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The Badge: True and Terrifying Crime Stories That Could Not Be Presented on TV, from the Creator and Star of Dragnet
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
3
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
3
Review Date: 7/17/2009
The Badge offers an interesting view of the typical working life of a LAPD cop. Webb is clearly a police supporter so he presents their actions in the best light possible. What also comes across is that no matter how hard they work and how dedicated they are, the police just can't solve every crime.
There were references to what must have been well known cases at the time but they didn't ring any bells for me. Despite this and Webb's bias, it was an interesting read. This book can also be picked up and read randomly. The reader can chose individual chapters and doesn't have to read it from start to finish.
There were references to what must have been well known cases at the time but they didn't ring any bells for me. Despite this and Webb's bias, it was an interesting read. This book can also be picked up and read randomly. The reader can chose individual chapters and doesn't have to read it from start to finish.
Review Date: 7/17/2009
This sequel to Alamut picks up the story of Prince Aiden and Morgiana the Assassin 10 years after the end of that novel. It is set in the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem during the reign of Guy de Lusignan and offers a vivid and rich description of what life might have been like for the European nobility trying to cling to their Kingdom under the Muslim onslaughts led by Saladin.
This book focuses on the intrigues that destroy the wedding of Prince Aiden and Morgiana as well as introducing some of Aiden's kin - his twin brother King Gwydion and niece Elen. They are drawn into the exotic world of the Crusader Kingdom and become involved in its struggle to survive - both an inept king and the marauding Muslims.
I also got a clearer understanding of how obligations can prevent us from following what we know is the correct path and extracting ourselves from a no-win situation. The intrigues of those around King Guy as well as his own inability to rule doomed Jerusalem and the Crusader Kingdom.
Even though some of the characters eventually find happiness by the end of the story, we know that the dream of Christian rule of Jerusalem is dead and we mourn its loss as well as the loss of those who chose to remain behind.
This book focuses on the intrigues that destroy the wedding of Prince Aiden and Morgiana as well as introducing some of Aiden's kin - his twin brother King Gwydion and niece Elen. They are drawn into the exotic world of the Crusader Kingdom and become involved in its struggle to survive - both an inept king and the marauding Muslims.
I also got a clearer understanding of how obligations can prevent us from following what we know is the correct path and extracting ourselves from a no-win situation. The intrigues of those around King Guy as well as his own inability to rule doomed Jerusalem and the Crusader Kingdom.
Even though some of the characters eventually find happiness by the end of the story, we know that the dream of Christian rule of Jerusalem is dead and we mourn its loss as well as the loss of those who chose to remain behind.
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch
Author:
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
373
Author:
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
373
Review Date: 8/6/2009
This entertaining and comic take on the end of the world is definitely worth reading. Good and evil have set in motion a series of events that should lead to the birth of the anti-Christ and the Apocalypse. Instead things begin to get very mixed up, messed up and funny.
The forces of good and evil are hopelessly intertwined as well as confused. The descendant of Agnes Nutter has her prophecies but sometimes they aren't as clear as one would hope. The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse ride motorcycles and now have followers. And the anti-Christ seems to have been misplaced. The resulting confusion makes the Apocalypse unlikely and offers some hope for this sometimes seemingly hopeless world.
It's a witty and yet thought-provoking romp that pokes fun at a lot of sacred cows. If you've got a great sense of humor about religions, you'll enjoy this.
The forces of good and evil are hopelessly intertwined as well as confused. The descendant of Agnes Nutter has her prophecies but sometimes they aren't as clear as one would hope. The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse ride motorcycles and now have followers. And the anti-Christ seems to have been misplaced. The resulting confusion makes the Apocalypse unlikely and offers some hope for this sometimes seemingly hopeless world.
It's a witty and yet thought-provoking romp that pokes fun at a lot of sacred cows. If you've got a great sense of humor about religions, you'll enjoy this.
Review Date: 7/18/2009
In the first of the Rowan Gant Investigation series we are introduced to Rowan, his wife Felicity and his friend Ben Storm. Ben just happens to be a St. Louis homicide detective. Rowan and Felicity also happen to be Wiccans. So when Ben comes across a case that has occult overtones he consults Rowan for some insights. Rowan offers some useful information and then all hell breaks loose. Rowan finds himself being contacted by the spirit of the murder victim (who just happens to have been a former student). The murder is especially brutal and disturbing and, unfortunately, only the beginning.
In his efforts to help the spirit he finds himself more involved in this murder investigation than he ever intended. In addition to trying to find the serial killer, we follow along as Rowan tries to deal with his new (and unwanted) psychic talents.
Rowan, Felicity and Ben are flawed, sometimes annoying and ultimately human characters. None are perfect and all of them are disturbed by the case. I really appreciate that Sellars treats spellworking in a realistic way and not as something that creates fireworks and leads to flying on broomsticks.
When this book was done, I was glad I had the next one ready to start reading.
In his efforts to help the spirit he finds himself more involved in this murder investigation than he ever intended. In addition to trying to find the serial killer, we follow along as Rowan tries to deal with his new (and unwanted) psychic talents.
Rowan, Felicity and Ben are flawed, sometimes annoying and ultimately human characters. None are perfect and all of them are disturbed by the case. I really appreciate that Sellars treats spellworking in a realistic way and not as something that creates fireworks and leads to flying on broomsticks.
When this book was done, I was glad I had the next one ready to start reading.
Review Date: 7/17/2009
This book includes all three volumes of Ellroy's Lloyd Hopkins trilogy (Blood on the Moon, Because the Night and Suicide Hill). As in many of the Ellroy books I've read, the cops are as dark and twisted and the criminals they pursue. They all are driven by their own demons and are not often likable characters. Lloyd Hopkins is no exception. He is a brilliant (genius IQ) and brutal cop - a combination of Monk/Columbo and Dirty Harry. His past molded him into the man he has become - a brilliant crimefighter who often resorts to unacceptable tactics in pursuit of his prey. His home life is beginning to come apart at the seams and his adulterous behavior taints his marriage and his career.
In Blood on the Moon, Hopkins realizes that a vicious murder is actually connected to a string of murders that have occurred annually for almost 20 years. No one has put the pieces together until Hopkins gets involved. His pursuit of the Hollywood Slaughterer eventually leads him into a life-threatening situation from which he emerges a haunted man.
In Because the Night, Hopkins again finds himself on the trial of a killer. This time he is sent to investigate the disappearance of Jacob Herzog, a hero cop who has disappeared. His investigation leads Hopkins to a psychiatrist and a mysterious figure called the Night Tripper. Hopkins find himself pitting his wits with a criminal mind whose goal is to probe his soul.
Suicide Hill find Hopkins trying to redeem himself by solving a case of bank robberies that explodes into violence. This tale finds him digging into his soul as well as the crime.
Overall these three novels drew me into the tales and wouldn't let me stop until I finished them. None of the characters are especially likable and they aren't the type you actually root for but at the same time they are human and on some level, you understand them. The wrap-up of the final novel had a twist that surprised me and paints one of the "good" characters with a darker tint.
If you like film noir and noir genre novels, then these books will be right up your alley.
In Blood on the Moon, Hopkins realizes that a vicious murder is actually connected to a string of murders that have occurred annually for almost 20 years. No one has put the pieces together until Hopkins gets involved. His pursuit of the Hollywood Slaughterer eventually leads him into a life-threatening situation from which he emerges a haunted man.
In Because the Night, Hopkins again finds himself on the trial of a killer. This time he is sent to investigate the disappearance of Jacob Herzog, a hero cop who has disappeared. His investigation leads Hopkins to a psychiatrist and a mysterious figure called the Night Tripper. Hopkins find himself pitting his wits with a criminal mind whose goal is to probe his soul.
Suicide Hill find Hopkins trying to redeem himself by solving a case of bank robberies that explodes into violence. This tale finds him digging into his soul as well as the crime.
Overall these three novels drew me into the tales and wouldn't let me stop until I finished them. None of the characters are especially likable and they aren't the type you actually root for but at the same time they are human and on some level, you understand them. The wrap-up of the final novel had a twist that surprised me and paints one of the "good" characters with a darker tint.
If you like film noir and noir genre novels, then these books will be right up your alley.
Review Date: 7/17/2009
Helpful Score: 1
This is yet another Jayne Ann Krentz romance about a man with a past who doesn't trust easily and a woman who is learning to trust in herself. The protagonists are likable enough and have good chemistry together. Despite their initial mistrust and wariness, they find themselves strongly attracted to each other.
It's a fun romp with a quick story and one or two unexpected curves thrown in. I found it an enjoyable read.
It's a fun romp with a quick story and one or two unexpected curves thrown in. I found it an enjoyable read.
Review Date: 7/25/2009
Helpful Score: 6
This book is rather hard to define and transcends genres. It is a fictionalized account of what might have happened to the Franklin Expedition which disappeared while exploring the Arctic in 1846-1848 in search of the North West Passage.
It starts with the crews of the two ships HMS Erebus and HMS Terror already stranded and ice bound. The narrative jumps around in time and perspective. We are offered events from the perspectives of Francis Crozier, Captain of the Terror, Harry Goodsir, surgeon aboard the Erebus and Sir John Franklin, commander of the expedition, among others. This can make it a bit difficult to follow the storyline but adds some richness as well because we are able to understand some of the different motivations and desires that drove these men to take on such a dangerous challenge.
To complicate matters further the crews are being stalked by a mysterious (and possibly otherworldly) beast that is killing them at random. Their food stores are determined to be tainted and there is no game for them to hunt. All of which adds additional strain and already stressed crew.
Even without the supernatural stalker, this tale would have been worth reading. I think Simmons offers an interesting and realistic perspective of how events may have played out. The twin themes of patriotism and religion also weave their way throughout the storyline. Most of these men truly believed with every fiber of their being that England was blessed by God and they had a right, if not an obligation, to venture forth in search of ways to make the Empire even greater. This confidence (even arrogance) may have been all that sustained these men during some of the harsh times they endured. Their ability to maintain order, keep their spirits up and keep on going despite the obstacles that faced them is genuinely awe inspiring.
This book is long and sometimes it can be a bit hard to slog through all the verbiage but at the end of the book I felt it was a rich and detailed story worth telling and worth reading.
It starts with the crews of the two ships HMS Erebus and HMS Terror already stranded and ice bound. The narrative jumps around in time and perspective. We are offered events from the perspectives of Francis Crozier, Captain of the Terror, Harry Goodsir, surgeon aboard the Erebus and Sir John Franklin, commander of the expedition, among others. This can make it a bit difficult to follow the storyline but adds some richness as well because we are able to understand some of the different motivations and desires that drove these men to take on such a dangerous challenge.
To complicate matters further the crews are being stalked by a mysterious (and possibly otherworldly) beast that is killing them at random. Their food stores are determined to be tainted and there is no game for them to hunt. All of which adds additional strain and already stressed crew.
Even without the supernatural stalker, this tale would have been worth reading. I think Simmons offers an interesting and realistic perspective of how events may have played out. The twin themes of patriotism and religion also weave their way throughout the storyline. Most of these men truly believed with every fiber of their being that England was blessed by God and they had a right, if not an obligation, to venture forth in search of ways to make the Empire even greater. This confidence (even arrogance) may have been all that sustained these men during some of the harsh times they endured. Their ability to maintain order, keep their spirits up and keep on going despite the obstacles that faced them is genuinely awe inspiring.
This book is long and sometimes it can be a bit hard to slog through all the verbiage but at the end of the book I felt it was a rich and detailed story worth telling and worth reading.
Review Date: 7/17/2009
This book is interesting enough. Trinny and Susannah do offer some useful tips to update your look but what disappointed me is that they pretty much ignored the concept of dressing in a way that is most flattering to your shape.
I'm also just a bit tired of seeing them model so many of the looks. It would have been nice to see more photos of real people with additional tips about how to modify the looks to suit your shape.
I'm also just a bit tired of seeing them model so many of the looks. It would have been nice to see more photos of real people with additional tips about how to modify the looks to suit your shape.
Trinny and Susannah the Survival Guide: A Woman's Secret Weapon for Getting Through the Year
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
2
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
2
Review Date: 7/17/2009
Offers some useful information but it really seems like Trinny & Susannah have tapped the well in terms of creative, original and useful information.
Review Date: 7/17/2009
I've always enjoyed Trinny & Susannah on their show. Even when I disagreed with them I found them entertaining. Their first two books offered some useful tips for dressing to suit your shape and your current reality (age, size, etc.). Yes, they could be brutal but sometimes that what it took to get a woman out of her rut.
I think Trinny & Susannah have now hit a rut. This book is full of interesting ideas but all of them have been offered in other books (and very often in a more helpful manner). It's not a bad book, it's just not one I feel the need to keep because I won't refer to it again.
I think Trinny & Susannah have now hit a rut. This book is full of interesting ideas but all of them have been offered in other books (and very often in a more helpful manner). It's not a bad book, it's just not one I feel the need to keep because I won't refer to it again.
Review Date: 7/17/2009
Another of Jayne Ann Krentz's romances involving a quirky, loving and free-spirited woman who is attracted to a mistrustful and wounded male. Despite their wariness and caution, they are drawn together by fate and ultimately find themselves attracted to each other. From there, romance blooms.
The plot is entertaining enough and the dialogue has some funny moments. It's the type of romance Krentz used to do well. An easy and enjoyable read.
The plot is entertaining enough and the dialogue has some funny moments. It's the type of romance Krentz used to do well. An easy and enjoyable read.
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