834. "The Escape Room" by Megan Golden -- 4-Stars

The Escape Room by Megan Golden – 4 Stars

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

ISBN: 9781250219657

I’m reviewing this to be honest with my opinion. I should only say I was glad I made it 90% to the point where it proved to have a great ending and explained the meaning for all the momentous number of words that I had previously read. Until then, I had a difficult time getting excited to delve back into the book. The plot was interesting in that instead of a story about escaping an inescapable elevator, it switches back and forth in time to detail each character’s personality, strengths, and weaknesses. One doesn’t have to read far to understand that the four in the elevator are a team of self-made elites who have no interest in anybody outside their club, or should I say “the Circle.” Unfortunately, understanding each character to that depth is not that important. My unconscious noticed this first and I started skimming page after page. However, at about 90%, or a little after, when the real storyline was revealed, the action was enthralling. If I could rate this book only on the ending, instead of the anticipated actionable, thrilling, nail-biter, page-turner as I expected, it surely would be a 5-Star. But, until then, I was generally bored and hugging just the 3-Star bar. I’m reminded that people have short memories and thus I should quickly write my review while the ending controlled my emotions. So, with that, I’ll settle on a 4-Star and hope the author in future books can consider continuous thrills and excitement throughout.

Reviewer: Rich, with Nancy’s input as well

833. "Killer Thriller" by Lee Goldberg -- 5-Stars

Killer Thriller by Lee Goldberg – 5 Stars

Publisher: Poisoned Penn Press

ISBN: 9781503903562

I read the first book in the Ian Ludlow series, True Fiction, last March and liked it. I enjoyed getting reacquainted with the characters and plot in this second book. It was fast paced, clever, and exciting with dry humor that poked fun at the movie industry and Washington officials.

Ian is a regular guy who while writing and selling adventure novels finds himself in a real-life international thriller. The story is so well written that I can almost believe in a conspiracy that China is plotting to take over the U. S.

It had a well constructed believable plot. I enjoyed this novel very much and look forward to finding out what situation Ian and Margo can get into in book three of the series.

Reviewer: Nancy

 

832. "Bluff" by Jane Stanton Hitchcock -- 5-Stars

Bluff by Jane Stanton Hitchcock – 5 Stars

Publisher: Poisoned Penn Press

ISBN: 9781464210693

One would expect this to be a book about Poker. In a way it is, but without any games, not a real card dealt or nor a chip played. Instead, this story is only constantly compared to the phases of a Poker hand/game, to emphasize the need to use the Bluff in order to be the unchallenged winner.

The shuffle and deal, not always exciting but necessary, initiate the story through Chapter 38, but in Chapter 39 you discover the Cut abruptly changes things, plus funny dealing from the bottom of the deck has also been happening without you knowing it. Much is like a real poker game and the plot keeps its cards close to the chest. But, Don’t Fold yet. All the information in these first 38 chapters is important to produce a complete and necessary profile of each character -- maybe not necessarily a correct one -- and to deliver a very exciting hand to play. Mad Maud is one of the main characters and remains a central focus throughout. Because of events in her past, she quickly, within the beginning pages, offs Sun Sunderland, a billionaire, in public in front of many witnesses. She just became the dealer and a most interesting player as well. The plot continues with an elite group of friends and enemies wondering why she shot Sun when she was even madder about dealings his lunch buddy Burt Sklar had with her mother. Throughout the story, Maud distributes the aces from the bottom of the deck and twists and nurtures a story into a giant Bluff. But, who bluffs and who blinks? And, finally, who wins?

You don’t want to fold your hand too early and will want to relish all the details re the Bluff. This is an excellent mystery full of secrets and surprising twists.

Reviewer: Rich

831. Netgear WNR2000 & 100mbs Cable Poor wireless download Performance

It wasn't until I upgraded my cable speed to 100mbs that I began getting strange performance issues on my Kindle. After getting a speed app, I discovered that the download speed was 3mbs. Not a typo: THREE mbs instead of a possible 60mbs! Upload was 10.77 mbs (FASTER than download). I can't tell you what in particular caused this; probably could back out changes one by one to cause it again. Likewise, on my PC, the download wireless was only 5mbs! But, I won't since all is good now. Here is what I did:

1. Foremost, I read about how TKIP & WPA slows down the WNR200 compared to straight WPA2(AES) security protocol. This is changed by signing in to Netgear Router (192.168.1.1 usually) as administrator and going to Advanced,Wireless,Setup,Wireless Setup and checking the WPA2-PSK [AES] button. This supposedly lets the the Router function as a N-mode rqther than G-mode speed.
2. #1 above alone might have been the fix, but I also read that disabling 20/40 Mhz coexistence would fix a similar problem. Go to Advanced,Wireless,Setup,Advanced Setup and uncheck the box.
3. Lastly, someone mentioned QoS setting Enable WMM must be on. Mine was already. This is under Advanced,Wireless,Setup, QoS Setup.

After making the changes and restarting Router (tried doing this with no success before any changes), My wireless download on the Kindle AND PC climbed to about 67 mbs. What a significant improvement.

830. "The Eighth Sister" by Robert Dugoni -- 5-Stars

The Eighth Sister by Robert Dugoni – 5 Stars

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer. Seattle

ISBN: 9781503903036

I didn’t expect both a great espionage thriller and a brilliant trial story in one book. Now an ex-spy, Charles Jenkins reactivates with the CIA on an operation to uncover a Russian who has already killed three of seven American spies that had infiltrated the Russian government. However, an intelligent FSB officer, Federov, is on to him and the cat and mouse chase throughout the region lights the stage for the first half of the book in a never ending display of suspense and action packed moments. But, just how authorized was his mission? Along comes attorney David Sloane leading a most impressive case related to the operation. In addition to Charles and David, all other characters display the highest intelligence and abilities, making this novel with its many twists highly captivating and enriching. Everyone operates at peak performance, even the ones you don’t want to root for. Who wins is for you to learn.  

I’d like to supply more details, but any more would be too much. You need to savor the details and relish the thrills and twists as they happen -- enjoy the excitement, page by page. Truly one of the best suspense and thriller novels I have read in awhile.

Reviewer: Rich

829. "End of Day" by Mae Clair -- 5-Stars

End of Day by Mae Clair – 5 Stars

Publisher: Lyrical Underground, Kensington Publishing Corp.

ISBN: 9781516107285  (ebook)

Excellent. I decided to read Cusp of Night, the first of the series just to ensure I didn’t miss anything that would have distracted me while reading this book. Because I was expecting much more mystique and horror from the first book, I was sort of turned off with what the first book offered. However, this book quickly captured my attention and kept it right to the end. The plot revolving around a belief that the first buried creature in a cemetery will guard the remaining deceased buried thereafter, coupled with an emerald that has powers to protect or destroy, is developed and supplemented by characters who themselves possess paranormal empathic or spiritual powers. The mysteries of the past need to be investigated in order to resolve present day catastrophic unsettling events. The alternating of past and present passages perfectly develops each story -- two interesting stories bound into one.

What I found interesting reading both books one and two is that the characters don’t overwhelm each other. For example, I didn’t expect Jillian to be the lead character in book two; whereas, Dante is a key player across both books.  Now I’m wondering who will lead in book three. This is a different twist than in most serials where the main characters in one book maintain that role throughout a series. The employment of a “group” of empowered characters seems to provide endless variations in future books.

Expect supernatural events, mystique, mystery, and demons in a story that won’t let you down. Learn the answers to: Was Gabriel possessed? Where did the plague originate? What are the descendant relationships today and their importance? Why all the freaky accidents today and who were the victims? What force does the green emerald unleash?

Reviewer: Rich