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Reviews by David M. (Glendale, CA)

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Far From True: A Promise Falls Novel
by Linwood Barclay

Storytelling at its best (12/5/2015)

In the second part of a trilogy, Barclay masterfully juggles a multitude of diverse plots; and, even more amazingly, ties everything together. Along with a variety of creepy and frightening villains, Far From True is filled with an assortment of flawed, troubled, and very endearing protagonists. All in all, the novel presents a many-layered tale with enough cliffhangers to keep most readers up late into the night. This is truly an enthralling novel, with enough tragedy, humor, and human emotion to rival a modern-day Shakespearean play.

Broken Promise: A Thriller
by Linwood Barclay

Another Page-turner from Linwood Barclay (6/28/2015)

Broken Promise definitely delivers a full plate of mystery, action, and surprises. Although the recently widowed David Harwood provides a first-person account of a vicious crime, the tension rises dramatically as Barclay begins adding further clues and background information via the perspectives of other characters. All in all, Barclay's novel is a multi-layered tale, where every character is far more than he/she seems and a myriad of unrelated incidents eventually are tied together. I advise that readers start this book when they have a little extra time on their hands ... as it is a hard novel to put aside.

Enduring Courage: Ace Pilot Eddie Rickenbacker and the Dawn of the Age of Speed
by John F. Ross

A 20th Century American Hero (4/8/2014)

In Enduring Courage, John F. Ross provides a vivid portrait of the utterly amazing Eddie Rickenbacker, who was forever at the center of action throughout his long life. Rickenbacker's resume included that of a successful racecar driver in the early 1900's, America's top flying ace in WWI, and some 24 harrowing days adrift at sea in WWII. Not only is this a thrilling tale of bravery and perseverance, but Ross also presents a window into eras of time that have long gone bye.

Once We Were Brothers
by Ronald H. Balson

A Powerful, Riveting Tale of Love and Betrayal (8/3/2013)

Despite being a voracious reader, this is truly one of the most fascinating and memorable books I have read in a long time. Set in both the Holocaust and modern day Chicago, the author masterfully intertwines suspense, romance, tragedy, and a 60-year old mystery that is not resolved until the end of the novel. We Were Brothers is a page-turner that I found almost impossible to put down. Although much of the story takes place in darkness of Nazi-controlled Poland, I was pleased with the positive and uplifting conclusion to the story.

The Daughters of Mars
by Thomas Keneally

Battlefield Nurses – Valor on the Front Lines (5/3/2013)

Through the eyes of two dedicated nurses, Keneally's Daughters of Mars provides a first-hand journey through the horrors of Word War I. Overall, the novel offers a riveting account of romance, heartbreak, friendship, devastation, hope and humanity near the frontlines of some of the most horrendous battles of the 20th century. Along with packing in endless characters, events, and emotions, Keneally's smooth and easy writing style presents the reader with a very believable narrative.

The Hour of Peril: The Secret Plot to Murder Lincoln Before the Civil War
by Daniel Stashower

1861: Historical Fact Meets Mystery and Suspense (12/9/2012)

As a civil war buff, I truly enjoyed reading Stashower's "The Hour of Peril". Amidst an aura of mystery and suspense surrounding the early plot on Lincoln's life, it was fascinating to read the endless amount of detailed information concerning Allan Pinkerton. For that matter, just like a modern-day thriller, Pinkerton's tireless efforts to stop this terrible plot of 1861 will leave readers at the edge of their seat.

Live by Night
by Dennis Lehane

The Rise of an American Gangster (8/10/2012)

For the most part, Lehane's Live by Night was an enjoyable novel filled with unexpected twists and turns. Although I felt tighter editing would have further enhanced the storyline, I appreciated the way Lehane combined danger, romance, betrayal, friendship, violence, and redemption among an assortment of characters with varying degrees of morality. All in all, it was a fascinating look at organized crime from prohibition to the early 1930s.

The Face Thief: A Novel
by Eli Gottlieb

Great premise…but the storyline never got momentum (12/7/2011)

The notion of Bernie Madoff as a femme fatale was interesting; however, the plot never moved much off the ground. The book focuses on Margot, a beautiful swindler who uses her sexual allure and ability to “read faces” as a way to cheat her male victims out of their investments. However, the story and the characters became increasingly bland as the book moved to a mild ending.

Agent X: A Novel
by Noah Boyd

Fast paced entertainment (12/1/2010)

Boyd’s latest novel featuring the bricklayer, Steve Vail, is an action-filled page-turner with endless twists-and-turns. Overall, Vail fights Russian spies, battles corrupt FBI agents, and helps solve a mystery involving a missing woman. While there is no profound or deep message, the book is truly a fun journey!

Await Your Reply
by Dan Chaon

Chaon is an excellent storyteller! (7/13/2009)

Anyone who enjoyed the film Memento will love Chaon’s latest novel. Essentially, it is a mystery made up of many layers, with each of the three main characters independently unveiling a piece of a fascinating puzzle. At the heart of it all is a mad genius, who could easily have emerged from the creative mind of Dean Koontz.

The Quiet Girl
by Peter Hoeg

Not Hoeg at his Best (10/3/2007)

It would be natural for anyone who read Smilla’s Sense of Snow to expect great things from Peter Hoeg. Although I looked forward to re-experiencing his writing magic, I found his latest book, The Quiet Girl, very disappointing. Despite the right ingredients of “unforgettable” characters, mysticism, and mystery, Hoeg’s rambling tome fell off the tracks early in the story and never quite got back on again. Although the endless juxtapositioning of time was disconcerting at first, it was aggravating and confusing well before the middle of the 408-page tome. As all bibliophiles know, even the best writers will crank out a stinker now and then. If nothing else, Hoeg’s latest novel proves this axiom.

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