George Becket, now an attorney in the district attorney office of Cape Cod, had "friends" and friends of friends while growing up. Some of these friends were part of a wealthy and privileged family, the Gregory's.
Two young women, one from Cape Cod, the other visiting south Florida were involved with the family and friends. One committed suicide, the other was murdered.
George, years later, is tasked with the job of finding who murdered the woman. The problems he deals with appear monumental due to the Senator's powerful influence. The investigation takes him to Europe, Hawaii, and Central America.
The plot and characters were good but sometimes confusing. Overall I enjoyed the book although at times it was slow going.

Jeffrey Small's new novel the Jericho Deception is a fascinating story of neuroscience research into the effects of a machine called the Logos that might potentially turn religious zealots into pliable individuals. Unfortunately the machine falls into evil hands. Ethan Lightman, a physician researcher, has developed the machine with his mentor who is murdered and the machine stolen. This leads Ethan away from Yale to the desert near the Nile river. This is an exciting story of intrigue, love, and violence. I would recommend this book to all interested in mystery, action and thriller categories. I also look forward to reading Mr. Small's debut novel "The Breath of God".

Brigid Quinn, ex FBI agent, has married the "Perfessor" who is supposedly unaware of her history with hunting sexual predators. She was involved in a case in which a fellow female FBI agent was never found after being used for bait to catch a predator of young women. Though disappointed she has retired but always ponders this loss.
The book opens with Brigid being a target of a sexual predator of older women, of which Brigid is one being 59. Following this event Brigid is again involved in the hunt for for a new or possibly old foe which leads to working with old colleagues as well as new relationships.
I thought the characters were true to their roles. The plot was realistic and the outcomes exciting. I would recommend the book as one of the best books of this genre. It should do well in 2013.

Although I had a little trouble in the initial pages I was quickly involved in the story and stayed that way until the final pages. The story set in the Pacific Northwest opens with the death of Leonie's father, an ethnologist, in the late 19th century. Leonie accepted her father's dying wish for her to marry Junius, a 37 year old ethnologist, who is 20 years her senior. The other main character is "Lord Tom" an area American Indian who has been with Leonie since she was a child.

Then the story fast forwards 20 years after Leonie and Junius are married. She finds a "mummy" in a basket that is uncovered on the banks of the river they live by. It had been uncovered by a recent flood.

Soon thereafter Junius' son Daniel appears. He was unknown to Leonie until Daniel appears saying he works for a San Francisco newspaper and has arrived to write a story about the mummy. His mother, Junius' wife, has recently died.

From the appearance of Daniel who is in his late 20s the story becomes more involved and exciting parts happen.

Leonie's life changes with the finding of the mummy with dream visions. She longs to find her origins and relationship to the mummy. Trying to be the ethology scientist that her farther trained her to be she struggles with her artistic and spiritual side.

The ending is unexpected. It was an enjoyable read.

"Joseph" to his police chief father, Joe Coughlin has been a renegade in the Coughlin family since childhood. As he gets older it gets worse and he considers himself an outlaw; everyone else thinks of him as a gangster.
He does have good parts especially after he is "married" to Graciela whose husband lives in Cuba.
The setting is in Tampa, Florida in the 1920s through the 1930s. Prohibition is in full swing with the gangsters including Joe selling bootleg liquor in speakeasies.
Lots of action, love, betrayal. It was a good read by author Dennis Lehane who I really enjoy reading.

Henry Steadman is a wealthy plastic surgeon in Florida who is on his way to meet a friend of many years to play golf in a very member only club that he considers himself very fortunate to have been invited. Following the golf day he is to present his experience at a medical conference. As he is stopped by the local police on the way to see his friend everything goes awry. In only seconds he goes from a successful physician to be hunted as a murderer of a policeman.

To make matters worse his daughter Hallie is kidnapped. And he has to deal with his ex-wife who is a lawyer. Fortunately he finds a "friend" in the police department that aids him in his troubles.

This was an exciting story with a great ending. I would recommend the book, Andrew Gross is an excellent author. I have enjoyed other books by him.

Catherine Winslow is a multifaceted character who early on discovers the body of a woman near her property in Vermont which turns out to be the latest of several murders of women all having similar characteristics - strangulation, assault. Catherine and her friend Anthony, a psychiatrist, along with the unlikable detective, Marco Prozzo, team up to attempt to discover the killer. Catherine's daughter, who almost died of anorexia following the death of Catherine's ex-husband who died of cancer at her home, is in a relationship with an attractive older woman.

Matthew is the younger mid-20s man who Catherine (age ~42) had an affair with and who is a suspect in the murders. He persists in wanting to pursue their relationship.

The story was somewhat slow at points but the ending was good making the slow reading worth the read. I enjoyed it.

Another excellent book in the Gemma James and Duncan Kincaid series.

Detective Inspector Gemma James and Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid having lost their baby when Gemma miscarried have adopted 2 children and have Duncan's teenage son living with them. The story is set in the Christmas period and Gemma and Duncan are "off" from their work although Gemma is due to go back to work and Duncan is to care for the children for a short period.

Unfortunately a police inspector dies in an apparent sculling accident. Duncan is assigned by his superior office to work the accident that quickly is recognized as a homicide.

This is a good story of a couple's personal and professional lives and how they maintain respect for each other while under a stressful situation of investigating a homicide. The outcome is unexpected.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and recommend it to mystery enthusiasts.

The setting for the story is in North Yorkshire, UK near Richmond on the Swale river. Christopher Lowndes, now 60, had lived his childhood in the 'rough' side of Leeds, UK. But after having buried his wife Laura, 3 years before due to her death from cancer he is returning to England. Chris had a successful career as composer of film music that "no one ever listens to." He received one Oscar Award but had been nominated for others. The story starts with Grace Elizabeth Fox dressing for her hanging, having been convicted of murdering her husband Dr. Ernest Fox. Chris arrives at the home he has not seen in person prior to purchase called Kilnsgate. The real estate agent person Heather had neglected to tell him that the mansion he has purchased was the home of Dr. Fox and his murderess Grace Elizabeth Fox. Chris becomes interested in the story of Grace Elizabeth and is convinced that she may have been innocent. This leads him to many interesting characters, not only in the Richmond area but trips to Paris and South Africa. It is a convincing and great story. The outcome is unexpected. Part of Grace's story is told in an old book of reports of famous trials. Part of the story is from Grace's experience in WWII as a Red Cross Nurse. I have read most of Peter Robinson's books, enjoying the Alan Banks novels. This book is Robinson's best effort. At times I would have to stop reading in order to think about what was written. Also because I didn't want the book to end. I recommend it highly.