Caught by Harlan Coben

 

I started watching Harlan Coben's adapted books on Netflix and enjoyed them so much that I thought I would try one in book form. Even though this is one of his older books, it has held up and proved to be suspenseful and twisty—much like his adaptations.

When investigative TV reporter Wendy Tynes sets up a sting to catch suspected pedophile Dan Mercer, she sets off a string of events that eventually calls into question her journalistic integrity. As Wendy dives deeper into Dan's past, she finds secrets and perhaps a link to a missing teenager. Could seemingly good guy Dan be a monster, or did Wendy miss something? The more she digs, the more questions arise.

This is a fast-paced psychological thriller that doesn't disappoint. Although written in 2010, only a few instances show its age. I tried Coben's Myton Bolitar series a few years ago but gave up after the first book for reasons I don't remember. Based on this book and the adapted books, I think I'll give it another try. 

4/5 stars.

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The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

 This is a murder mystery with all the twists and turns you'd expect, but something I didn't expect in a fantasy world. What a fun ride.

When a high-ranking officer is murdered by the administration of a contagion that causes a tree to erupt from his body, investigator Ana Dolabra and her new assistant Dinios Kol are tasked with finding the perpetrator. Ana, whose unorthodox methods are often at odds with her straight-arrow assistant, is quick to make associations that involve a far-ranging conspiracy. Ana and Din aren't sure how far up the imperial ranks the scheme extends, but as they close in, they realize that the Empire and perhaps their lives are in peril.

Excellently written with humor and intrigue, this story is engaging with beautiful characters, especially Ana and Din. Both are entertaining, and their combined skills make them a formidable crime-solving duo. The world they inhabit is atmospheric and dangerous. I was happy to see this is the first book set in this world with these two larger-than-life characters. If you like murder mysteries and fantasy, I highly recommend this book. 

4.5/5 stars.

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The Collector by Daniel Silva

 

One of the things I like best about Silva's Gabriel Allon series is that they are always relevant. This book deals with the war in Ukraine and Russia's aggression. While that may seem like a downer, Silva's blend of fact and fiction is so good and plausible I had a hard time distinguishing between them.

Retired from the Israeli spy game and now restoring paintings full-time in Venice, Allon is approached by the head of Rome's Art Squad when a murder victim is found in his villa on the Amalfi Coast, and a long-lost van Gogh is also there. What's missing is another stolen painting, this one by Vermeer, and Gabriel is asked to track it down. How does he end up involved in the Russian/Ukrainian war? Well, that's at the heart of the novel, and even with side trips to Denmark and Finland,  it all ties together.

I always learn something from a Daniel Silva book--mostly art-related--but his focus on current world events is always enlightening. I do like the main character with his struggle to lead a quiet life after the everyday violence he seemed to face when he was an Israeli spy. No matter how hard he tries, he always gets pulled back into the game. Although the books are somewhat formulaic, they are always action-packed and entertaining. This latest book in the series is no exception. 4 Stars.

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Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby

 I love S.A. Cosby's books. Each is gritty, fast-paced, and has memorable characters.

Beauregard "Bug" Montage is struggling to be an honest man. His auto repair business competes with another business that undercuts his prices and drains away his customers. His bills are overdue, and he sees no way out. His one prized asset, a souped-up car inherited from his long-absent father, is something he won't sell despite his wife's pleadings. Considered the best wheelman on the East Coast, he is drawn in on a scheme to rob a jewelry store by an old acquaintance. Beauregard sees it as a chance to get ahead of his bills and obligations until he can get his business profitable again. Just one last get-away driving job, and he swears he will leave that life behind.

This is a character-driven thriller that is peppered with a cast of both good and disreputable people. I rooted for Beauregard to succeed in getting back on track and leaving the gangster life. Unfortunately, Bug was never sure he could, and, as a reader, I was also doubtful. Cosby is an excellent writer with a voice that is often overlooked. I've read all of his books and am continually amazed at the depth of his characters, both good and bad. I highly recommend this author. 4.5 stars.

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The Exchange by John Grisham

 I love Grisham's legal thrillers and his character-driven novels. Since this book is billed as a sequel to The Firm I was expecting another legal thriller. Not so. This book is more like an international crime drama--not my favorite type of read--but Grisham does a good job switching genres.

It's 2005 and fifteen years after Mitch McDeere and his wife Abby fled Memphis after exposing the corrupt practices of the Bendini law firm. They are now in New York where Mitch is a partner in the largest legal firm in the world and Abby is a cookbook editor; they now have twin boys. When Mitch's former mentor in Rome, Luca Sandroni, is diagnosed with cancer, he asks Mitch to take over a high profile case against Libya and dictator Muammar Gaddafi. During a supposedly safe trip to Libya, things go horribly wrong and suddenly Mitch, his family, and colleagues are in danger. Mitch once again teams up with Abby to try and outwit his adversaries.

First off, it is not necessary to have read The Firm to enjoy this book--Grisham does a good job of summing up the events from that book so feel free to jump right in. I liked the character updates and seeing that Mitch and Abby had flourished after their Memphis misadventures. I did think the book was a little slow getting to the main plot but once it got there, things picked up and the action was breakneck. In typical Grisham style, the plot was intricate with many moving parts and characters. Overall, I think this is a good book but as I said, this is not one of my favorite genres and saying it is a sequel to The Firm is a bit misleading: it's not another legal thriller. 3/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Doubleday for an advance copy to review in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is October 17, 2023.

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