Cover of Night: a novel by Linda Howard

Surprising twist*** May 30,2007

This novel starts in a small town called Trail Stop which might better be called Trail's End. Cate Nightingale, who lost her husband to an infection in Seattle, has moved to Trail Stop to run a B&B. Her problems start when a guest goes missing one morning, leaving his stuff behind. She packs away his suitcase and goes on with her life, briefly. Unfortunately the missing guest is a CA who has a flash drive with all the financial files of a big gangster. He is demanding a large sum for the return of the drive. But instead of paying the ransom the gangster boss hires assassins to track down the CA and the drive. This takes them to Trail Stop and Cate's B&B. Handyman Cal comes to Cate's aid and sends the two thugs packing. They come back with reinforcements and blockade the town, killing seven citizens. Cate discovers that Cal is a former Special Forces member who came to Trail Stop to see his former commander Joshua Creed, became smitten with Cate and stayed. Cate has a long history of mountain climbing and Cal has some so they decide to climb the mountains behind the town to go for help. Cal puts his skills to deadly use and dispatches a couple of the killers while the rest are betrayed by a comrade who hates his boss.

This novel starts slowly and you think it's a Harlequin romance until the plot takes a turn for the dramatic partway through.

The Watchman: a novel by Robert Crais

A Riveting Read***** May 26, 2007

Robert Crais keeps getting better. His latest novel features Elvis Cole sidekick Joe Pike in a fast-paced page turner. I picked up this novel to read a couple of chapers and before I knew it I was 100 pages in. You become so engrossed in the plot, it's hard to set it down. Joe Pike is one tough hombre. He owes a favour to a guy and risks his life to repay it by protecting a rich young heiress Larkin Barkley from dark forces. Larkin was in the wrong place at the wrong time and witnessed someone who didn't wish to be remembered. Pike puts life on the line to protect her and to do so shakes off her family and the law and shoots a few bad guys along the way. Highly recommended.

The Innocent Man: nonfiction by John Grisham

Miscarriage of Justice**** May 24, 2007

Well-known for his best-selling legal thrillers, John Grisham turns his hand to chronicling the life and travails of Ron Williamson of Ada, Oklahoma, who barely escaped execution for a crime he didn't commit. Ron's life starts on a promising note as he excels at high school baseball and aspires to a career in the major leagues. But his hopes are dashed by injuries in the minors. From this point on his life is all downhill. After many years of boozing, womanizing and mental health problems, Ron and an acquaintance of his, Dennis Fritz, become prime suspects in the murder of Debbie Carter, with virtually no evidence implicating them. The picture that emerges from Grisham's tale is one of police incompetence, horrible conditions in the Oklahoma prison system, an inadequate mental health care system or lack thereof, and how an innocent man can easily find himself on death row. After 11 years in prison, Ron is vindicated with the help of some dedicated lawyers, one good judge, and the unrelenting support of his two sisters. He escapes execution, gains some financial compensation but the years have taken their toll. He is diagnosed with cirrhosis and dies at 51. After reading this story it is difficult to have much faith in the US justice system and the reckless use of the death penalty.

And less we think this is an isolated example, Grisham cites numerous others. As I was reading this book the New York Times carried a story about the release of former Oklahoma death row inmate Curtis E. McCarty after nearly 22 years of incarceration, including 16 years on death row. According to the Los Angeles Times , "police misconduct tainted the case against a convict who did 22 years." It looks like Oklahoma has learned little.

The Endless Knot: a novel by Gail Bowen

First-Rate **** May 21,2007

Gail Bowen's latest Joanne Kilbourn mystery is a solid first-rate piece of work. Well-plotted, this novel is brimming with interesting characters who ring true to life. Journalist Kathryn Morrissey has written an expose of troubled kids of celebrities, the wealthy and politicians. She insinuated herself into their lives on the pretense that she would help them but then cold-heartedly betrayed them. Sam Parker, the father of one of the kids, is accused of attempted murder of Ms Morrissey. He is capably defended by Zack, boyfriend of Joanne Kilbourn. Recommended.

Dry Ice: a novel by Stephen White

Too many subplots*** May 20, 2007

After White's Kill Me, his next novel was bound to be a bit of a letdown. Kill Me was exceptional. Dry Ice, a return to his Alan Gregory series, is a decent thriller but pales by comparison to his departure novel. In returning to the series White decided to shake things up. The relationships among the main characters are complex. But the novel is byzantine with multiple subplots and red herrings. Nonetheless it's a good read if you stick with it.

Capitol threat: a novel by William Bernhardt

Disappointing *** May 9, 2007

Oklahoma lawyer Ben Kincaid is now a U.S. Senator, appointed to fill out the term of his predecessor. The plot revolves around the nomination of Judge Thaddeus Roush, by a Republican president, to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court. At the ceremony announcing the nomination, Judge Roush throws a monkeywrench into the works by coming out of the closet, informing everyone that he is gay. Matters turn farcical when the body of a woman is discovered behind his garden gate. The Republican president rapidly distances himself from his nominee. It falls to the Democratic minority to push the nomination. Ben Kincaid is called upon by the Senate Minority leader to lead the charge. Ben's investigator Loving plays a key role, digging deep and coming up with the vital info at the last minute. All the ingredients of a good novel are there but Bernhardt fails to paint a convincing picture of Washington politics.

With No One As Witness: a novel by Elizabeth George

First-rate***** May 9, 2007

Another in the Lynley/Havers mysteries set in the U.K. George is leagues above the pablum generated by James Patterson and his ilk. She constructs a well-plotted novel. One of her strengths is characterization. Her characters are fully fleshed out and well-developed. This novel involves racial tensions and a backdrop of the seedy lives led by adolescents in the backstreets of London. Apart from that, it is also a cracker-jack police procedural.

The Successor: a novel by Stephen Frey

Too many subplots *** May 9, 2007

This novel, one in a series by Stephen Frey, does not match up to some of the earlier ones. Although it involves financier Christian Gillette, the plot revolves around politics rather than financial shenanigans. Castro is dying and a group of miltary and civilians in Cuba are positioning themselves to overthow the government, hopefully with assistance from the U.S. Jesse Wood, African American President, is prepared to help the Cubans to succeed. He recruits old friend Chritian Gillette to go to Cuba to check the group out. Meanwhile some politicians and ex-CIA types plot Gillette's downfall and a frame of the President for authorizing the assassination of top Cuban civilians. This novel staggers from excess baggage. The subplot involving Gillette and Oscar-winning actress Melissa Hart contributes little to the main story line. The novel ends weakly.

Trouble: a novel by Jesse Kellerman

Nothing is what it seems *** May 9,2007

This is the second novel by Jesse Kelleman, son of Jonathan and Faye Kellerman, whose novels have been on the bestseller lists for years. Jesse has inherited the writing abilty of his parents. The hero of this novel is Jonah Stem, a young medical resident at a midtown Manhattan hospital. On his way home from a late shift one night he sees a woman desperately fleeing a knife-wielding assailant. The man has a knife and is killed as he struggles with Jonah for possession of the knife. Jonah enjoys a brief celebrity, but his life soon becomes complicated when the woman he rescued, Eve Gones, seeks him out and the two begin a passionate affair. Eve is into violent sex. Jonah tries to end to end the relationship, but soon finds himself being stalked by Eve. This is a well-written novel but the plot may not be to your taste.