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Reviews by Gerald R. (pompton lakes, NJ)

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The Deepest Secret
The Deepest Secret
by Carla Buckley
It could happen to any of us (12/13/2013)
Carla Buckley's latest work epitomizes the thriller in its purest form. There are no super heroes, psychopaths or serial killers; only real people like you and me. They live in a cul-du-sac like any other in thousands of towns throughout the country. Her characters are real, the story is gripping, and will keep you guessing up to the very end. I recommend it highly.
The Jericho Deception
The Jericho Deception
by Jeffrey Small
Theologists vs Terrorists (3/26/2013)
I must admit that I was a bit skeptical when I requested this book because I am not a fan of books about religion. This, however, is more of a adventure thriller of the Dan Brown, James Rollins, and Chris Kuzneski genre. The religion based aspect kept me from rating it a 5. The plot is well thought out and developed and the characters are all too believable. I found the basic psychological premise of the story a bit too far fetched, but the way science is progressing; who knows? I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a fast paced, action packed - yet thoughtful, well crafted story.
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry: A Novel
by Rachel Joyce
Philosophically Sound Yet Slow (7/14/2012)
A new spin on a road trip takes the reader through a journey of relationship and intimacy challenges with particular focus on moving from guilt and regret to redemption and forgiveness. If you like a heady slow moving book this is for you. I found it to be slow moving and predictable in terms of the human revelations. I did enjoy the sense of mystery that made me wonder what had happened earlier on amongst the characters. This was the one thing that kept me going to the end. I can see how others may love this book. Just not for me.
Cloudland
Cloudland: A Crime Novel
by Joseph Olshan
Slow Moving Rural New England Murder Mystery (3/8/2012)
If you're looking for a fast paced, action filled and non-stop suspense thriller, look elsewhere. At times this book moves as slowly as Vermont maple syrup in the Winter. The only things that kept me hanging in there were the seemingly accurate depiction of the down home flavor of New England life, and the desire to see how it all ended up. If you're in the mood for a laid back, easy-going serial killer mystery, this would work for you. It didn't work for me.
The Darkening Field
The Darkening Field: A Novel
by William Ryan
Martin Cruz Smith wannabee. (11/7/2011)
This Russian police procedural, in the style of Martin Cruz Smith, was a bit disappointing. I found the plot to be pretty standard issue for the USSR in the late Thirties. The characters, although numerous, were not fleshed out. I never got the feeling that I knew any of them. Thank goodness there was a list of them at the beginning of the book that I had to keep referring to. I did like the author's way with words and his descriptions of life in Russia just prior to WWII. Captain Alexi Korolev has a way to go to be compared with Arkady Renko.
The Most Dangerous Thing
The Most Dangerous Thing
by Laura Lippman
Disappointed (8/3/2011)
After having read eleven previous Laura Lippman books I eagerly looked forward to this one. I was sadly disappointed. The story went nowhere and was filled with characters I cared nothing about. There were a few mildly interesting "Stand by Me" moments during flashback sections, but there was virtually little that happened. Tess Monaghan appears in about five pages and has hardly any bearing on the story. I have read some of Lippman's other stand alone novels and they were far superior. Bring back Tess!
Heat Wave
Heat Wave: A Novel
by Nancy Thayer
Sweet and Simple (5/11/2011)
"Heat Wave" kept my interest throughout. The story was easy to relate to. The characters were interesting enough to keep going. The ending was better than anticipated. If you like an easy to read book that draws you in enough to want to find out what happens next, and in the end, without needing too much action or suspense, this book will fill your request.
The Trinity Six
The Trinity Six
by Charles Cumming
Another Spy in from the Cold (2/6/2011)
This is a well crafted, fast paced espionage thriller. The author blends his Russia vs Great Britain fiction well with the facts of the spy scandals of the 1950's. His characters are all too believable and the reader will get his fill of double agents, mistaken identities, and secret agent craft. There is more than enough of the obligatory acronymic use so common to this genre. At times I felt it was a bit confusing. All in all, Mr. Cummings appears to be a worthy successor to such as Ambler, Deighton and le Carre.
The Tenth Song
The Tenth Song
by Naomi Ragen
Major Topic in a Minor Key (10/18/2010)
The Tenth Song grabbed my interest at the start, began to build toward the middle, only to leave me feeling let down well before the end.

The seemingly perfect life of an upper class Jewish family suddenly turns a dark corner to bring about an examination of what is most important in life.

The story presents an age old question about material worth and social status within the context of a modern day set of circumstances.

Fast paced theme with potential turned way too slow for my taste due to superficial characters, and no sense of wonder for what was going to happen next.
The Secret of Everything
The Secret of Everything
by Barbara O'Neal
Secret or not, we all have a past (11/8/2009)
Basically a love story with good characterization within a plot that keeps your interest and has you wondering what will unfold next. Tessa is recovering from injuries both physical and emotional. As she searches for happiness and meets new people in her life she also has to confront her past. A read that is easy to follow, moves at a somewhat slow pace but keeps you guessing and wanting to read on to the end.
The Secret Keeper
The Secret Keeper
by Paul Harris
A well-crafted fast moving first novel (3/1/2009)
This is a well-crafted fast moving first novel dealing with an African country between 2000 and 2004. Although it is fiction I have no doubt that everything in the book could have, and probably did happen. The main characters are appealing and the villains are appropriately cold-blooded. There are enough twists and turns to satisfy any adventure genre reader. I did find some continuity problems in the switching from 2000 to 2004 in every other chapter. I'll never think of "long-sleeved or short-sleeved" in the same way again.
Green Monster
Green Monster: A Sam Skarda Mystery
by Rick Shefchik
Red Sox Nation Under Seige (6/24/2008)
Although baseball and the Boston Red Sox are at the heart of this mystery novel, even Yankee fans will enjoy it. You don't even have to be a baseball fan to appreciate the multi-dimension characters and the well written, fast moving plot. This is a quick and very enjoyable read.
Desert Cut
Desert Cut: A Lena Jones Mystery
by Betty Webb
An All Too Literal Title (1/2/2008)
This is the fifth Lena Jones mystery and the first which I have read. I will definitely go back and read the others. The plot holds your interest throughout and the narrative is simple and straightforward. There are many characters, and although some of them are involved for a very brief period, they are all well fleshed out. This book should appeal to anyone who likes a good Private Investigator mystery story. Along with being a good read, the author sheds light on a relatively little known and very disturbing procedure performed on young girls in many African and Mid-Eastern countries. Some of the descriptions and Author's Notes are not for the squeamish.
The Critic
The Critic: The Second of the Enzo Files
by Peter May
A Wine-Lover's Mystery (10/30/2007)
I am not a wine aficionado and could care less about the wine-making process or the nuances of wine tasting. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed this well crafted mystery. Enzo MacLeod is one of the most unusual crime solvers I have ever met; sort of a cross between James Bond and Inspector Clouseau. The characters are well developed and the plot moves along at a rapid pace. Despite the seriousness of the story there are even a few moments of falling down laughing humor. For wine lovers a 5; and a 4 for the rest of us.
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