The Dead Room (Harrison Investigation #4) by Heather Graham (2007)

 

If you are looking for mystery suspense book with an unconventional twist, The Dead Room is for you. Leslie MacIntyre is an archaeologist who barely survives an explosion that takes the life of her fiancé, Matt Connolly. As a result of her brush with death, Leslie now has the ability to communicate with ghosts, something she is slowly coming to grips with, with a little help from the people at Harrison Investigation.

Leslie is returning to lower Manhattan’s historic Hastings House, the site of the explosion, to work on a newly discovered burial ground in the area. She insists on staying at Hastings House to conquer her fears of her new abilities and come to terms with the loss of her fiancé the year before. Restless spirits, including Matt, inhabit both the house and the burial ground and lead Leslie to not only important archeological discoveries but also put her in grave personal danger.

Although Leslie can’t see Matt’s ghost he visits in her dreams, warning Leslie about the house and offering clues to the truth about the explosion which both Leslie and Matt’s cousin Joe believe was no accident. Torn by her feelings for both men Leslie finds herself caught between the worlds of the living and the dead. As she gets closer to solving the mysteries surrounding the house, Leslie must ultimately face the evil mind of someone very much alive.

The secondary plot centers around female prostitutes in the area who are disappearing without a trace. When the niece of a wealthy socialite disappears in much the same manner, Matt’s cousin Joe Connelly is the PI hired to find her. And, of course Leslie has to help him which puts her in even more danger.

There are 10 books in the Harrison Investigation series. This series, which ended in 2010, was followed by Graham’s The Crewe of Hunters (38 titles and still growing). This series also features Adam Harrison and his staff of investigators but on a much larger scale. The first title in that series, Phantom Evil, is also reviewed in this blog.

3.95 stars on Goodreads, 4.6 on Amazon

Box 88 (#1 in Book 88 series) by Charles Cumming, (2020)

 “A pulse-pounding narrative that straddles two eras — 1989 and 2020 — BOX 88 is a “wonderfully taut, exciting and up-to-date spy thriller” that introduces a compelling new character and a captivating international storyline”.  Spectator, Books of the Year

 Box 88 was my introduction to Charles Cumming and I now I understand why his books are so popular. Even though the story jumped between years and locations, I never lost track of who was where and why.

Lachlan Kite is the leader of BOX 88, a joint US/UK anti-terrorism spy agency that only a handful of MI6 and CIA operatives know exists. At the funeral of his childhood best friend, Lachlan is kidnapped and the kidnapping is witnessed by Cara, a young MI5 agent, whose team leader is determined to prove the existence of Box 88. As the MI5 team investigates the kidnapping, Lachlan’s pregnant wife is also abducted and the threat of her dead is used as leverage to obtain information he is sworn to protect.

Lachlan’s kidnapper is after information on his very first mission for Box 88. Lachlan had been recruited straight out of boarding school when it was learned that he had been invited to spend the summer of his gap year on the coast of France with his best friend and his family. This visit provides access to one of Iran’s most dangerous terrorists who will be visiting. Lachlan’s mission is find out what the man is plotting. The mission ends in the betrayal of his best friend.

This is not a James Bond type spy novel as there are no fancy gizmos or glamorous women. What it is a well written story of what spy craft looked like in the late 1980s. Though espionage is the main theme of the story it is also a coming-of-age story as young Lachlan works to discover who he really is while balancing friendship, loyalty, and romance with his mission.

The second book in the series, Judas 62, is due out in September 2022 and will continue looking back at Lachlan’s Box 88 missions. I’m sure a handful of the characters from Box 88 will also make a repeat appearance.

4.08 stars on Goodreads, 4.2 on Amazon

Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey by Abigail Wilson (2020)

 

Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey is a regency romance, wrapped around a really good mystery. Unwed mother, Elizabeth Cantrell and her young son are traveling to her new job as a ladies’ companion after being left penniless by her now imprisoned brother. During the journey their coach is attacked by a highwayman who is not what he seems. In fact he is the widowed Lord Torrington, acting on behalf of the British crown. He is searching for documents he believed were being carried in that carriage. Instead of the documents Lord Torrington finds an unconscious woman he feels compelled to help.

To protect both his secret identify and Elizabeth’s name, Torrington proposes a marriage of convenience. Soon after the newly married couple’s return to Middlecrest Abbey, the intended of Torrington’s eldest daughter is murdered and the hunt is on for the murderer and the missing document. Could the two things be connected? The future of England is at stake. At the same time Elizabeth is protecting a secret of her own, her son is actually Lord Torrington’s nephew!

4.21 stars on Goodreads, 4.6 on Amazon

Rizzio by Denise Mina (2021)

 

I love historical fiction titles, especially those that are based on a real person or event as I always learn something. Denise Mina’s novella Rizzio is the author’s fictionalized version of the murder of David Rizzio, a trusted friend and secretary of Mary Queen of Scots, on May 9, 1566. Mary’s husband, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, is the man behind the plot and he wants the murder to take place in front of his pregnant wife. Darnley wants the crown for himself and hopes that the shock of witnessing the murder will kill both Mary and the unborn child.

Mina’s writing is so powerful; I could feel the terror of both Rizzio who knew what was to come and Mary as she feared for her life and that of her unborn child. For those interested in Mary Queen of Scots or this time period, Rizzio will be a treat.

3.90 stars on Goodreads, 4.2 on Amazon

As a Woman: What I Learned about Power, Sex, and the Patriarchy After I Transitioned By: Paula Stone Williams

(The Eastpointe Memorial Library only has this title in the audio format)

Reviewed by Mae

 

    As a Woman is a memoir presented by the transgender pastor Paula Stone Williams; she also narrates the audio version. Paula grew up in a conservative background through the Evangelical church, and was expected to become a pastor based on family tradition. With these familial ties to the church, Paula was able to rise up the ladder, to many prominent positions within the church system. However, this was all before Paula embraced her identity as herself. Paula had spent much of her life her life hidings behind a male identify even though she knew that wasn't a true reflection of her. She also knew from an early age this wasn't a true reflection of her, but felt that she could remain within her assigned gender at birth. It took Paula 60 years to embrace her true self outwardly to the rest of the world. This of course had presented new difficulties within her life as a pastor, her home life with her wife and three children, and that of the female identity. In this memoir Paula retells her story, and reflects on how even though it took six decades to live her truth it was something she ultimately had to do for herself.

     I found this memoir intriguing. Coming to terms with our own identity is a struggle a lot people face. The ability to come out at the age of 60 with her upbringing is a reflection of how times have changed. When Paula was a child, she knew who she really was, but these weren't topics easily discussed in general society let alone the Evangelical Church. These days, regardless on one's personal beliefs, the LGBT+ community has become more visible. I personally recommend this book to anyone, who wants to hear the personal account of an individual in a community that many still struggle to fully understand. My hope is the more people familiarize themselves with LGBT topics, the more understanding we can be as a society.

War Women (Sergeants Sueño and Bascom #15) by Martin Limón (2021)

 

War Women is set in Korea, 20 years after the Korean War. Sergeants George Sueño and Ernie Bascom are members of the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the 8^th Army, headquartered outside of Seoul. As the book, narrated by Sergeant Sueño, opens Sueño and Bascom learn that Sergeant Cecil Harvey, the man responsible for the 8^th Army's classified documents, is missing along with one of the documents. The brass haven’t been informed yet and as Harvey (called Strange by the pair) has often been a source of information for the investigators they take it upon themselves to locate him. What they stumble upon is a North Korean spy ring.

In the meantime, Katie Byrd Worthington, a reporter for the Overseas Observer introduced earlier in the series, is back and once again making life difficult for top Army brass. When she is arrested by the Korean National Police for causing a disturbance, Sueño and Bascom are tasked with freeing her and getting her to agree not to publish a photograph she has taken of the 8^th Army’s chief of staff in a rather compromising situation. She agrees and all are happy until her story about the sexual abuse of a female army unit’s members makes the headlines. This time Sueño and Bascom are ordered to take the reporter to wherever the female unit is operating to interview the women. What they find there is very disturbing. The two plot lines run parallel through most of the book and intersect only at the end.

The characters Sueño and Bascom couldn’t be more different and conversations between the pair read like a comedy routine and serve to help relieve the heaviness of the subject matter.

3.86 stars on Goodreads, 4.5 on Amazon

Phantom Evil (Krewe of Hunters #1) by Heather Graham (2011)

 

Heather Graham’s Krewe of Hunters paranormal mystery series is an offshoot of her Harrison Investigations series. Thought the plot lines are much the same, the Harrison series takes place when Adam Harrison, a firm believer in the existence of ghosts, worked in the private sector. These investigators work alone. In Krewe of Hunters (self-named) the investigators work in teams for a special FBI unit run by Harrison. Harrison handpicks the people who work for him; searching the country for individuals he believes has a special skill useful in the investigation of the unexplainable.

Harrison recruits Jackson Crowe, a skeptical veteran of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit, to lead a krewe comprised of Angela, a seasoned cop, a nurse, a magician, the cameraman for a paranormal cable series, and a musician. All have them have had experience with the paranormal whether they admit it or not.

The krewe is called to New Orleans to investigate a house once owned by a serial killer. The house is now owned by a popular senator who is convinced ghosts caused his wife to fall to her death from their bedroom balcony. The police have ruled the death a suicide but the Senator is certain ghosts were involved and wants the team to prove it. As in most mysteries, nothing is quite what it seems and the senator might not like what the team discovers.

The book focuses mainly on Jackson and Angela whose relationship develops a little too fast. Little attention is paid to the other krewe members.  They will have to wait until their story is told in subsequent titles.

Currently there are 35 books in the series, several novellas, and seven seasonal titles. Three more titles are scheduled for released in 2022.

The Woman Who Spoke to Spirits (World’s End Bureau Mystery, #1) by Alys Clare (2018)

 

This new Victorian mystery series is set in 1880s London. The World’s End Bureau, an investigation agency, is owned and operated by L.G. Raynor or Lily as she is known to her acquaintances.  Lily lives and operates the business out of the three-story building left to her by her grandparents.  As the story opens Lily is looking to hire a clerical assistant and interviews F.P.D.M. Wilbraham (or Felix) for the job.  Of course Felix thinks L.G. is a man and Lily assumes F.P.D.M. is a woman.

On his very first day Felix is left alone in the office when Ernest Stibbins comes in and assumes Felix is L.G. Unwilling to correct a potential client’s misconception Felix plays along which works out well in the long run. Stibbins claims his wife Albertina has been warned by her spirit guides that someone is out to harm her and he wants the World’s End Bureau to investigate the threat.

With the Stibbins case and the one she is currently working on, Lily needs help. She hands some small tasks over to Felix and soon discovers he has the makings of a skilled private enquiry agent.  Before you know it, Felix and Lily are sharing the workload, although Felix never forgets he is an employee.

Written in the present tense, the reader is drawn into Lily and Felix’s world. The author has such a way with descriptions that you will feel you are walking down the street with Felix and experiencing events alongside Lily. Much is learned about the two main characters and there are hints of tragedy in Lily’s past and hardship in Felix’s which I expect will be ferreted out in subsequent novels. The reader meets many other interesting characters during the course of the book, including the ballerina who refuses to bathe, Lily’s housekeeper with an attitude, an aging actress involved with the young son of an aristocrat, and a river boat captain who appears to be Lily's closest friend.

Book 2, The Outcast Girls, is also available at EPL.

Alys Claire is a pseudonym of Elizabeth Harris.

3.88 stars on Goodreads, 4.5 on Amazon

Down Range (Garrett Kohl, #1) by Taylor Moore, 2021

 

Down Range is not only the first in a series; it marks the debut of Taylor Moore as an author. Moore, a former CIA Intelligence Officer, writes about what he knows best, government agents. Garrett Kohl, the hero in this modern day western/thriller, is a deep-cover DEA agent working with the CIA in Afghanistan when the story begins. When on a covert surveillance mission, he can only observe while an entire village is massacred. Although Garrett’s orders are to not to get involved, he rescues the 10-year-old Asadi who somehow manages to escape the bullets. Garret expects to be fired for his actions but instead finds himself charged with protecting the only viable witness to the atrocity.

As a former Green Beret and now an elite DEA agent, Garrett knows he can keep the boy safe. Rather than use a safe house, Garrett takes Asadi back to the family ranch he loves and the family he hasn’t spoken to in years.  Once there Garrett finds that the town is under attack by drug dealers who have infiltrated law enforcement, corrupted local businesses, and are now terrorizing his own brother. When Garret discovers the situation cannot be resolved peacefully, he puts his special skills and his knowledge of the land to good use.  After all, Garrett has spent the better part of his career hunting terrorists.

The book is very well written, and the author’s vibrant and vivid descriptions of the land, horses, homes, businesses, and the characters will take you right into the action. Should appeal to fans of C. J. Box and Jack Carr.

Book two, Firestorm is due out in August when I expect to see Asadi again. His story isn’t finished.

4.21 stars on Goodreads, 4.6 on Amazon

Preludes and Nocturnes (Sandman Vol. 1) by By Neil Gaiman

Preludes and Nocturnes is the first in a series of graphic novels by Neil Gaiman. This volume contains the first eight issues of the series. In the first issue there is an occult group who seeks to summon death, and gain control over life and death. Instead they accidentally summon Morpheus, the ruler of the dream world. Morpheus ends up in their imprisonment for about 70 years, and in the meantime loses control over the dream world. In the subsequent issues he traverses both the land of the living and of demons to reclaim his three possessions which give him power over dreams.

This series originally started in the 80’s and the art style is reflective of it. It is also intended for older readers, filled with many dark violent moments, especially the issue taking place in the diner. I would highly recommend this to anyone familiar with Neil Gaiman’s work. I would also recommend this to anyone who wants to read comics without superhero's.

Goodreads 4.23 out of 5, Amazon 4.8 out of 5

This series is not available at EPL. Ask any of the reference librarians to get it for you from an area library.

The Final Empire (Mistborn #1) by Brandon Sanderson

A hero set out on a journey to save the world; instead of a being a savior, we see what happens if the hero becomes a tyrant (Lord Ruler). The world in which the Mistborn series takes place in used to be filled with greenery, but is now a bleak ash covered land of despair. These events were set into motion 1000 years prior to the main events of this tale, and much has been lost of the world of the past. After reaching a state of immortality, the Lord Ruler has ensnared the world and has removed any from power who display opposition. However, a group of individuals has gathered to challenge the Lord Rulers claim on the world. They are far from the first group to attempt to overthrow him, but can they succeed and reclaim the world to its former state?

I found this be to an entertaining read, with a likeable cast of characters. The world also has a unique magic system, which is controlled by the select individuals capable of consuming elemental metals. These powers vary, from increasing ones strength, or controlling others emotions. If I were to find a criticism in this first book it’s that, we only find out bits and pieces about how the Lord Ruler came to be, there is still much which is left unknown.  Hopefully this will be fleshed out in the subsequent novels.  This book was originally presented as a trilogy with additional books taking place in the same world but many years after the original story. 

Goodreads 4.44 out of 5, Amazon 4.7 out of 5

This series is not available at EPL. Ask any of the reference librarians to get it for you from an area library.

Last Girl Ghosted by Lisa Unger (2021)

 

Think twice before you swipe (from the book cover).

During the early stages of the COVID pandemic, Wren Greenwood meets the prefect man on an Internet dating app. But just when things are heating up between the two of them Adam disappears - all his online profiles deleted and his phone disconnected.  Was Wren ghosted? She is determined to find out exactly what happened and why. As Wren follows up on the things she knows about Adam, she discovers he is not what he seemed and that she is not the first woman to fall for the man she knows as “Adam”. Four other women have come before her and these four are now all missing. These women have one thing in common with Wren; they are all victims of trauma.

The story is told mainly from Wren's perspective over two timelines; present day and the traumatic childhood she has put behind her. The memories will not stay in the past however and Wren is forced to deal with them as she searches for “Adam. There is also a chapter on each of the missing girls. Readers will find themselves rooting for all the characters, even when they’re not acting in their own best interest.

The last quarter of the book makes a hard left turn and although my analytical mind had a hard time accepting it, it was nice to read something that didn’t end as expected. Be forewarned, this is a dark and disturbing story and you will be sucked into Wren’s world.

3.68 stars on Goodreads, 4.2 on Amazon

The Christmas Journey by Donna VanLiere (Christmas Hope #6) (2010)

 

VanLiere’s beautifully illustrated novella is the retelling of Joseph and Mary’s journey to Bethlehem and the birth of the Christ child in a stable surrounded by animals. The author explores in great detail how Mary’s pregnancy has changed both their lives and all the couple experiences during their journey. A very quick read.

Do read the Preface and the Introduction before the actual story.

4.05 stars on Goodreads, 4.4 on Amazon