967. "Spiteful Bones" by Jeri Westerson – 3 Stars

Spiteful Bones by Jeri Westerson  – 3 Stars

Publisher: Severn House

ISBN: 9781448304592  

There is another missing relic and another strange murder. This is the third book I have read in the series and it is very similar to the other two. It begins interestingly, when hidden in a wall, bones are found clutching a relic that has been missing for twenty years.   The story slows as interviews with people who might know the identity of the body are conducted and romantic entanglements evolve, especially those between Nigellus and his gay transvestite “wife”. The action picks up near the end when, with a stretch of believably, the killer in revealed.

 Reviewer: Nancy

966. Explorer.exe failed to load application texts. Immediate exit. Axcrypt Involved

After installer 6/2020 MSFT Feature Update, I started to get Defender messages indicating threats. I removed a Trojan successfully and everything ran afterwards. But, I then received a LOW threat re AxcryptMessages.DLL stating Win32/CandyOpen threat. I told Defender to remove the threat, but then started getting tons of show stopping errors giving error: "Explorer.exe failed to load application texts. Immediate exit." This came up at many points, eg.:

-- Couldn't start File Explore most of the time

-- Couldn't right click to get context menu anytime

-- starting Everything application

-- Cutting/pasting files from Kindle to PC

These are not all the points of error by far.

Research of this error on the web led to no constructive answers or suggestions that resulted in a lot of data and none of which were simple to fix. The one that probably was closest to resolving the issue was to download the free ShellExView application which lists all extensions and allows you to disable the culprit. I had a total of 255 extensions listed and the 35 or so with current date had nothing to do with the problem. So I did NOT use ShellExView to resolve my issue.

Instead I looked at the Threat Defender removed for me: AxcryptMessages.DLL Win32/CandyOpen. This was signaled as a LOW threat. I Allowed Defender to remove it -- and it did by deleting the .DLL from my system completely, i.e., no recovery. I found that Axcrypt was involved by trying to access it to Decrypt a file -- YES, using Explorer to first list the files (I had explorer up on screen some how-- clicking File Explorer ICON sometimes allowed it to come up. Guess I should give the steps:

-- I used ShellExView to disable to two Axcrypt entries from 2017

-- This allowed me to get Explorer up and do the Right-click context screen.

-- But now, AcCrypt commands to Encrypt/Decrypt were no longer present

-- I tried clicking on an encrypted file (one of 1000s) and it failed. Now I panicked.

-- I Still had the Axcrypt installed and checked the version, found the install file I used back in 2016

-- Executed the install file and instead of installing requested REPAIR. It worked and Axcrypt back in service and all problems resolved

I assume I'll again get the threat from Defender and will then address it again. Need to read about CandyOpen and associated .DLL file. Could be valid. But, for no I am back to normal.

Note: There is another Axcrypt post re Version 2 which I will not use and reasons why. You can find it by searching for "Axcypt" at the top of this blog

965. "Interviewing the Dead" by David Field -- 4 Stars

Interviewing the Dead by David Field -- 4 Stars

Publisher: Sapere Books

ISBN: 9781913518707 

Interviewing the Dead is an intelligent and entertaining historical mystery. It is well researched with interesting characters that have differing views of science and religion.

1892 was a time when con men promoted spiritualism, science was evolving, and women were struggling for a place in professional positions. The descriptions of the tricks of mentalists reminded me of observations by Sherlock Holmes. There are visions of ghosts and fears of returning dead among Londoners, but I didn’t find it a “keep you up at night” scary story.  It was because the fad of spiritualism and belief of communicating with the dead was in fashion at the time. The note to the reader at the end about historical details of the book was interesting. I enjoyed this novel for the mystery and vivid descriptions of the people and setting in 1892 London.

Reviewer: Nancy

964. "The Deepest Grave" by Jeri Westerson – 4 Stars

The Deepest Grave by Jeri Westerson – 4 Stars

Publisher: Severn House

ISBN: 9781780109725

 I was offered a pre-published copy of a new Crispin Quest series book and decided to get this earlier one from the library to read first so I could learn about the characters and pick up background information. What I found from The Deepest Grave was that it was not necessary to read the previous books in the series.

 This book was well written with a rather simple mystery plot where detective, or “tracker” within, Crispin Quest takes on two different murder investigations: one began with someone or something digging up corpses and robbing a church and the other began with a 7-year old confessing to killing a neighbor. The stories take various twists throughout and capture your attention and interest in the solving of the murders. I would consider this a mystery with both a unique story and unique characters that provided a satisfying read.

 What I was not too excited about was the endings of the murder investigations. Like some of the TV shows that are limited to an hour, this book abruptly concludes with the killers of both murders freely confessing and telling exactly how they planned and did the killings. To get to the conclusions, Crispin guesses at possibilities and investigates each one in order rather than collecting all the facts and then pursuing the most likely suspect. He investigated a suspect on a feeling or hunch rather than on multiple facts. Regardless of his approach which differs from what I would believe is a normal way to investigate, he does finally “bump” into the killers who immediately spill their guts, which is not very realistic.

 If you want an entertaining novel that is cozy and requires little thinking, but is enjoying, then The Deepest Grave, and probably the whole series, is a recommended read. I’ll be reading the author’s new novel now that I know what style I can expect. Hopefully, it will be a bit more thought provoking than this one.

Reviewer: Rich

963. "End Game" by David Baldacci – 5 Stars

End Game by David Baldacci – 5 Stars

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

ISBN: 9781455586639

Characters Will Robie and Jessica Reel never disappoint, providing nonstop action throughout. The plot revolves around their missing director Blue Man who is vital to the Agency. Their mission is to find him off in the remote town of Grand, Colorado surrounded by retired Atlas silos bought and being renovated into secure, survivalist condos. Throw in a few suspicious radical group residents, aka white supremist, skinheads, and the Doctor King Apostles, and the result is hundreds of angry killers Robie and Reel must fight off in their pursuit. Who kidnapped Blue Man and why is the question throughout. As the body counts mount for the various groups, so do they for the good guys and specifically more who those who might have information about helpless hooded passengers stuffed in a van. Killing is their specialty and life, but their detective work supplements their talents. You’ll find this book it hard to put down. There is no need to read the previous books in the series – this stands alone just fine. The beginning introduces you to Robie and Reel and their skills via short action-packed separate missions unrelated to the main plot. After that, they again team up despite some controversies from a previous joint mission. This adds to the tasks they face and results in … well, I’ll let you find out.

 Reviewer: Rich

000. Blogger Help

A new version and look for Blogger came in 1Q 2020. Unfortunately, it isn't easy to get back to original design and impossible to change new blog to include "Design" on the top to get to the Blog owner's options for changing things. INSTEAD: Until something else changes, I goto Blogspot.com I automatically come up to new screen for customizing my blog. I assume if I ever signoff, I will get an options to sign in from that page. To date however it automatically knows me and signs me in.

THEME: First thing to set up is the Theme you will use. Blogger allows you to select one you like. Each presents its format and colors that I think you can further customize. After selecting a Theme, I had to discover on my own how to get to Design mode like before (See above).

FEATURED POST: I was stuck here! I already had a featured pose from original format, but now had no way to change it or modify it. Here is what I discovered: 

1. Bring  up Blogspot.com

2. Select Theme from left sidebar

3. Select Customize for the Theme

4. Select Gadgets (I already had the Featured Post gadget from before), thus didn't need to add it on next screen

5. "Show Featured Post" is checked for me. So, unchecking it will remove it from the top of my posts. However, once you uncheck, you have to SAVE and that isn't shown on screen until you maximize your window, SAVE is the File ICON on bottom right. Otherwise, to customize Featured Post, select Configure, then uncheck and save.

ADD Contact Form: Y9ou may add a gadget called ADD CONTACT FORM to your sidebar.The order of each gadget in your sidebar can be changed by simply using the mouse to move it where you want. BUT, don't forget to SAVE again (Maximize window and FILOE ICON in bottom right).

962. "Those Who Hunger: An Amish Vampire Thriller" by Owen Banner -- 5 Stars

Those Who Hunger: An Amish Vampire Thriller by Owen Banner  -- 5 Stars

Publisher: Owen Banner

ISBN:  9781589470346

Those Who Hunger is a unique variation of the vampire legend. These vampires are not like Bram Stoker’s Dracula. They do thirst for blood, but an attack is more than a bite on the neck. Vampires, the Amish, the FBI and a bunch of nasty bikers make up an interesting mix that works together to form a great plot. The characters are well constructed and believable. Haddie, an Amish teen, is the central character. I felt her struggle to control her bloody urges while staying true to her religion and family. This is a fairly long book that held my interest throughout. It was fun to read a horror novel that was different from the rest.

 

Reviewer: Nancy

961. "The House that Fell from the Sky" by Patrick Delaney -- 4 Stars

The House that Fell from the Sky by Patrick Delaney -- 4 Stars

Publisher: Oblivion Publishing

ISBN: 9780578660790

The House that Fell from the Sky is difficult to review, but I thank Netgalley and the publisher for making it available to me for an honest opinion.

 I enjoyed the story and loved the imagination put into it. The “House” is really much more than a house. I don’t understand the title at all, nor its characters suggesting it is a house. It appears as a physical, but paranormal, structure covering city blocks and at least seven stories high. Plus, the powers of the “House” go beyond just the physical structure alone and affect anybody close to it. The descriptions of the horror within it are vivid leaving little more to imagine; they are outright, unbelievably frightening. The four main characters (Scarlett, Tommy, Jackson, and Hannah), each with mental flaws or inhibitors that prevent them from moving on in life successfully fit the story well for each has a major disadvantage in facing the horror of the “House” that demands they work together  to do so. A fifth character Vincent, a magician from the past who has an unknown, until the end, connection to them helps coordinate the teamwork and direction through the house.

 I enjoy horror and began liking the detailed descriptions of the rooms within. However, the repetitive detail for each and every room became annoyingly tiresome to wade through. Hey, I get it. The place is scary, but I really didn’t care after the first four times to know what every crook and cranny looked like. Likewise, the “monsters” or occupants or spirits or whatever descripting are necessary, but later when still more ghouls were introduced, the same descriptions again with minor variances became boring. It was like going through a haunted house at a fair where every so many feet a figure pops out that isn’t much different – it’s the popping out that is scary. Yet, I must emphasize that the initial descriptions were shockingly memorable and provided a clear visual of the horror.

 It took 15% to get to any horror. Until then, the four main characters and a few others were the story and that wasn’t well done. Much too much dialogue between the characters and little cohesive foundation. It took me a while to realize that Todd was Chief Briggs and he was Jackson’s father. Plus, Hannah was sort of a “left-town” person with very little description of who she was and details of why. I feel character building should have been done more effectively. This brings me to the “BEFORE” chapters which to me were no more than the author realizing that the initial character introductions were already too long, but the content in those chapters still needed to be told. They were of no real value and became page fillers. So, my summary of character building is that it was overloaded with chit-chat between young adults that acted like teens and from the dialogues I was being asked to form my own opinions instead of the author presenting meaningful meat and potatoes.

 Despite struggling through the things that annoyed me, I couldn’t put this book down. The constant horror, twists and turns, and need to continue were gripping. Eventually, the entire picture became clear and the end came, not entirely as expected. However, it was presented effectively and was memorable.

 I find that there were many 5-Star parts of this novel, but just enough 3-Star annoyances to make this an overall 4-Star performance. I look forward to improvements in this author’s future books to solidly define him as a great horror writer.

Reviewer: Rich