Category: Book Reviews

The Wrong Road – Jack Bennett Sr.

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

I just finished reading, The Wrong Road – A Crime Story, the second book by fellow local author Jack Bennett Sr. More a short story or novella, Bennett weaves a tale of a young and impressionable man from Windsor, Jimmy Burns, who wants to become a somebody by hanging with the wrong crowd.

Burns figures the best way to impress the local stripper he’s taken a shine to, is by showering her with money that he doesn’t have. The solution to his dismal situation is to resort to crime in order to improve his cash flow. Burns soon learns that he’s being taken for a ride and decides to strike out on his own, continuing a cross-country crime spree.

The story finds Burns digging a deeper hole for himself, before he meets the woman who might actually help turn his life around.

The Wrong road is an interesting story and an easy read. I give it 3.5 stars out of 5. It is available locally through the author or at Story Tellers Book Store in Windsor.

Suspect – Michael Robotham

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

Suspect (Joseph O’Loughlin, #1)
by Michael Robotham (Goodreads Author)
Edmond Gagnon‘s review Feb 17, 2021  
I had never heard of author Michael Robotham, perhaps it’s because he’s from Sydney Australia.
Regardless, I found his book, Suspect, a very good read. The protagonist is a Psychiatrist, but not a character like Alex Delaware in John Kellerman’s novels, who assists police in their investigations.

Joseph O’Loughlin may be trying to get into his patients heads, but it seems more like he needs to examine himself. By trying to get to the truth he only incriminates himself and goes from helping the police to being their number one suspect.

I found the backstory a bit heavy at times but the plot was well written and fast paced enough to keep my attention. I would definitely read this author again.

The Snowman – Jo Nesbo

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

The Snowman (Harry Hole, #7)
by Jo Nesbø 
Edmond Gagnon‘s reviewFeb 07, 2021 


The Snowman is the first ‘Harry Hole’ Jo Nesbo novel that I’ve read. Although a Norwegian author, he can weave a crime fiction tale with the best of them.
I had some difficulty getting into this book, and keeping things straight as the story progressed, because of all the Norwegian names of places and characters. For me, it was hard to concentrate when I couldn’t pronounce or remember most of the proper nouns that were used.
Having said that, the plot was intricately pieced together, with enough twists and turns to keep any crime reader fully engrossed.
Nesbo’s police protagonist and sadistic antagonist were equally likable, especially once the latter was eventually discovered.

Jenn Sadai – Empowering Women

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Book Reviews, EntertainmentLeave a comment

Jenn Sadai has combined her love of writing with her passion for empowering women into three purposeful series. The Self-esteem Series currently contains three non-fiction stories tackling common issues that affect a woman’s self-esteem. (Stolen from her Amazon author page because I couldn’t have said it any better).

She has drawn on her personal life experiences as well as those of other women, in putting together seven different books to date that offer women support, advice, and mutual respect. She covers topics like sexual abuse, bullying, harassment and body image.

Her titles include: Dark Confessions of an Extraordinary-Ordinary Woman, No Kids Required, Women Ready to Rise, Cottage Cheese Thighs, Her Own Hero, Dirty Secrets of the World’s Worst Employee, and Her Beauty Burns. You can read more about Jenn Sadai on her website.

If you’d like to meet Jenn and obtain one of her personally autographed books, come meet her at the Essex County Author’s Book Show, at The City Market on Saturday, December 12th, between 10am and 3pm.

Christian Laforet – “The Horror”

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Book Reviews, EntertainmentLeave a comment

Just like the best of serial killers known to man, Author Christian Laforet easily blends in to any crowd, his sick and twisted thoughts safely tucked away from those around him. Simply another working family man you’d think, but he has a hidden dark side.

If horror is your thing, a book by Christian Laforet is something you want to read. Don’t let his Clark Kent appearance fool you, there is a wickedness in this man that oozes from his from his fingertips into the scary stories that he writes. His books, The Space Between Houses and No Light Tomorrow are proof of his sick talent as a horror writer.

The next Stephen King also collaborated with Ben Van Dongen and myself, in putting together a crime anthology called All These Crooked Streets. His most recent work is a short story called Words Gathered, a collection of poetry and prose. You can see all his work at Adventure Worlds Press.

If you’d like to meet the master of disaster in the rotting flesh, come out to the Essex County Author’s Book Show at the City Market in Windsor on Saturday, December 12th, between 10am and 3pm, where you can get a personally autographed copy of one of his books.

Cross – James Patterson

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment
13128Cross (Alex Cross, #12)
by

James Patterson (Goodreads Author)
15204490

Edmond Gagnon‘s review

Jun 02, 2020


I love James Patterson’s Alex Cross character so it was hard not to like the book. I was a bit surprised at how fast I zipped through this and the last one I read, maybe it has something to do with the one and two page chapters.
The plot and overall story were good, as usual, but I was confused about the age of Alex’s kids and who their mother was. I had to Google the answers. It was also hard to keep track of his love interests and which job he was working, and when. Thank you Google, again.
I guess it’s my fault for not reading the series in order, I swap books with friends and read them on a whim, when I don’t feel like writing.
This book fell short of my fourth star because I thought the ending fell flat, and it was quickly laid out to tidy things up.

Four Blind Mice – James Patterson

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

53625Four Blind Mice (Alex Cross, #8)
by James Patterson (Goodreads Author)

15204490

Edmond Gagnon‘s review

May 31, 2020


I usually like to rag about Patterson because of all the other writers who gain attention from using his name, but this story is his, and a good one.
What made the book more enjoyable for me is his protagonist, Dr. Alex Cross. I liked the character in other books he’s in, as well as a few movies based on his exploits.
The story moves well, and is a fast read with hardly any fluff. There’s just enough backstory to keep you in the loop, and the other characters added depth to the story.
The plot seemed predictable, but a couple twists kept me curious right until the end.
A truly enjoyable book.

Pegasus Descending – James Lee Burke

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

234490Pegasus Descending (Dave Robicheaux, #15)
by James Lee Burke

15204490

Edmond Gagnon‘s review

May 24, 2020


Crack a Dr. Pepper and get ready for a good ole down south, back bayou country story with your favorite ex-alcoholic veteran cop, Dave Robicheaux. This one’s typical Dave, acting out against the bad guys and an arrogant District Attorney at the same time.
His sidekick, Cletus Purcel, adds action, drama, and suspense, keeping Dave on his toes while trying to look out for him and his own family, which includes a three-legged racoon called Tripod.
There’s enough murder, mayhem, and built-up suspense, with a couple plot twists to keep you flipping pages in this one.
I couldn’t even finish the last James Lee Burke novel I read, probably because it lacked Dave Robicheaux.

The Jealous Kind – James Lee Burke

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

29326413._SY475_The Jealous Kind (Holland Family Saga, #2)
by James Lee Burke

15204490

Edmond Gagnon‘s review

Apr 28, 2020


I am a fan of James Lee Burke, and have read more than a few books in his Dave Robicheaux series, but I just couldn’t get into The Jealous Kind. I started reading it a couple months ago, prior to the Covid pandemic, and found it hard to accept the new characters. The slower pace of life in the 1950’s showed through in the author’s writing and I easily lost interest in the story.
I was almost half-way through the book and made my third attempt today to finish it off. It was if I was always waiting for something to happen but nothing really did.
That’s where my opinion ends…half-way through the book. I chose not to finish it.

Something to Read in Isolation?

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Book Reviews, EntertainmentLeave a comment

69449806_362432001314455_3696793242042368000_nAnyone bored and looking for something to read? Know any readers who can’t get out and would like to try one of my books? According to experts, we’re probably going to be on lockdown for at least a few more weeks, if not more.

I’m offering free delivery anywhere in Essex County, and can mail books for those of you further away. All my titles are available and I can do multi-book discounts. Email or PM me if you are interested.

edmondgagnon@gmail.com

All my books can be seen at: http://www.edmondgagnon.com