Long Road to Mercy by David Baldacci

Just finished Long Road to Mercy (Atlee Pine #1) by David Baldacci. It is our August Mystery Book Club selection.

Our library just opened curbside pickup in the past month so I put this book on hold right away, not knowing how long and complicated the process would be. But it was available within three days of my placing it on hold. I received the instructions on picking up the book, including the rendezvous points, the required disguise and the secret code...Couldn't help it. That is how "this" all feels sometimes. I received the instructions about where to park or the drive up option, I assumed a mask if using the drive up window and have your library card ready with the account number.

Since I got it so quickly and finished already, and need to return it, I am going to go ahead and talk about it rather than wait for the group responses. I have a feeling everyone liked it.

About: " #1 New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci introduces a remarkable new character: Atlee Pine, an FBI special agent assigned to the remote wilds of the western United States. Ever since her twin sister was abducted by a notorious serial killer at age five, Atlee has spent her life hunting down those who hurt others. And she’s the best at it. She could be one of the Bureau’s top criminal profilers, if she didn’t prefer catching criminals in the vast wilderness of the West to climbing the career ladder in the D.C. office. Her chosen mission is a lonesome one–but that suits her just fine. 

Now, Atlee is called in to investigate the mutilated carcass of a mule found in the Grand Canyon–and hopefully, solve the disappearance of its rider. But this isn’t the only recent disappearance. In fact, it may be just the first clue, the key to unraveling a rash of other similar missing persons cases in the canyon."

I think this was an excellent book; definitely a page tuner, very suspenseful, lots of action. It is a complex story that will keep you interested and thinking things like "could this happen, did this happen?" 

Atlee is young, a loner and very capable, what with her FBI training and the things that happened to her growing up. She is searching for an answer to what happened to her twin sister, Mercy, and this drives her to be what she is. Carol is a great side kick. She is middle aged, intelligent, and while she doesn't have the physical strength of youth, she has life experience, emotional and mental strength. Together, Atlee and Carol make a very good pair. Carol likes to compare them to Thelma and Louise. Sam, a park ranger, also carries some baggage and he and Atlee are bonding with events from their pasts. A very intriguing underlying thread with a cliff hanger.

There are two more books in the series at this time: 

A Minute to Midnight

Daylight

I do want to read them sooner than later. 

The Adventures of Miss Vulpe: A Coming of Age Story for Adults by Maria Elena Sandovici

Well it is hot now in Central Texas. "They" are teasing us with some rain chances next week and temps in the mid 90's instead of 100. Happens every summer but of course this summer is special. One of our executives sent out an email today with the heading: "Covid 19, murder hornets and now West Nile mosquitoes. Will 2020 ever end?"

Still working from home. Had a panic when some of my work at home equipment went blooey.  Normally, I could just go into the company building and work while IT figured out what was wrong. But of course we can't do that. So quite a lot of time was spent trouble shooting over the phone. A half a day actually. Then deciding I needed two new things. Get permission and set a specific time to enter the building to get said equipment. Agreement on where said equipment would be - right at the front desk to avoid going anywhere in the building. All like a secret mission.

I read another book by Maria Elena Sandovici last week, courtesy of the author. I had read her book, Storms of Mulhado earlier this year and really liked it.

This book is categorized as contemporary fiction, but there is a mystery woven into the story.

About: "Ana Petrescu (a.k.a. Miss Vulpe) is a troubled teenager determined to solve the mystery of her parents' double suicide. Escaping the scrutiny of her legal guardian and the unwanted interference of several therapists, she starts looking up people from her mother's past. Her sleuthing requires her to lie about her identity, her age, and her lack of experience with men. While impersonating Miss Vulpe is more fun than going to school, there's bound to be trouble and heartache when her web of lies unravels."

I like the way the author tells this story. While Ana is doing outrageous things, she is likeable and made me laugh at times. She wants to know what really happened to her parents and why she has been abandoned (in her mind). She does the only thing that seems logical to her in a last ditch effort... go to the source. She seeks out Richard, the man her mother was writing a letter to when she died. She only has a couple of days before Rogers, her guardian, comes to take her off to yet another boarding school. We also get the back story of two men who grow up together but come from very different backgrounds and see how their childhood and teen years, form them. While some of the characters are at times, downright despicable, they do redeem themselves. I thought the ending was good, bringing everything full circle and giving hope to Ana.

This book would be for adults as the title says as there are some "adult situations."

Elena does the covers for her books as in this book cover. I purchased a few prints of her art to spruce up my home office. I will share the link to her blog again where you can look at her work.

havewatercolorswilltravel.blog

I received a free copy and voluntarily provided this review.

We are reading Long Road to Mercy by David Baldacci for our August (one month closer to cooler weather) Mystery Book Club. I will let you know how I like it.

Award Winning Books recommend by the MBC

Every June, our Mystery Book Club (MBC) reads Award Winning Books. We all read whatever book or books we want off of the list of books that won Awards or were Nominated for awards for the current year and share what we read. Most of the Book Award festivities had to be cancelled and were awarded virtually or are yet to be awarded.



We moved this topic to July this year. We had to do some scrambling when everything shut down and we had to cancel our April and May meetings at the library. Luckily, our leader Kay, researched and found the best way for our club to meet virtually. So we moved everything forward a month to catch up. Who would have thought we would still be doing this? The library has opened now for curbside pick up and we are glad about that. They do have a great ebook system too but some people prefer hard copies. I checked out my first book "curbside" this week and it was worked really well.

Anyhoo, thought I would share what our MBC members read. Just providing the list. It may give you some ideas of new books to read.

The Stranger Diaries                         Elly Griffiths

Good Girl Bad Girl                            Michael Robotham

The Satapur Moonstone                   Sujata Massey

Love and Death Among                    Rhys Bowen

    the Cheetahs

The Murder List                               Hank Phyllipi Ryan

The Silent Patient                             Alex Michaelides

Miracle Creek                                   Angie Kim

The Scholar                                       Dervla McTiernan

The Ruin                                           Dervla McTiernan

The Cold Way Home                        Julia Keller

The Chalk Man                                 C.J. Tudor

Strangers at the Gate                        Catriona McPherson

Shamed                                             Linda Castillo

Save Me From Dangerous Men        S.J. Lelchuk

A Better Man                                     Louise Penny

Such a Perfect Wife                           Kate White

State of the Onion                             Julie Hyzy

Shell Game                                        Sarah Paretsky

The Good Detective                          John McMahon

The Long Call                                    Anne Cleeves

Gone By Midnight                             Candice Fox

Body in Griffith Park                         Jennifer Kincheloe

The Janes                                         Luisa Luna

Destroying Angel                              S. G. MacLean

The Pear Dagger                              L.A. Chandlar

You can find out more about these books and which awards the were nominated for or won, really easy at Stop You're Killing Me. Just click the category Book Awards.

http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/

Recursion by Blake Crouch

Recursion from Webster's Dictionary:

1. Return Sense 1: to go back or come back again
2. the determination of a succession of elements (such as numbers or functions) by operation on one or more preceding elements according to a rule or formula involving a finite number of steps
3. a computer programming technique involving the use of a procedure, subroutine, function, or algorithm that calls itself one or more times until a specified condition is met at which time the rest of each repetition is processed from the last one called to the first

I listened to Recursion this month, by Blake Crouch. It is a science fiction thriller. 
I am a big fan of the television adaptation of Wayward Pines. We also read his book, Dark Matter, in our Mystery Book Club this past winter and I really liked it.



About: "Memory makes reality.That’s what New York City cop Barry Sutton is learning as he investigates the devastating phenomenon the media has dubbed False Memory Syndrome—a mysterious affliction that drives its victims mad with memories of a life they never lived.
That's what neuroscientist Helena Smith believes. It’s why she’s dedicated her life to creating a technology that will let us preserve our most precious memories. If she succeeds, anyone will be able to re-experience a first kiss, the birth of a child, the final moment with a dying parent. 
As Barry searches for the truth, he comes face-to-face with an opponent more terrifying than any disease—a force that attacks not just our minds but the very fabric of the past. And as its effects begin to unmake the world as we know it, only he and Helena, working together, will stand a chance at defeating it.
But how can they make a stand when reality itself is shifting and crumbling all around them?"

I enjoyed this book also. It asks the question and works through the scenarios, if you could see the future and the past and do something to change either, what would happen? Would fate prevail? 

I liked the story of Helena wanting to invent something to help her mother who is suffering from dementia, to help keep her memories and others afflicted. But some bad guys get a hold of the invention and use it for selfish gains. It becomes a race against time, to try to use the memory chair to go back and forth to stop the worst thing imaginable, by Helena and Barry. 

A good "Whoa..."ending for me.

Blake Crouch website: http://blakecrouch.com/

He has a series which looks good to me: Andrew Z. Thomas/Luther Kite series - thrillers. Blake Crouch has several other standalones. Good Behavior was made into a t.v. series in 2015. (I missed that boat.) It looks like you can watch it on Hulu.

So many books, so little time.

For fans of the recent popular genre of cozy, paranormal books

I read almost any mystery genre as long as it isn't too gross, gory, or violent. I don't mind thrillers, stories of suspense, some scifi, ghost stories etc., as long as it isn't "too much". When I was a kid and we traveled (rarely) or visited homes with no kids, I was happy as long as I could find something laying around their house that I could read to pass the time. Yes I read cereal boxes while eating and anything that came in the door that resembled a book. So when I started seeing all of these book related Facebook groups, I starting joining them and was introduced to several paranormal cozy series. I like to read them especially after reading an intense thriller, gets my mind off of bothersome scenes and themes. I have read several in the past few weeks through these "read and review" groups, so will give you a peek into them.

I read two books by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson, in the Chantilly Adair series. I have talked about Carolyn in previous posts. She writes a few different series and is working on a new mystery series, not a cozy. Here are the three I read recently as part of an ARC group.

Ghost Are People Too: book 2 in the Chantilly Adair series


About: "Excited to introduce her to what makes her hometown so unique, Chantilly plans to throw a party the size of Atlanta’s Mercedes Stadium. Though she hasn’t attempted an event that big since her own wedding, she’s ready and willing to take the ball and run with it. But when trouble comes to town in the form of her best friend’s soon-to-be ex-husband, threatening both Chantilly and Gen, and winding up dead in the cellar of a local historical property, her plans change. The cops can’t find a suspect, other than Gen, of course. Now, for Chantilly to clear her best friend, she’ll need help from the property’s owner, who just happens to be dead…".

My take: Seeing and communicating with ghosts is new to Chantilly. When her best friend Gen's angry husband comes looking for Gen and ends up dead in front of an old abandoned house, Chantilly hopes the ghosts that remain at the house (from another century, bonus) saw what happened and can tell her, so she can clear her friend. Problem is the ghost of Anna Kentworth doesn't want Chantilly there and is making it pretty clear to leave her and her children alone or else. Good story of Chantilly trying to find out what really happened to Gen's husband, his business partners also showing up, and trying to balance her real job at the historical society planning a ghost tour. Sheriff Jack is not amused by Chantilly's getting mixed up in the case. Thelma and Del are regular characters, pun intended, in the series and provide the humor. Fun crossover with another series by this author too.

Praying for Peace: book 3 in the Chantilly Adair series


About: "Ghost talking can be murder…Castleberry Historical society manager Chantilly Adair is excited to finalize the proposal plans for the old Baptist church just outside of town, officially marking it as a registered historic property. But that excitement turns to confusion when she finds a dead body hidden in a janitor’s closet in the basement, and the former pastor’s spirit hovering nearby. Impeded by the cantankerous spirit Chantilly knows is hiding something, she must pick her way through the mystery of a long-ago fire and the dead guy stuffed inside the closet. Can Chantilly discover how the two crimes are connected, and will she find out who the killer is before she becomes the next victim?"

My take: In book three, Chantilly is getting more comfortable with her ability to see and talk to ghosts. Word is getting out among ghosts, that she can see them. While working on her next project for the historical society, to renovate the 100 year old church in town, she stumbles across the body of one of the church employees body. Not again! Chantilly is convinced this apparent murder is tied to a fire that happened 40 years ago in the church. The mayor wants the church torn down and rebuilt instead, after this incident. Sheriff Jack thinks it has nothing to do with the fire and wants Chantilly to stay out of it. The pastor that died in the fire, wants her to stay out if it too and gets pretty feisty. Chantilly has her hands full trying to juggle her real job and the ghosts that she runs into. One even has a special message he would like her to deliver. Really enjoying this series. Good story line, interesting continuing threads throughout the books, great characters, humor and a bit spooky at times.

Witch This Way: book 2 in the Holiday Hills Witch Cozy Mystery


About: "Welcome to Holiday Hills, where there is magic & mystery in the air..I wear many hats:

I'm a friend.
A sort-of girlfriend.
A ghostwriter, and…
...oh yeah, a witch.

My editor always tells me to “write what you know.” Unfortunately, that’s what’s happening...literally. When the main character in my latest novel—a witch herself—takes a new job with the Magical Bureau of Investigators, she stumbles upon a threat so big, it could destroy everything she holds dear. Fiction, right?
Nope. For reasons beyond my witchy sixth sense, everything I write is now happening to me in real life! Did I mention my character gets into REALLY bad situations? Now I’ve got to figure out who’s cast this awkward spell and find a way to reverse it. And if I don’t do it soon, I might just wind up the "dead" in my deadline."

My take: I liked this second book in the Holiday Hills series with Abby O'Dell. In this book, Abby is getting used to her magic, having Cooper as her familiar and things moving along with Gabe, the police chief. There's a new man in town, Ryland, who all the women are swooning after and Abby's best friend, Stella, seems to be developing a relationship with. Gabe hires a Deputy, Austin. At first Abby is suspicious but after hearing Gabe's information on Austin, she relaxes. Two fires in town put everyone on edge. The second was her mother's home. Now this is personal. This story is a roller coaster of events. Things that happen, end up in Abby's book she is writing, only she didn't put them there.
Twist, turns and things not what they seem with a satisfying ending.

Killing Time by Suzanne M. Trauth: book 6 in the Dodie O'Dell series. This is the first book I have read in this series.



About: With Halloween just around the corner, Dodie O’Dell is making preparations to transform the Windjammer Restaurant on the Jersey Shore into a haunted house, while the Etonville Little Theatre is staging Dracula. But casting the titular Transylvanian is proving challenging. The amateur actors in the company are not shy about chewing the scenery, but who among them can convincingly sink their fangs into a victim's neck? When a mysterious newcomer with a transfixing Eastern European accent lands the part, rumors that he might be an actual vampire start to take flight—not unlike the bat who's recently been spotted in the town park. But everyone’s blood really runs cold when a cast member is found in a prop coffin with a real stake in his heart. Dodie decides to put her Halloween theme menu on the back burner and stick her neck out to bring the killer into the light of day. She'd better keep her wits about her, though—or Dodie may be the next one to go down for the Count . . ." 

My take: While this is a series, you don't have to have read the books in the series in order. This is a good mystery with a surprise twist at the end. Set at Halloween, this would make a good book to put on your Halloween mysteries list. Dodie has promised Bill, her fiance, to stay out of investigating, but as all good amateur sleuths, she can't help herself. Just one quick drive by the house, the theater, the dark alley...All this while trying to run The Windjammer and plan a menu around the Dracula play at the theater. When Bill does ask for her help, Dodie is all in. And it almost costs her, her life, more than once. There is also some humorous moments with the other regular characters. The mystery is very complex and kept me interested and guessing.

With all of these books, I received a free copy and voluntarily provided reviews.

Blood Under Cherry Blossoms by T.J. Holz

I read Blood Under Cherry Blossoms by T.J. Holz for The Review Crew last week.

This book is less than 100 pages and really good quick read. It is a debut novel for the author.



About: "A mysterious photo. An unsolved murder. And a killer desperate to cover his tracks.
It’s a slow summer for D.C. college professor Adelaide Patulski, until she discovers an old photo that could catch the killer in an infamous 1986 murder: A teenage boy sprawled under cherry blossoms, as his killer runs away.
A picture is worth a thousand words. But this photo is worth a lot more: it might cost Adelaide her life.
Suddenly her computer’s being hacked, she’s being watched and getting death threats.
Adelaide’s being hunted.
And the only way to save herself is to solve an unsolvable murder before she becomes the next victim.
If Adelaide can get her next-door neighbor, a cranky and recently fired Secret Service agent, to help her solve the case, she might actually have a shot.
But this is D.C. and the killer’s spent 35 years rising through the ranks. And Adelaide’s running out of time.
Can Adelaide catch the killer before he catches her? Or will this summer be her last?"

I really liked this book. The story grabs you right away and the suspense does not stop. While it is a short book, it is not short on action. Thirty plus years after George Oakwood is shot and killed while trying to stop a purse snatcher, Adelaide comes across a photo from the scene. As she looks up information on the photo, and finds it is a cold case, she is driven to finding out why this photo was stashed in a box, who took the picture and if it would lead to the killer. Immediately she is receiving threatening emails which then disappear before her eyes, threatening strangers at her door and a feeling of being watched. Rescued by her neighbor Joe, she convinces Joe to help her pursue the answer despite his warning to leave it alone, the landlord's warning to leave it alone and the people threatening her. Very good descriptions which will leave you looking over your shoulder. It was pretty creepy when Adelaide would read an email from the unknown person and then it would literally disappear, or the bad guys would show up out of nowhere. 

The ending is very good and leaves an opening for more books with Joe and Adelaide. I would definitely read more in this series.

About the author: "T.J. Holtz is a mystery crime writer who was born in Romania and has lived in numerous countries in Europe, including The Netherlands, UK, Italy and Spain. With a master's degree in Business Communication, T.J. has previously worked as a Sociologist, conducting cross-cultural research studies."

I received a pre-release copy of this book and I’m reviewing it voluntarily.

Broken Windows by Janet Pywell, the final Mikky dos Santos book

One of my recent reads was Broken Windows, the sixth and final book in the Mikky Dos Santos thriller series. I have read and enjoyed all six books in the series and the prequel to the series, which I will share latter on here.



About: "Mikky’s task is simple. Find out who owns the valuable dagger, the talisman and symbol for a cult-like group in London’s underworld – a drugs gang led by the Asian, who controls the streets with ruthless violence. He recruits children: befriending them, grooming them, and controlling them through fear, as they package and sell drugs. The Dixon Trust provides a safe house and haven for these unprotected and extremely vulnerable kids. Run by Matt, an ex-convict, and supported by a local politician, Raymond Harris, these men are determined to rescue and protect the children, and save lives.
Given another chance, and taught by Matt, the Parks become experts in freerunning and parkour. It gives them a sense of worth and purpose, and when they’re asked to participate in an action-packed movie, their self-esteem knows no bounds.
None of them expects death. 
Mikky gains access and insight into their world as she films a documentary. But devastated by shocking events, she is determined to find the dagger, and to flush out the cult leaders and hold them all to account – even if it means risking her own life."

This was very suspenseful and fast paced. As I mentioned above, it is the last book in the Mikky dos Santos series. The first chapter will grab you right away and you won't be able to read fast enough to find out what happens.

There is no down time for Mikky, in her attempt to find the dagger. As she snoops around and asks questions, she gets deep into danger. She partners with Peter to travel to Morocco to observe The Parks participating in a film. Mikky becomes close to some of the kids and makes it her mission to find out who is behind the drug ring that kidnaps lonely children and teenagers and forces them into the dangerous world of drugs. Mikky and Peter return to London with their report but as usual Mikky can't stay out of trouble and once again risks her life. Meanwhile her fiance Marco is traveling and he and Mikky can't seem to get time to be together or plan a wedding. With all of the chances Mikky is taking, and her addiction to danger, will there ever be a wedding for her?

I recommend you read the entire series. Each book is set in different countries with Broken Windows taking place in Morocco, Switzerland and London, England. We learn things about the countries the books are set in and the history and artifacts that the books are based on. The kids in Broken Windows participate in Parkour, which is a real sport. I of course wondered about it and looked it up. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkour

Besides being a really good thriller, all of these extras are very interesting.

This was a fabulous ending to a fabulous series.

You can download the prequel for free from Janet Pywell's website and read more about Janet and her other books below. She is starting a new series now and I am looking forward to hearing more about that.

http://janetpywell.com/

I received an ARC and voluntarily provided this review.