867. "Wild Card" by Michael Brandman – 5 Stars

Wild Card by Michael Brandman – 5 Stars

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

ISBN: 9781464211584 

As I was browsing the book offerings from NetGalley I recalled Michael Brandman as the author who very pleasingly and successfully continued Robert B. Parker’s Jesse Stone series. He did an excellent job with those books. So, I chose Wild Card, the third book of a new series by Mr. Brandman and was not disappointed.

Although Wild Card is the third book in the Buddy Steel series, it is fine as a stand-alone. The background information is quickly and smoothly established. There is a dual plot: one in which Buddy stands up to a billionaire who uses his wealth to manipulate the law for his own selfish and criminal reasons, and a second which is a multiple murder mystery with a surprising villain.

It is fast paced with interesting, likeable characters and witty, often amusingly sarcastic dialogue. I absolutely enjoyed this book. It is a high compliment when one yearns to read more of an author’s books -- I have already gotten the first two of this series and hope there will be a fourth.

 

Reviewer: Nancy

866. "The Silent War" by Andreas Norman – 1 Star

The Silent War by Andreas Norman – 1 Stars

Publisher: Quercus (US)

ISBN: 9781635060881

Wish I could say something positive about this book, but I’m at a loss for words. Since it was touted as a spy book I envisioned intrigue, clever maneuvers, thrilling encounters, and unexpected events. No, no, no and no. Instead it dwelled relentlessly on personal lives that in the most part never contributed to the story’s progression. I could ignore the formatting on my Kindle with no chapters, no separations between unlike events, and the combining of words that should be cleaned up in the final version. However, the inordinate number of staccato, punchy sentences that began with “The”, as if an outline, and the endless use of pronouns that turned out to be someone other than would naturally be assumed was extremely annoying.

The story itself is described in the book’s blurb and is the most interesting thing I read. The actual content included cheap sex dialogue and continuous family problems with secretive cheating and child issues that leant little and distracted from the book being a spy novel.  Enough is enough. And, this is how I struggled through it – stopping and picking it up later hoping it would improve.

I never thought I’d issue a “Not Recommend” to anything I reviewed. The characters Bente Jensen and Jonathon Green should have stayed under the sheets. Sorry.

Reviewer: Rich

865. "Red War" by Kyle Mills – 4 Stars

Red War by Kyle Mills – 4 Stars

Publisher: Simon & Schhuster

ISBN: 9781501190599

Mitch Rapp teams with Grisha Azarov the Russian he shot in a previous mission and who now is hunted by the Russian President for his failure of that mission. The Russian Federation is in turmoil with the president Maxim Krupin dying of cancer who characteristically must hide his illness and make his legacy before he dies. Remember the Ukraine? Well, think bigger! The chaos he intends to deliver to fulfill that legacy of strength and intelligence now extends to the defeat of a complacent  NATO that casts a shadow over border -- strike that, HIS -- countries.

This book encompasses strategy after strategy, battle after battle between his forces and the CIA, meaning Mitch Rapp is kept hopping. Well written as usual, but maybe lacking something more than just confrontations as in previous books. The depth and cozy feeling of being right there with Mitch and all his life and relationships was limited to his skills and activities of attack and seize. Regardless, I enjoyed this novel, just not as much as the real Vince Flynn books and precious Kyle Mills continuances. So, don’t overlook reading and enjoying the back-to-back action.

 

Reviewer: Rich

864. "Tinnitus Toolbox Hyperacusis Handbook" by Jan L. Mayes – 4 Stars

Tinnitus Toolbox Hyperacusis Handbook by Jan L. Mayes – 4 Stars

Publisher: Jan L. Mayes

ISBN: 9781775270515

The author clearly states there is no magic cure for tinnitus in this book or anywhere. So, up front I continued on to read about all the ways to live with it and minimize its impact on my life of living with tinnitus for over 25 noticeable years so far. The book did not disappoint from the aspect of comprehensiveness and good advice. I really enjoyed the first half of the book that introduced a lot of personal attempts to overcome tinnitus and the straight and concise facts to live more enjoyable given tinnitus. The author provides an excellent toolbox to fight the lows, introducing most of the therapies available today which the reader could find self-research. Her introductions were very complete and included sound, mental, physical, and distraction techniques to help understand and address the noise we tinnitus suffers have to endure, along with readable scientific definitions, facts, additional research articles available. The second half of the book did become a bit overdone though with possibly everything one can search for on the Internet and a more merely listed rather than discussed.

What did I specifically take from this book’s toolbox? DISTRACTION techniques. I could not find any pure sound techniques that worked so far, but I did learn to associate the sounds I am hearing to a more pleasant event via imaging – I am practicing and can now sometimes turn one of the most annoying sounds, the continuous solid upper pitch into an other sound that sounds like the night insects I enjoyed back on top of the Appalachians. My low and pulsating motor humming sound is also no longer the neighbor warming up his truck, but a gentle wind working its way around barriers. Hey, I’ll take it!

I’d classify this nonfiction books as a reference document, as well as a readable guide to managing tinnitus. One can either play with the Internet and do their won research, or quickly learn most everything about tinnitus by reading the first half of the book. Missing though is an index, which could provide quick access to your pertinent questions. I’d like to see an index in the back to give the reader this advantage. Without an index, but because of the great information, I’ll be rating this 4-star. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Reviewer: Rich

863. "The Never Game" by Jeffery Deaver – 5 Stars

The Never Game by Jeffery Deaver – 5 Stars

Publisher: Penguin Group Putnam

ISBN: 9780525535942

We can always count on Jeffery Deaver’s books and short stories to be enjoyable and well written, to have great characters and to include a plot with perfect complexity. This first book of a series is no exception.

Although we are not gamers, we did relish the lesson in the world of gaming. We never expected it to be so well accepted with huge revenues off games, equipment, accessories, and a host of other side products. Despite a complete description of the industry and company employees, the technical details were spared but covered to the right degree to supplement the mystery within.  Also interesting and applicable were Colter Shaw’s upbringing in the family compound and firm instruction in wilderness survival which played most important in his venture to find and survive the tracking of kidnapped people. For the “Gamer” it was a game. For Colter it was business as usual.

The Silicon Valley case is solved in this book, but a lead-in for future books makes you salivate for the next course, plus dessert. We are already starving Mr. Deaver – make it soon.

 

Reviewer: Nancy and Rich