Toxic Prey by John Sandford

John Sandford has done it again: written a fiendishly clever book whose plot is both plausible and frightening. How does he sleep at night? Continuing to combine characters from his other series with the main character of the "Prey" books, Sandford has created another super crime-fighting duo in Lucas and his daughter, Homeland Security agent Letty Davenport. Together, they set out to save the world—literally.

Dr. Lionel Scott, an expert in infectious diseases, views the world as being on the precipice of death due to overpopulation. With no solution in sight, Scott takes it upon himself to solve the problem by developing a highly contagious virus that, once released, promises to kill off eighty percent of the world's population. Surrounded by a small group of like-minded followers, he disappears into the wilds of northern New Mexico to perfect his virus and plot its release. His disappearance from the Los Alamos National Laboratory, with its research into highly classified projects, does not go unnoticed, however, and soon Homeland Security agent Letty Davenport is charged with finding Scott. The more Letty learns about Scott, the more concerned she becomes. Enlisting the help of her father, U. S. Marshall Lucas Davenport, and an MI5 agent from Scott's home country of Great Britain, the hunt is on.

This is a powerful, fast-paced novel that raises some ethical and moral questions. It is not "preachy," but it does highlight an issue that should be cause for concern. Sandford does such an excellent job of character development that there were times I was sympathetic to Scott and his followers—a horrible thought, I know. 

5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and G. P. Putnam's Sons, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is April 9, 2024. 

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City in Ruins by Don Winslow

 What a way to conclude a successful writing career. In this, Don Winslow's final novel, he satisfyingly ends the Danny Ryan Trilogy and leaves this reader hoping he will decide retirement is too dull and begin writing again.

Danny Ryan thought he had left his Irish mob days behind him. He has become a wildly successful casino partner, has a great relationship with his son, and has a woman he could love. Still, his past resurfaces as an FBI agent out for revenge stirs the pot; he must go on the offensive again to preserve his world. Calling on old friends for help, Danny tries to outwit the government and the Italian mafia while keeping his family safe. His life and business empire are on the line; failure is not an option.

I first became a fan of the character Danny Ryan in "City on Fire" and continued in "City of Dreams." Both left me wanting more, and  I'm happy to report that "City in Ruins." is the icing on this trilogy cake: it resolves storylines and characters' lives fittingly. The writing is excellent, the plot is twisty, and the pacing is fast - a Don Winslow signature novel. I wish Mr. Winslow well in whatever he does next, but I will miss the worlds and characters he created.

5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for an advance copy of "City in Ruins" in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is April 2, 2024.

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The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill

 I love books about writing and the world of books in general, so when I saw that the author of "The Woman in the Library" had written another book involving writing and publishing, I jumped at the chance to read it. I wasn't disappointed.

When Theodosia Benton decides she'd rather be a writer than a lawyer, she leaves university in Australia. She appears on her brother Gus's doorstep in Lawrence, Kansas, all set to begin a new life. She quickly falls in with a crowd of local writers, including the mysterious Dan Murdoch, who becomes her mentor and lover. When Murdoch is brutally murdered, Theo becomes the prime suspect. She also becomes the target of a conspiracy group and finds her own life in danger. Feeling her options are limited, and with the focus of the police investigation shifting to Gus, Theo decides to forfeit her ambitions and try and save her brother by confessing to a murder she didn't commit. But will her plan work?

This is an imaginatively plotted book with many subplots and red herrings. The reader is kept in the dark as to how Theo's plan of confessing to the murder will help find the killer, and with the slow reveals, I was kept guessing until the end. "The Mystery Writer" is a fast-paced murder mystery with a glimpse of the world of conspiracy theorists and doomsday preppers that is both a captivating and rewarding read. 

4/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press, for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. The publication date is March 19, 2024.

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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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Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

 

This book came highly recommended to me and I'm happy to say it lived up to my expectations.

Billie, Natalie, Mary Alice, and Helen were recruited by the Museum, a shadow organization of assassins who only killed people who needed killing. Now after forty years of service, they are given a retirement gift of a luxury cruise, but all is not what it seems when they spot another Museum operative who appears to be out to assassinate them. Barely escaping, they must find out who is behind the order to kill them and why. Coming together one last time, the foursome targets high-ranking members of their organization in order to save themselves.

This is a fast-paced, engaging read with wonderful characters I rooted for. The plot is twisty and action-packed and kept me up late to see how this fearsome foursome would prevail. The writing is excellent and the dialogue witty despite the danger the women are in. Seeing four strong women who work well together in an otherwise male-dominated genre is a treat. I recommend this book if you like a good action-packed mystery/thriller. 5/5 stars.

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One Last Kill by Robert Dugoni

 

I can't believe this is the tenth book in the Tracy Crosswhite series and that I've been a fan since the beginning, eagerly awaiting each new installment. The series just keeps getting better and better.

Detective Tracy Crosswhite is still the sole member of Seattle's cold case department and often clashes with Chief of Police Marcella Weber as to what direction she should take. She is blindsided when Weber orders her to reopen the decades-old Route 99 serial killer cases in advance of a series of newspaper articles on them beginning on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the last killing. Not only that, Weber orders her to partner with her nemesis and boss, Captain Johnny Nolasco, who was head of the task force investigating the crimes when they first occurred. Nolasco and Crosswhite immediately disagree on their approach to solving the cases and things go downhill from there. 

As the investigation proceeds, Tracy begins to see connections between these cases and another case she just solved involving the disappearance of an investigative reporter that occurred at the same time as the serial killings. The more Tracy and Nolasco dig, the more the evidence leads them to powerful people, both past and present, who may not want the duo to solve the murders or continue at a cost they may not be willing to pay.

This book can be read as a standalone, but the reader is missing out on some excellent books by not reading the series. I especially liked how this book dovetailed with the storyline from Dugoni's last book, What She Found, and I can see where characters from both books could feature in future books. As usual, Dugoni's plotting, pacing, and writing are exceptional. The reader is also treated to perhaps the thawing of the relationship between Nolasco and Crosswhite, or at least an uneasy truce in their working relationship that is promising. I highly recommend this book and this series in general if you enjoy character-driven police procedurals. 4.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is October 3, 2023

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Dark Ride by Lou Berney

 This is the third Lou Berney book I've read (November Road and The Long and Faraway Gone being the other two) and Dark Ride is Berney at storytelling his best. His characters are well-drawn and the story engaging.

Hardy "Hardly" Reed is happy with his life. He has no ambitions, is currently working as a sheriff in a rundown wild-west theme park and is stoned most of the time. His aimless life takes an abrupt turn when he encounters Jack and Pearl, aged six and seven, on a bench in the Department of Motor Vehicles waiting for their mother. He notices injuries on the children consistent with abuse and knows he must do something. Fanagiling the mother's information from a clerk who helped her, he contacts Child Protective Service, only to have the caseworker walk off the job in the middle of his report! Frustrated by the inaction and bureaucracy, Hardly gains a purpose in life: save these two children. What follows is an often cringe-worthy journey for Hardly as he transitions from an aimless life into a person who realizes he is the only person who can save these two children.

I did enjoy this book although the description of the child abuse was sad. Hardly is a wonderful, hapless character. who, once he got a goal, shifts gears and goes into savior mode. His friends are quirky but big-hearted. All-in-all, this is another excellent story from Lou Berney.

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow for an advance copy for review. The publication date is September 19, 2023.

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