960. Homecoming, Prime Video Review -- 5 Stars

Homecoming is a show that requires several episodes in order to begin to learn how things fit together. Each episode leaves many questions and unexplained character relationships. For the inquisitive and analytic minded viewers who know they will be rewarded for their time and patience, Homecoming is wonderful. With that said, I must recommend that this is not the show for the The Big Bang Theory crowd who can’t even decide on when to react without canned laughter to tell them. Think of each season of Homecoming as an entire novel where there are constant twists and turns throughout and always intrigue and unknowns from chapter to chapter. If your mind can’t focus like that, try reading more. But, do understand that this is how life occurs and one cannot expect a reward like a piece of biscuit given to a dog each time he learns to sit. People were supposed give brains to perform analysis of events, some events so diverse it may take time to collect all the facts to formulate even close conjectures of truth. So be the events and action in Homecoming as it progressives throughout its episodes. I commend the producers and writers for such an excellent program that exercise the viewers’ imagination and continued thought; something our younger generations duly lack and later generations tend to forget. I can’t get enough of this show. In addition to what I already stated, I find the characters very unique and well defined, once you put the pieces together. The complete picture is like a jigsaw puzzle being put together. Individual puzzle sections start to be connected and those images start to shed light on how the final picture will appear. Homecoming is extremely creative and cleverly presented. Unfortunately, as you will read, there are many viewers who can not focus on the big picture and give up – just as in life. Well, pooh on them. Each episode is short enough for an evening or afternoon of relaxation and mind stimulation experience. Thanks for such a great show. I certainly belong to the 5 Stars folks.

959. "The Lantern Men" by Elly Griffiths -- 3 Stars

The Lantern Men by Elly Griffiths -- 3 Stars

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

ISBN: 9780358237044

I thank Netgalley.com and the publisher for an early copy of The Lantern Men in exchange for the opportunity to provide an honest opinion. This novel is a creative mystery based on a local legend, but the progress of the plot is often slowed by the narrative of the lives and relationships of Eve’s many friends, their numerous children, and the police force. I found the drama of their personal angst to be unnecessarily excessive. While the mystery in this book is complete with a satisfying conclusion, the character’s stories are progressive with each book in the series. Those and many references to events that occurred previously demand that the series should be read in the order the books were written.

Reviewer: Nancy

958. "Bone Canyon" by Lee Goldberg -- 5 Stars

Bone Canyon by Lee Goldberg --  5 Stars

Publisher: Thomas and Mercer

ISBN: 9781542042710 

Bone Canyon is fun to read. The pace of the plot is steady. The dialogue is often witty without being silly. There is just enough description of California and the cities in Los Angeles County to be interesting. The characters are the best part. They portray the culture of Los Angeles and Hollywood craziness. I have lived there. It is a unique place. Eve, the central character, grew up and lives in the world of the film industry. She is a strong young woman trying to stand by her principles of justice while being reminded of the video that got her the job and being encouraged to be the central character in a television series. Duncan is Eve’s partner who is nearing retirement. I hope he stays in the series. He is a support for Eve as a friend and wise mentor. I like him. Bone Canyon is more than a Hollywood story. There are bad people among the good in every profession. It is a strong and disquieting story that could have taken place in any city. The setting, however, did add to the entertainment.

There are authors whose books I enjoy so much that I anxiously await the next one to be published, Lee Goldberg is one of those. I thank him and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and enjoy this book.

   

Reviewer: Nancy

957. "Written in my Own Heart’s Blood" by Diana Gabaldon – 5 Stars

Written in my Own Heart’s Blood  by Diana Gabaldon – 5 Stars

Publisher: Delacorte Press

ISBN: 9780440246442

Book 8 in the Outlander Series: A short 813 pages to this one and every page enjoyable. We again got to follow both Jamie & Claire’s family in their time, but we also now have the Roger and Bree family with their time travel adventures. Plus, it doesn’t stop there with more ancestors joining the travelers. Let it suffice to say Jem disappears and suspected to have gone through the Stones. But did he? Roger thought so, so without hesitation jumped time to find him along with an interesting and related kinsman – remember Buck who turned him over to the British to hang? Roger and Bree had collected more details about time travel, but Roger had to make his departure from the present day to seek Jem. So, not everything goes as planned, but he does run into many known relatives back in the 1730’s, Buck’s time. Meanwhile Bree begins studying time travel scientifically though the various Stones’ locations and flips with family to now find Roger. Phew! You’ll have to read to determine the details and outcomes. Let me just say the ending of the book will get you wondering how much they learned when Jamie and Claire hear a “Hallo the House.”

As far as Jamie and Claire, along with Lord John’s relatives and William, the Revolution progresses from Valley Forge and battles around Philadelphia. Of course, Jamie can’t stay out of it and is made a General by Washington. Many new and real individuals become characters in the Fraser’s lives.

We now have on the British side Lord John, William, John’s brother and his uncle who all have key action in this novel. There are some difficult situations between them and the others Rebel families while they have to work together to avoid arrest and capture, requiring joint rescues on both sides of the factions. Never a dull moment. William also lets his personal side avail and makes some interesting decisions and takes some risky actions.

My new favorite character Ian is in love. We met Rachael, the Quaker, previously. Shall we add another family to follow? Fergus’s family and Jenny also contribute a lot to the narrative and action.

I probably said enough. You really want to continue onto this Book 8 and then, along with me, await Book 9. I’m amazed that Ms. Galbadon could devise such a masterpiece and then present it in eight large novels to date and in such an excellent manner. Thanks.

Reviewer: Rich

956. "Sea of Spies" by Alex Gerlis – 5 Stars

Sea of Spies by Alex Gerlis – 5 Stars

Publisher: Canelo

ISBN: 9781788639026

As in Mr. Gerlis’ previous book Prince of Spies, Richard Prince continues with his escapades with a second mission that challenges every one of his faculties. Unlike the typical spy novel where things frequently go right, it seems Richard hits every possible obstacle and rabbit hole. His mission is to report on the Chronium trade between Germany and Turkey, the raw material being used to build armored vehicles and other equipment. Obviously, this needs to be stopped to prevent the Germans from gaining an advantage in WW II. Turkey, a supposedly neutral country, is covertly trading when it should not be, but won’t admit it. Richard, as Michael Doyle, gets the call to uncover the lie and expose Turkey. What was intended to be a 30-day mission turned out to be months, all during the same period the British government promised to find Richard’s son Henry.

The life of this WW II spy couldn’t be more exciting – for the reader that is. Not for Richard who has to work with dozens of new contacts, not all trustworthy. The Gestapo is constantly searching for him and captures most of his trustworthy contacts just before he escapes them. His adventure is nail-biting – so many close calls, so many suspicious contacts, so many locations he is not familiar with, not to mention his lack of experience in the necessary languages and customs. His life is relegated to that of a rat hiding from an army of cats. It is unbelievable how anyone can endure this life. Yet, Richard, of course, finally succeeds in his mission which I must state doesn’t end with a pleasant flight with champagne back to England. A complete, realistic life of a spy is depicted from the absolute beginning to end.

To complement the story of a spy, Mr. Gerlis presents a historical background of the Turkey’s involvement in the war, the locales Richard visits, and many real incidents. I always enjoy learning history by reading such a novel.

I’d love to continue to write about some of the details since I enjoyed it so much, but I’ll leave them to you to do so. As for Richard’s son Henry, same deal. Enjoy the book.

Reviewer: Rich

 

955. "An Echo in the Bones" by Diana Gabaldon -- 5 Stars

An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon – 5 Stars

Publisher: Delacorte Press

ISBN: 9780440338871

My desires to read about the Fraser and MacKensie families made reading about Lord John and Willie difficult and a bit boring until the interface between Willie and Ian (as the Indian) connected. Then, as usual in Ms. Gabalton’s Outlander series, Willie and Lord John became as interesting and every character. Every character is developed to the degree that begs you to seek their future and connection to the Frasers, and in this book, the American Revolution.

Jamie remains Jamie, meaning, he continues his adventurous and always lightning, courageous, dangerous activities while faithfully protecting his family. As we learned in the previous book, Roger and Briana and children journeyed back to the future, but remained so close in their minds that Jamie and Claire wrote letters of there feats and disappointment, boxed them up, and sent them in the mail to the MacKenzies IN THE FUTURE! They received it when they moved to Scotland and continue to follow the  Fraser’s events in the Revolution. And, to further connect them to the past, Roger’s GGGGandfather shows up at their door. Now, how can that be? Can the time travelers now jump to the future when they are really born in the past? Mindboggling, but still an open question.

As before, Ian never disappoints and finds his honey. Of course, Ian can’t make life simple. His choice is a Quaker. How will that work out? Again, we need to find out in the next book. Yet, now the Hunter family is added to characters to follow and enjoy.

Claire continues to impress us with her medical feats, handling of precarious events, and stubborn perseverance given the tons of stress thrown at her. The love between her and Jamie burns so strong they stick together, even if a marriage to someone else must happen to prevent prosecution as a spy. Say what?

Meanwhile, the next generation, Jemmy MacKenzie, steps up to the plate to keep our interest in future books. How will the Stones affect his and family’s life?

The Outlander Series could last forever. However, at the time of this reading, Book 10 is supposed to be the last. Well, I’m off to Book 8. Don’t forget that Ms. Gabaldon has also spun off a Lord John series of books and several novelettes supplementing the Outlander series. Despite a great Startz TV show where the Outlander series presents a visual of the excitement of her books and varies slightly to shorten the 1000-page reads of her books, I will always choose reading first to get ALL the details. I love both.

Reviewer: Rich