Books
“The Broker” by John Grisham
Copyright 2005 by Belfry Holdings. Published by Bantam Dell, a division of Random House Inc, New York. The eponymous broker in this case is disgraced and convicted Washington lobbyist Joel Backman. He is in prison, having served 6 years of a 20-year sentence (though the nature of his crime is a big vague), when he … Continue reading
“The Last Juror” by John Grisham
Copyright 2004 by Belfry Holdings Inc. Published by Bantam Dell, a division of Random House Dell, New York. Grisham is noted for his legal thrillers. Usually the protagonist is a lawyer, a judge or some other officer of the court. This one is a bit different – the protagonist is a small-town newspaper editor. The … Continue reading
“Rainbow Six” by Tom Clancy
Copyright 1998 by Rubicon Inc. Published by Berkeley Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Putnam Inc, New York. I thought I had read all of the Clancy novels, but I somehow missed this one. It is #2 in the series of 2 novels featuring John Clark. #1 in this series is “Without Remorse” and I … Continue reading
“Golden Prey” by John Sandford
Copyright 2017 by John Sandford. Published by G.P. Putnam Sons, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, New York. This is number 27 in the long (currently 35) series of Sandford books featuring Lucas Davenport. Early in the series Davenport was a Twin Cities cop, but his career has taken him to several other state … Continue reading
“The Hit” by David Baldacci
Copyright 2013 by Columbus Rose Ltd. Published by Grand Central Publishing, New York. This is #2 in the series of Baldacci books that feature Will Robie, CIA assassin. In this one Will is tasked with tracking down and killing another CIA assassin who has “gone rogue” and killed her boss and a handler. Yes, “she” … Continue reading
“The King of Torts” by John Grisham
Copyright 2003 by Belfry Holdings, Inc. Published by Bantam Dell, a division of Random House, Inc, New York I go back and forth… Is Harlan Coben my favorite author? Or is it John Grisham? They are both terrific writers. They always keep me interested. Grisham, of course, writes about the legal profession while Coben is … Continue reading
“The Last Grudge” by Max Seeck
Copyright 2021 by Max Seeck. Published by Berkley, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC. This edition was translated from the original Finnish. This is a problem because, as with most translations, the names of character and locations were not translated. So the main character is Yusuf Pepple. One of the murder victims is Eliel … Continue reading
“Promise Me” by Harlan Coben
Copyright 2006 by Harlan Coben, published Signet, a division of Penguin Books Ltd, London. I like Harlan Coben’s books. This is the 12th Coben book I have reviewed and I may have read a few that I didn’t review. All have been good. Some have been spectacularly good. This one is nearly spectacularly good. Coben … Continue reading
“Christmas in a Jugular Vein” by David Benjamin
Copyright 2024 by David Benjamin. Published by Last Kid Books, Madison WI. David Benjamin, one of my oldest and best friends is a very imaginative writer with a keen sense of the absurd. He is a master of the short essay. He calls them “screeds” which isn’t fair to him as the term implies an … Continue reading
“No Second Chance” by Harlan Coben
Copyright 2003 by Harlan Coben. Published by New American Library, a division of Penguin Group Inc., New York. Harlan Coben is one of my favorite mystery authors. His plots are intricate, and his characters are fully formed. He keeps the reader guessing and usually ends with a shocking surprise. That is all true in No … Continue reading