short stories from the state of South Carolina. There are some ghostly stories, some urban legends, and some just odd occurrences. I enjoy these local stories which, although mirror stories from other locations, always adapt to the atmosphere from which they are being told.  I found this little book while browsing for books for my Kindle. I also picked up the followup More Ghost Stories from the South by the same author, but I haven't read it yet.


Link for Real Ghost Stories from the South

I provide a link to Amazon.com to purchase the book, but it is only as a courtesy and I receive no compensation if purchased.

A Hard Act to Follow by Henry Bushkin

A  Hard Act to Follow," is a non-fiction literary account of Henry Bushkin's tenure as Johnny Carson's lawyer, business partner, and friend. The book gives genuine insight into the 'Carson behind Johnny' with candid personal vignettes about the two, during the rollicking years when Johnny was the undisputed king of television. This is an engaging, eye-opening, anecdote-packed story about a young lawyer and his client, one of the biggest celebrities in the country. This funny, unfiltered account gives readers a look at the Johnny Carson that none but a select few really knew.  -Goodreads

Johnny Carson was king of the nighttime talk comedy show. Although several have tried, no comedian has replace that night time-slot in the same way that Johnny did so well. From his childhood disappointments to his multiple marriage problems, Mr. Bushkin's brings to light the private side of Carson's life.  It is an honest telling of his life and trials, but not a particularly flattering portrait of the man.  It is difficult to identify with the out of control lifestyle that high profile stars lead, and Johnny certainly battled his demons.  Even more surprising  is that a lawyer would spend his life running interference and cleaning up the messes left behind.

Language and adult situations alert for this book

I received an electronic copy of this book in return for my honest opinion of the book

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For more information about the book see A Hard Act to Follow

Isle of Shadows by T.L. Higley

Tessa is a courtesan or high class prostitute longing for freedom. When her master dies, she uses his misfortune to create a new life for herself.

T.L. Higley is a very good writer, but this book didn't hold my attention.  The one thing I missed in his book was the sense of location. As I read another of her books, Petra: City of Stone, I was there at that location and could see, smell, and feel the locality. I also couldn't identify with the main characters.  

Well written, but not the type of book that draws me in, and a disappointment.

I received an electronic version of this book through the "bookSneeze" program.

Double Blind by Brandilyn Collins

I hope you are ready for another dose of “Seatbelt Suspense®”!  Lisa is 29, suffered several miscarriages, lost her husband and suffered a violent attack. Although she is a person of faith, her depression has become overwhelming. She has tried to rely on God, but she feels her only hope is to be the subject of a new medical experiment which will implant a chip in her brain. What starts out as a quick fix turns out to be her worst nightmare.

This was an interesting plot as the character works through matters of faith while longing for a way to rid her of that crushing depression.  With today’s technology I thought the story was believable, and I could understand the character’s desire to enter into the trial.  The author does not disappoint as she brings her trademark nail-biting suspense to this story. There are some twists in the story that were interesting and surprising.

I confess that I was a little annoyed by the character’s complaints about her mother which I thought were rather superficial criticisms. But in spite of that, I enjoyed the mother/daughter relationship and how they worked through their problems.  It was a very important part of the story.

I have read several of Brandilyn Collins books and although I wouldn't say this was my favorite, it certainly is an interesting read that I would definitely recommend .

Link to purchase Double Blind on Amazon.com

I received a review copy of this book in return for an honest and fair review.  I provide a link to Amazon.com to purchase the book, but it is only as a courtesy and I receive no compensation if purchased.

Political Suicide by Michael Palmer

If you have read Oath of Office by Michael Palmer, you will recognize Dr. Lou Welcome as the main character in his new book, Political Suicide. The author has drifted away from his medical mysteries and into the political thriller genre. Even if you haven’t read Oath of Office, Political Suicide is absolutely a stand-alone read.

    

Lou’s work with doctors recovering form drug or alcohol abuse once again leads him to precarious circumstances in his attempts to help one of his patients. When Dr. Gary McHugh is about to get arrested for the murder of a congressman, he calls Lou for help. Dr. McHugh declares his innocence, but admits he was in an alcohol blackout.  What starts out as a murder mystery quickly turns into much more with an intricate thriller plot with a military angle. 

Lou’s family is again an important part of the story, and his daughter Emily is back in this story. When the doctor finds himself in dangerous circumstances, his mind always goes to thoughts of Emily. Those thoughts give him the strength to endure and survive.  His best friend, Cap, is back again and takes an important role in the story.  There are also several new characters that I suspect we will see again in another upcoming book.

There is plenty of action as the story explores rogue military actions, questionable medical research, and twists and turns along the way that were totally unexpected. This is another great book by Michael Palmer and I recommend it for anyone who likes a fast-paced thriller with interesting and strong characters..

Pansy at the Palace A Beverly Hills Mystery by Cynthia Bardes and illustrations by Kim Weissenborn

Link to purchase Pansy at the Palace

Pansy is a shelter dog.  All the other dogs get new homes, but Pansy is always left behind until one day a little girl with curly brown hair named Avery took her home.  This little poodle can’t believe her new home, The Palace Hotel in Beverly Hills and when jewelry mysteriously disappears, Pansy helps solve the mystery.  This delightful story is told from Pansy’s own point of view.

This is a wonderful book in so many ways.  Pansy at the Palace will appeal to a wide age range, from non-readers to early school age.  The pages are thick, sturdy tear-resistant pages which are perfect for younger children, and the story is intricate enough to interest early school aged children. My two-year old granddaughter loved it.  I appreciated that the story was about shelter pets and the adoption of Pansy. 

The pen & ink and watercolor illustrations by Kim Weissenborn are outstanding. This is a large hard cover book at about 12 ¼” long and 9 ¼” wide.   The detailed illustrations fill the page beautifully and the colors are bright and appealing.

I highly recommend this book and I think it would make a perfect gift book.

I received a review copy of this book in return for an honest and fair review.  I provide a link to Amazon.com to purchase the book, but it is only as a courtesy and I receive no compensation if purchased.

Placebo by Steven James

The very emotional and heart-wrenching beginning of Placebo introduces the character of Jevin Banks. It draws the reader moment by moment into the worst day of this man’s life. This is the most unusual idea for a character that I have seen in a while. Jevin is an illusionist and escape artist who now debunks those who use those talents to defraud people. He and his small crew seek out charlatans claiming psychic type gifts and expose them – on tape for his TV show. The character of Jevin was so strong that he rather overshadowed his assistant, Charlene. I think one of the more interesting characters was Xavior with his quirky ideas, conspiracy theories, and knowledge of Jesus. I wanted to know more about him. Also in the circle is Fionna, a home schooling mom of four children who works as a computer tech expert. After the emotional beginning, Placebo became a rather technical with the neuro medical topics, but once you get through the details the pace picks up again quickly. The team finds themselves wrapped up in situations that go far beyond their original purpose. The story is gripping and the characters are interesting. The story wraps up nicely, and I look forward to the next in this series. Be prepared for the change in tense when Jevin takes over narration. I find it annoying, but that is just a personal preference. Placebo is available November 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.