Nova Books

This is the 3rd book by this author that I have read. All are wonderful. The author puts you right there in the story and all are so real. I feel like that this is my other life. LOVE IT!!!

I enjoyed this book so much! I read it for a local book club, and found it such an easy and intriguing read. The main character's love for antiquing really shines through the story and affects the reader. There are some definite twists in the book, for instance, Weezie finding the dead body of her ex-husbands new fiance while sneaking into a house to use the bathroom! :) Mary Kay Andrews writing is so smooth and fun that I'm definitely looking foward to reading more of her work.

I loved this book! It was so well written, but also an easy read. I loved the intrique/mystery of "whodunnit" as well as the budding romance between Weezie & Daniel. Great, great book!

I listened to this audio in one day. I was so involved with the characters and the story. Mary Kay Andrews is a wonderful writer, I just sat back and wrapped myself up in her words. I laughed out loud so often and said so often "Oh you silly thing". This story really moved me.
I forgot about everything else until I finished this audio.

When I had finished I kept on thinking about the characters. I really wanted it to continue.

Do look at Hissy fit as well by the same author.

This was a nice light summer beach read. It was funny and entertaining and it was well written. I would recommend this to someone who is looking for a quick read that is not too heavy.

I love the characters and the setting.

This was a good book, but it way too long, at least 50 pages could have been cut. The book was a rip-off of a famous movie, I won't give you the title of the movie or you will know what the book is about. There was nothing original about this book, thou I most say all the characters were well written and interesting. The most interesting characters in the book were Rouge, Sadie and David, who should have had a bigger part in the book. This would have been a five-star book, but I gave it only three stars because there was too much useless information which made for boring reading.

I love this author anyway, but this is just simply wonderful and one of the best reads ever.

I have only recently discovered Carol O'Connell, and I am working my way through her novels. I love the Mallory series, but picked this one up because it's by the same author. It was a gripping, can't-put-this-down read. The ending still haunts me.

This is the second time I read this and I'll keep it to read again. The plot was suspenseful and unpredictable and well written. This is the only novel that I have read by this author but look forward to reading others. This is definitely a fast paced page turner and would recommend to anyone who enjoys mysteries or thrillers. You won't be disappointed.

This is the best book I've ever read.....almost. After the first few pages, when it seems young girls are disappearing and found dead, I threatened the recommender with dismemberment b/c I have little girls at home. But as I kept on, I was hooked. It is well written with a phenomenal ending. Not for those who read the last pages first.

portrayed brillantly in Black Cross. First Greg Iles novel for me. Certain sentences touched my inner core. ... "Mark felt a sudden magnifying of his own importance, like a subtle shift in the earth's gravitational field." I'm amazed with an author that writes as though he has personally been through the experiences of his characters. Thank you for a great novel.

I really like Greg Iles' books, but this one was way too graphic for me. The very specific and lengthy concentration camp scenes and descriptions are not something that I can read. I have great sorrow and empathy for the cruelty, but I just can't read the details of it.

This reviewer is a big fan of the writer and I went back to read one of his earliest novels, written in 1995. This takes place as the Allies Forces are preparing for theor D-Day ivasion. Britosh intelligence learns that the Germand are testing a highly sophisticated nerve gas in one of the Conentration Camps. Due to the sensitive geopolitical ramifications that are involved, a special team is set up to gain samples of this gas. This book had me hooked from the first page and it is sometimes difficult to tell what is fact and what is part of a very fertile imagination of the writer. The characters have true depth and their personalities are embellished as each page passes. Iles is a true master and this work is in the league with writers such as LeCarre, Follett and Forsythe. The writer is a master of intrigue as well as utilizing numerous twists as the story is developed. This reader had difficulty putting the book down yet also did not wish to see it end. This is truly a remarkable achievement and is highly recommended to those who like novels of intrigue and espionage.

Wow. Basically bought this on a whim because I happened to see it on the shelf at the bookstore. I could not have been more surprised with its exciting and intriguing story. A true diamond in the rough! If you are looking for a story based in fact and set during World War Two that features action, espionage, and drama, then you should check this novel out! A plethora of interesting characters abound here. Despite the exciting nature of the story, though, it gives a very detailed and non glamorous look at life in a concentration camp - not for the weak hearted I warn you!

This isn't all action hero escapism, it is a REAL struggle with characters that could have been REAL people - Jewish women and children doing ANYTHING they can to survive day by day under the heel of a sadistic Nazi doctor, Britain's military leaders trying to figure out a way to halt the progression of Germany's chemical arsenal, and the pacifist American chemist attempting to work with a Jewish Palestinian terrorist to get the mission off the ground.

A great read. It is shocking that I missed this one until now! Highly recommended for those in search of a good yarn!

I ordered this book after having read the Spandau Phoenix and I must say that Greg Iles has outdone himself. He mixed facts with fiction to the point that I got on the Internet to look things up. I then ordered some of his other books and with each book I opened I was spellbound.
Black Cross and the story it tells is something that could have really happend. Being a German myself and growing up in Germany for 22 years before coming to the states I lived the war through my grandfathers and my mothers eyes and also from friends and family with all the stories they told me from that horrible time. I give this book 5 stars.

I tried and tried to finish this book, but couldn't. The story and characters were so boring, I gave up.

I have read almost all of Luanne Rice's books, and this is the most heart-wrenching I've read. I loved the characters, although they are very similar to other characters in Rice's other novels. Rice includes the same conflicts with divorce, family ties, and dealing with death and dying as in some of her other novels. But it is a good story of love, friendship, communication, and family. Far better than CRAZY IN LOVE and STONE HEART. I enjoyed DANCE WITH ME, HOME FIRES, and DREAM COUNTRY about as much as this one.

It was a good concept, but the story was over-done. Too dramatic for my tastes...It was more or less satisfying, but not on par with writers like Pam Houston, Jo-Ann Mapson, and Sue Miller. The dialogue was too predictable-every character was a "mold" and expected to react a certin way. The dad who has a chip on his shoulder, the single mom with cancer, the teenagers...it was a nice summer read, and I will probably read others by the author. Those who like chick flicks/romance movies will be the ones who will like this book the best.

Luanne Rice is a darn good storyteller.
I very much enjoyed Cloud Nine.
A wonderfully paced story. Plenty of time to get to know the characters.
Clound Nine is filled with warmth, laughter, heartache. Some suspense.
Romance.
Family dynamics. Mother/daughter. Stepfather. Ex's. Dad/daughter. Mother/son.
Family roots.
Places in the heart.
Fun in the snow.
Good stuff, painful stuff.
Well-done.
Have tissues at hand, if you have a heart, you will need them.

Sara Talbot is the main character who never thought she would be around for another birthday. After she came down with a cancerous brain tumor the previous year, her odds of survival were very slim.

After a prestigous neurosurgeon saved her life, she was in remission, and able to start her life anew opening her shop Cloud Nine. Life was good again, and on her birthday celebration, she meets Ted, who is divorced and has a daughter Susan. Susan and Sara hit it off right away when Susan visits her shop, and they become instant friends. Susan is one mixed up kid though. She lost a brother, Fred, in a drowning accident several years ago. Her mother Alice, never got over it, and so that is what caused her parents to split in the first place. Alice is remarried to this very wealthy man, Julian, of whom Susan can't stand of course. Susan is also a very insecure child, and during the book she changes her name several times from Secret to Snow, depending on the season. This all has to do with her brother.

In the meantime, as Sara and Ted fall in love with one another,Ted, a pilot with his own privately owned planes, flies her over to the Island for Thanksgiving. Sara has a son Mike, who lives with his grandfather. He never got over the fact that Sara wasn't married to his father, and his resented her for it-and always had a cold feeling toward his mother. But this changes as time goes on in the book, and things happen; tragedy taking place. On this trip to the island, Susan, (Secret or Snow), sneaks on the plane with them though she wasn't supposed to. They reluctantly let her go, much to her mother's fury, but it turns out to be a good thing-in some ways. She and Mike start to fall in love with each other, and they both have things in common when it comes to death and their loved ones dying.

I highly recommend this book and found it very heart-rendering to say the least. When you reach the end, it is definitely time for the tissues.

SINCE I JUST RECEIVED THIS BOOK & HAVEN'T READ IT YET, I CANNOT WRITE A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW. BUT, JUDGING FROM THE OTHER "HARRY BOSCH" BOOKS, I HAVE ALREADY READ, I CAN SAFELY SAY THAT I WILL BE ENJOYING THIS BOOK, WHEN I START READING IT.

Harry Bosch is on administrative leave after assaulting a police supervisor. Trying to cope with the underlying cause of his anger, he is drawn into a cold case - the unsolved murder of his mother about 30 years previously. There are people who want the case to stay cold. Powerful people have an interest, and there are political considerations. A high placed political fixer is involved. Harry finds additional details from his mother's past.

Like most good mysteries, there are a couple surprising twists. There is a digression into Harry's new love life, and a side issue about his earthquake damaged house.

Readers who like this novel might also like Executive Privilege by Philip Margolin.

Connelly is a very talented writer. This is a good story, and the ending was a surprise. I gave it only three stars because it would have been better without the gratuitous sex scene.

Michael Connelly's character, Harry Bosch, is like Sherlock Holmes: so real the reader assumes he is an actual, living person. I've read almost all of the Bosch mysteries, and this is my favorite. Since he's investigating a cold case-his mother's murder-it gives readers more insight into Harry's character as formed by life with his mother and after her death, as well as the ensuing events in his life. As always, Michael Connelly's prose is gorgeous.

If you haven't read the books that precede this one in the Harry Bosch series, I strongly urge you to stop reading this review and any others about The Last Coyote and go back to The Black Echo and work forward in order the books were published. You'll miss a lot of the character development that makes this such a special book unless you've seen a lot of Harry at work before he takes on this case while suspended for stress leave.

As this book opens, Harry is receiving "counseling" after attacking his superior officer. Harry finds this to be like listening to fingernail scratches on a chalkboard. He's also having house problems: His stilt-based house with a great view has been condemned by the city after the big earthquake. The earthquake also shook his girlfriend so much that she left town.

Frustrated that he can't work, Harry decides to take a look at the file on his mother's death. From there, he begins to work the case. It's a tremendous opportunity for readers to understand Harry's youthful years much better. As you might expect, not all things are as they seemed at the time of the murder. Uncovering the truth is difficult and painful. But in the end, justice is done.

One of the beauties of this book is how much it shows about a range of emotions and motives that people employ to look out for themselves. In a way, Harry is an aficionado of depravity, it's part of being human. It's just that he has to stop it when it goes too far . . . or arrange for justice when the eggs cannot be unscrambled any more.

I don't recall a more bittersweet story in this series. You'll be thinking at the end: What if?

Nora Roberts Rocks! Lt. Eve Dallas makes the best protagonist and it's like a ongoing series so there is always a new story!

I've read all of Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb's books and this is one of my favorites for the In Death Series. If you haven't read any of them I would suggest you start at the beggining (Naked in Death) and make your way from there. I'm sure you won't be able to get enough. All the books are absolutely amazing and you just fall in love with Eve and Roarke and everything they go through together.

A stale plot is made masterfully refreshing in the hands of one of the greatest writers to ever put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard as the case may be).

Nora Roberts (writing as J.D. Robb) takes the tale of "cop killers" to new heights of suspense in the futuristic Eve Dallas series. Readers are taken on a journey into an imagination as vivid and lively as any Walt Disney movie. The difference, of course, being that Walt Disney only killed the parents of cartoon animals whereas Robb expertly tackles a more real world (if futuristic) human death. The imaginative effect is nonetheless incredible!

An off-duty cop has been killed in Roarke's Club, Purgatory, and as Eve unravels the mystery, not only does she find bad cops, but one of Roarke's oldest and deadliest enemies, Max Ricker. Ricker wants to destroy Roarke and what better way then using Eve. And as the story unfolds, the body count rises as more cops turn up dead, but why? Is it a vendetta or something more sinister? You won't be necessarily surprised, but you will love the character and plot development.

On top of everything else, while trying to solve the murder, Eve begins to have memories about her childhood, and realizes that Max Ricker has ties to her disturbing past. She is extremely surprised to find that Roarke's oldest enemy probably knew what her father was doing to her in Dallas, and made no attempts to stop him. (In later installments, you find that Roarke and Eve's lives were intertwined long before they met, since childhood. Both of their fathers knew each other and were involved in criminal enterprises. So, it would seem that Roarke and Eve were destined to be together.)

In summary, I think this novel is one of my favorites in the series. Not only did we see Roarke "lose his cool", but we get to see how he feels about the appearance of Eve's past lover, Webster (an internal affairs detective who appears to know more than he is willing to say). I think it was nice to see Roarke "off stride" for a change. I will also say that one disadvantage for me is that I am not reading the series in order, so I am not sure if what I am about to say is relevant. What I would have like to read is a story about how Ricker's son (who was mentioned a lot) handles the fact that Eve and Roarke stopped his lunatic father? I think that would be a wonderful story and an interesting villian in a future story.

I'm a huge fan of this series, but I didn't enjoy this book nearly as much as the others. I have to agree with another reviewer that said that the identification of the killer was so abrupt that it almost left me wondering if I missed some pages or something. I think that Roarke's behavior in this book became a little annoying. And I did not like the angry sex scene in this book. These two are always so loving with each other that it seems way too out of the ordinary. It's also starting to wear on me that Roarke has his nose in every little thing that Eve does. Give me a break! He should be more of a peripheral character than being thrust into the middle of every mystery.

I just got out this book to read again. That's how good it is. I was online to order their new book (Gotta Keep On Trying) because it stays out at the library. Anyway, I read this a while back and wanted to read it again. It's an excellent little quick read about family relationships, perfect for a summer book club selection (when you don't want anything too heavy but you like a lively discussion). I highly recommend it along with 'Tryin' To Sleep In The Bed You Made'.

Interesting plot. However, not the mystery/suspense that "Lying in the Bed You Made" or "Better Than I know Myself" had. Very slow, uneventful. Hard to finish.

I'm not done reading this yet, but I am thoroughly enjoying Della and her girls. She's kind of pissing me off with her control issues and not even giving Celeste and Ronnie a chance to talk or reveal their feelings. Yes, I understand why but it's irritating.
Thumbs up to the Donna & Virginia for writing a novel that can bring some issues home for some readers as we all go through similar things at one time or another. I know this rings true for those mothers who have daughters in their teens or early 20's, 30's...
can't wait for the next book!!!

I enjoyed this book so much! The relationship between mother and daughters reminds me of my own personal interactions with my own daughters at times! It all seemed so real.
The sisters behaved just like some sisters do.....the way everything was eventually brought out in the open and the mother's coming to terms with her past was beautifully written.
This is a Great read! I recommend it.

I also enjoyed this book. Celeste and Ronnie Fraiser, two sisters different as night and day, their beloved father has died and neither one can understand their mother, Della. Good storyline, and great characters make this story worthwhile and enjoyable reading. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories about family misunderstandings, legacies, joy and pains and forgiveness. I hope someone can pick this book up and decide to make a movie. Read and Enjoy!

It is, as many have said, one of the great sports biographies of all time -- but it's also one of the great history narratives of all time. It's not just Muhammmad Ali profiled here, but the trio of heavyweights who dominated headlines in the early 1960s: also Floyd Patterson and Sonny Liston. And in many ways, those two are more fascinating because, before I read "King of the World," they weren't accompanied by the same pre-fight hype. Here's Liston, a dangerous and sullen felon who's achingly lonely; there's Patterson, a great athlete but at the same time so thoughtful and intelligent he was plagued by a boxer's worst enemy, self-doubt.

And that's not to say anything of the portrait of the time, of Black Muslims, Malcolm X, Norman Mailer, the media, John F. Kennedy... Trust me, even a non-sports fan will be mesmerized.

When boxing mattered, boxers were more than pugilists trying to break each other's wills; they were symbols that attracted the attention and aspirations of the masses. Like gladiators in Rome, these courageous men allow us to project our hopes, fears, and insecurities.

David Remnick tells the story of Cassius Clay's growth from a skinny, mercurial, but morally upright boy, to a hero and symbol of resistance and hope for millions of anti-establishment figures. Ali captivated the hearts and minds of fans unlike any athlete before or since. Remnick does a beautiful job of explaining why and how this happened. No matter how dominate Michael Jordan was, or Tiger Woods is, neither absorb our emotions like the sponge known as Muhammed Ali.

His grace, speed, and power thrilled, while his words, political stances, and humour enthralled. Everyone in America should learn the story of this hero. There is no better place than Remnick's book to do so. Highly recommended.

Bertz / Randall

"Almighty god was with me! I want everybody to bear witness! I am the greatest! I shook up the world! I am the greatest thing that ever lived! I don't have a mark on my face, and I just upset Sonny Liston, and I just turned twenty-two years old. I must be the greatest! I showed the world! I
talk to god every day! I am the king of the world!" shouts Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) to the sporting press, after defeating Sonny Liston in 1964. This statement enraged boxing fans all over the world. Here was a twenty-two year old nobody with a big mouth, and he just defeated Sonny Liston. At the time, Liston was viewed as invincible. Liston was an experienced fighter who was known for defeating his opponents in two rounds or less. Not only did he lose the heavyweight championship to Ali, but he quit without being knocked down once. This declared Ali the king of controversy. "King of the World" by David Remnick is the story of the rise and fall of Muhammad Ali. Remnick does a fantastic job of showing us the different sides of racism. He focuses greatly on Ali's devotion to the Nation of Islam. The book showed many similarities between the Nation of Islam and the Klu Klux Klan. Remnick explained that both the Nation and the Klan were for segregation and that they both use methods of violence and terror to enforce their beliefs. After reading this book, I realized that the similarities are uncanny. Remnick's numerous references to these similarities proved to me that Remnick is a non-violent integrationist. I believe that one of the main points of the book is that segregation is wrong. The book greatly describes how the Nation of Islam had interfered with Muhammad Ali's personal life. For example, Remnick noted Ali's marriage to Sonji. He went into great detail how strong Ali's love was for Sonji, but he couldn't accept her inability to conform to his
religion. This became a problem for them and they eventually got a divorce. Remnick also noted the emotional distance between Ali and his father being caused by his decision to join the Nation of Islam. Remnick goes even further in describing the way Ali turned his back on his best friend Malcolm X. He also wanted to let the reader know that religion should never get in the way of your personal life. The book said that the only thing in Ali's life that Ali regrets is "his cruel and hasty rejection of Malcolm." Now days, Ali looks back at Malcolm X with great respect. The main point Remnick was trying to communicate with his audience was that Ali stood up for what he believed in. Not only in the boxing ring but, also with his religious and political beliefs. In 1966, Muhammad Ali refused to be drafted to fight the war in Vietnam. The government threatened to take away his heavyweight championship and throw him into a federal prison for the next five years. Ali still refused. When they asked him why he refused to fight in the Vietnam war, he replied "I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong." Eldridge Cleaver described Ali as a "genuine revolutionary" and the "first `free' black champion to confront white America." Writer, Jill Nelson, called Ali's refusal of the draft a "supreme act of defiance." However, not everyone supported Ali's refusal of the draft. Conservative boxing fans
called him an unpatriotic bum. They thought he was hiding behind his religion because he was lazy. Remnick took a much more liberal stance on the situation. The author seemed to support Ali's decision. For many years, Muhammad Ali would be both loved and hated by boxing fans of all races. Some people believe that Ali should not have been allowed to be exempt from the war because of his religion. Others looked at his exemption as an amazing defeat. The only thing anyone could agree on was his amazing abilities in the ring. In 1997, during the summer Olympics, Muhammad Ali was invited to light the Olympic torch. In my opinion, this proved Ali to be a very patriotic man. It proved that the world had never forgotten about Ali, and it
never will. Lighting the Olympic torch is one of the highest honors any athlete could be given. "King of the World" was published in 1998. Exactly one year after he lit the Olympic torch. I think that's why this book was written when it was.
The ignition of the 1997 Olympic torch was Ali's return to the public eye. And this book was written to honor him.

King of the World by David Remnick was one of the best books I've ever read. It is the true story of a champion and how he got there. I recommend anyone who likes stories about winning and glory, to read this book. If you also like reading about dudes getting smoked by a champ. Read this book.

For me, this book should have been titled "Death of One of My Heroes," which should become self-evident if you read this entire review. I believe the book is mostly accurate, and it is a well-written book.

Remnick (the author), in my opinion, devotes too much time to Floyd Patterson and Sonny Liston. I also wish he had given more details about Ali as Ali got older and continued to box.

Without question, Muhammad Ali, in his prime, was the greatest heavyweight fighter that has ever fought.

"DEATH OF ONE OF MY HEROES": I did not realize how much Ali allowed the Nation of Islam (NOI) to influence him. Because he let the NOI influence him--yes, Ali DID have a choice!!!--Muhammad Ali: (1)lied about throwing his Olympic medal over a fence, (2)divorced his first wife, (3)broke off a friendship with Malcolm X, and (4)claimed to be a "minister" to avoid the draft. If you think the above describes a "hero," your definition of "hero" differs from mine.

The book is good. Unfortunately, it killed one of my heroes.

Buy it and read it. It is well worth the $$$.

I plodded through the first book, but I could not put Ethan's story down! I had it in the car, inbetween chores...everywhere! Ethan was so likeable, and I thought he and Grace were so cute together. Can't wait to read the other two; just picked them up from the library yesterday.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK!!! this was the first i read in the trilogy about the Quinn brothers (i have since read them all) and i have to say it was my favourite! All are just terrific but this one was especially great for me. it was also the first nora roberts book i ever read and what a way to start! since Rising Tides i have read many of her books and love them all. but i think Rising tides with always have a special place! i just love the way that the romance is so... normal. It has none of the 'hero rescues damsel in distress' etc. it moved at a steady pace i thought (i read it in one day!) and i got everything that was happening even though i hadn't read 'seaswept' at the time (the first in the saga and which is also FANTASTIC!)... all in all one of my ALL TIME FAVOURITE BOOKS and i absolutely loved it! all four books in the saga are brilliant!

My favorite Quinn brother. I wonder if I could have him if I got rid of Grace. :) Grace is great. I love her too. I want to be friends with her. (Guess I couldn't get rid of her then. LOL) Being from Maryland, the setting was great for me. I understood all the local color and could practically taste the blue crabs when they were talking about picking them. Usually, I read paranormal romance, but this didn't let me down at all. I read it in one day. I didn't want to stop reading it at all. As soon as I was done, I jumped up to find the next book in the saga

I really enjoyed this as I did the other ones from this series

Ethan Quinn loves the ocean and still lives in the Bay. He works hard running his commercial fishing boat as well as working at the family business building boats. Ethan is strong and reserved trying to direct his brothers in the direction of a business that will thrive and support them all.

Grace Monroe has loved Ethan for as long as she can remember. She has tried to get close to him, but has never been able to as he always puts up roadblocks. Grace works multiple jobs, is raising her daughter Aubrey, but can't break Ethan.

When Ethan and Grace come together, it isn't an explosive impact, but more of a slow burn. They have both loved each other for years, but Ethan has issues in his past that prevent him from being able to love Grace. As they deal with the past, Ethan provides a stabilizing influence to the family he loves.

Great second book in the series. Ethan has a emotional and heartbreaking story. This fragile family moves to be closer to each other, but still have a lot to learn about family and the daily routine.

Leftist antigovernment guerrillas killed four U.S. Marines in San Salvador. So Regan gives the order for "Total closure" meaning kill everyone remotely involved. They had intelligence of a leftist organization called FMLN based in a tiny village. They killed 87 people. The intel was wrong. No FMLN. Ron Kubik (aka Tom Chapman) was there. OK fine

What turned me off and caused me to return the book unfinished was

1. Chapter one. I just couldn't imagine the FBI staging an arrest of a highly skilled Special Forces guy wanted for war crimes in the middle of a crowded mall with his wife and 6y/o stepdaughter in tow when they could of just picked him up at home or at work. That was stupid beyond belief.

2. The 6y/o daughter was obnoxious. And Clair didn't even try to teach her better.

3. Chapter 17. When Claire Chapman, high power lawyer and wife to above war criminal, goes to the house of Charles Grimes a former Army JAG lawyer, whom she's never met before, to hire him Grimes uses foul language and talks to her as tho he's talking to some old drinking buddy. The odds of that are slim to nil. First_he's a man talking to an unknown women for the very first time. Second_ he's a former officer in the military where PROTOCOL and etiquette is drummed in. Third he's a lawyer, so he's not some ignorant bum. Forth_ he's gone thru a divorce and his wife took him for everything he had so he needs the money.

I didn't want to go any further.

I've read two other J. Finder books. Here's how I have them on my HAVE READ list
Finder, Joseph - Paranoia BAD. Company Man BAD

I'll be adding High Crimes BAD today

This is the third novel I have read by Joseph Finder. Like the other two, I was not disappointed.

High Crimes begins very innocently. Claire, a Harvard Law School professor and successful defense attorney, her husband Tom, an investment banker, and their daughter Annie, have dinner at a mall restaurant. Leaving the establishment, federal marshals appear to arrest her husband. Tom, showing much more athleticism and cunning than he appears to have, escapes.

From there, the story takes off in a couple of directions, but the suspense doesn't stop. Tom is eventually caught and the story continues in a military court, as Tom is being held for crimes committed while he was in the service (this comes as news to Claire, as Tom never told her he was in the military). Tom, or as the Army knows him, Ron Kubik, is wanted for the killing of 87 civilians in San Salvador 13 years earlier. Claire defends Tom/Ron, wondering who this person is that she married. There are a lot of people with a vested interest in the outcome of this case, and not all of them want to see Tom/Ron proclaimed innocent and set free.

Early on, I thought that this was a story of Claire just wanting to see her husband released from the brig. But then Finder adds some troubling undercurrents, bringing the rats out into the light. He does not disappoint. Like his other works that I have read, he adds some nice, plausible twists to the story, all the way up the to end (an excellent ending, I might add).

Another highly recommended novel from Joseph Finder.

BTW - I have not seen the movie based on this book.

Lured by many acclaim notes in the front and back covers, yet I could not find that spark that gets me trapped to this plot because in this story I have experienced Finder's trademark again, he uses to write serious drama in his books with the depth and times you will find in an afternoon soap opera. The story unfolds like a tale published in the pages of a glossy magazine. The final product is a light fast read suitable for a cross country flight if you don't like the plane magazines

I read a lot of thrillers, and I think Joseph Finder is one of the best writers in the genre. He first came to fame in 2004, when he wrote an excellent novel called PARANOIA. But before he wrote that novel, he wrote a number of other books that were not as successful. HIGH CRIMES is one of them, and it's actually a pretty terrific effort.

HIGH CRIMES is a legal thriller involving a civilian attorney who must defend her husband in military court. I won't say much more about the plot, because the storyline has a ton of twists and turns, and it's fun to experience them yourself.

The legal plotline of HIGH CRIMES isn't particularly realistic, but Finder has done enough research into military courtroom procedure to make it seem believable. The story moves forward at warp speed, and it's pretty much a blast to read. The ending is controversial, but Finder deserves credit for avoiding a predictable finish.

HIGH CRIMES doesn't have a tremendous amount of depth, but it's fun and exciting and I don't think you'll be disappointed with it. If you like this novel, try Finder's PARANOIA and COMPANY MAN, which are also both terrific books.

The writing is truly wonderful, and the construction of the plot nothing short of pure genius. It's the only way it could have worked, and worked so well. After reading Grisham, I used to believe that only lawyers usually write good legal thrillers, but Finder proved me wrong here.

High Crimes, is a story about a Harvard Faculty who finds herself in a tight situation where her husband is accused of killing eighty-seven innocent people. Her personal and professional life starts falling from every direction, until she finds herself with unique ability to face the military court system, and people who runs it.

No doubt, Finder is a rising star in the literary world, and I look forward to great things from him. This one is highly recommended.