Tag: Book Reviews

Murder in Montana – Anna Schilke

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23767009Murder in Montana
by Anna Schilke (Goodreads Author)

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Edmond Gagnon‘s review

Mar 01, 2020


I didn’t finish reading this book and struggled to give it three stars, but it was a descent story that touched on some serious issues with regard to the abuse of women. Maybe I’m biased because I’m a former police detective, but I thought the investigative and police procedural parts of the book fell flat.
The author came up with a truly unique MO for her serial killer and that peaked my curiosity, but even that wasn’t enough to coax me into finishing the book. I think overall, it lacked the polish that a good editor could have brought into the mix.
I met this author at a book fair and swapped one of my own for hers. She’d told me there was a story to go along with the novel but I never got to hear it. In what I did read, I think that she had some personal experiences in her past that inspired her to put her thoughts to paper.
In all, the book was a good effort but it think it fell short of its mark.

61 Hours – Jack Reacher – Lee Child

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835799261 Hours (Jack Reacher, #14)
by Lee Child (Goodreads Author)

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Edmond Gagnon‘s review

Feb 24, 2020


The more I read Jack Reacher stories, the more I love the guy. Sure his goofy nomadic style and do-good image are weird and abnormal in today’s world, but I think he’s the kind of guy we’d all like to be at some point in our lives.
I gave this book it’s fourth star because besides Harry Bosch, Reacher’s one-liners make me laugh out loud, no matter when or where I’m reading. Sure, this story was slower than most Reacher adventures, and I’ve complained about the authors heavy use of fluff and filler in the past, but in this case I think it all went hand-in-hand with the story.
The plot was predictable at times, but the ending will literally blow you away…or maybe Reacher…or maybe not. It’s the first book in the series where the author leaves you hanging at the end, wondering whether he lives or dies.
I had to look to the next book in the series for my answer 🙂

The Last Oracle – James Rollins

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2277444The Last Oracle (Sigma Force, #5)
by James Rollins (Goodreads Author)

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Edmond Gagnon‘s review

Feb 21, 2020


Hmm…I really have to think about this review and why I wasn’t crazy about this book. Maybe it’s because I read it in spurts, trying to get into and comprehend and many characters and organizations they were from like the FBI, CIA, KGB, ABC, etc.
The story itself was good, with past-paced action, but even that got tiring after awhile-the protagonists saving the world just in the nick of time at the turn of every corner. I can’t recall if I’ve read James Rollins before; his voice and style was easy to read.
Don’t let me discourage you from reading this novel, others have rated it higher. To sum it up, I guess it just didn’t float my boat.

Dark Sacred Night – Michael Connelly

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38204691._SX318_Dark Sacred Night (Harry Bosch, #21; Renée Ballard, #2; Harry Bosch Universe, #31)
by

Michael Connelly (Goodreads Author), 
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Edmond Gagnon‘s review

Feb 04, 2020


I’m a huge Harry Bosch fan and have also become a Michael Connelly fan. His writing voice is strong, his cop lingo and research into police procedure is spot on. Having been a cop myself, I can easily relate to Connelly’s other police characters as well as the creeps and criminals they pursue.
I didn’t think this novel deserved the fifth star only because the story didn’t seem to put me on the edge of my seat as his others have. I did like how the author switched perspectives, telling us the story from two different sides, both Bosch’s and Renee Ballard’s.
If you’re a Harry Bosch or Michael Connelly fan you’ll enjoy this book. If you’re new to the character or author you’ll still like the book and probably become a fan.

The Gatekeeper – Michelle Gagnon

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6667562
The Gatekeeper (Kelly Jones, #3)
by

Michelle Gagnon (Goodreads Author)
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Edmond Gagnon‘s review

Jan 30, 2020


I chose this book more out of curiosity than anything else. In Googling or searching my own name on different websites I sometimes come up with the name Michelle Gagnon. We are from different places and walks of life but may be related somewhere down the genealogical road. Her book, The Gatekeeper gets praise from best selling Author Lee Child…I’ve often wondered how an aspiring author gets a plug like that.
Anyway, I found The Gatekeeper a bit tough to get into and keep track of with two sets of (four in total) protagonists who worked at building the story from different angles. The problem was compounded by my own writing – my creative wheels interfered with my reading wheels. It seems I have a hard time keeping the two separate so when I’m in the writing mode, I’m not reading much.
The plot was descent but I think it’s been done to death…special agents racing to stop the terrorists from setting off bombs in major US cities. And throw in a kidnapping to add the level of stress and compassion.
Although predictable, the story still worked and managed to be entertaining, but I won’t be racing out in search of another of my long-lost cousin’s novels.

Saving Faith – David Baldacci

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15157Saving Faith
by

David Baldacci (Goodreads Author)
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Edmond Gagnon‘s review

Jan 19, 2020


I’ve read much better by Baldacci and was disappointed that I had a hard time getting into this novel. Admittedly, some stories are difficult that way, trying to understand the plot and the introduction of new characters. In this case, I found way too much fluff and back story, to the point that I had to skim ahead through the first quarter of the book.
Granted, some history and back story go to character development, but I don’t believe we need to know how a certain character behaved in grade school if it has nothing to do with the overall plot. Having said that, I found the characters in Saving Faith likeable. And having said that, personally, I found some of their actions and dialogue a bit sappy and unlikely in the real world.
Maybe I’m being a bit critical but that is what reviews are all about. Baldacci acknowledges certain professionals who aided him in his research and the writing of this book. If that’s the case then I have to wonder if perhaps they were holding back or what world they are living in. I see the book was written in 1999 and I know for a fact the world was not such a gentile place back then.
The book does get better in the second half, but with the exception of one nice twist, it was very predictable.

Beverly Hills Dead – Stuart Woods

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1426558._SX318_Beverly Hills Dead (Rick Barron, #2)
by Stuart Woods

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Edmond Gagnon‘s review

Jan 05, 2020


I’m glad I only borrowed this book from someone else’s shelf, it came nowhere near to living up to it’s promise of a fast-past sexy thriller full of nail biting twists and turns. The pace was okay but it took 3oo pages before anything really happened.
The story is an old Hollywood tale about the business side of things and how easy it was to get accidentally discovered and become a successful movie star. The only real jeopardy was pressure from the U.S. government who were pursuing communists in Hollywood at the time.
The was one clue as to who done it so there was no mystery involved. I came across no twists or turns and thought the plot fell flat.
The subject matter kept me interested enough to finish the book but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone unless you’re keenly interested in how a movie was produced in the 1950’s.

The Brass Verdict – Michael Connelly

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2761626._SY475_The Brass Verdict (Harry Bosch, #14; Mickey Haller, #2; Harry Bosch Universe, #18)
by Michael Connelly (Goodreads Author)

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Edmond Gagnon‘s review

Jan 03, 2020


I love Harry Bosch. I’ve watched the five seasons of the TV show twice now and have read many of Michael Connelly’s books with Bosch as his main protagonist. I’ve also come to like the Lincoln Lawyer character, Michael (Mickey) Haller. The Brass Verdict finally made it clear to me how the two characters are related. The two men are actually step-brothers who never associated before the case involved in this book.
The Brass Verdict is a lot more than courtroom drama, with insights into the characters, murders, and bits of the police investigation from Bosch’s end. It’s great cross-over story. Connelly nails the action from all sides of the law, probably why he’s become one of my favorite authors.

Rants, Raves & Reviews – Getting Off (the Don Tait Story) by Veronique Mandal

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38084558._SY475_The play on words in the title of this book, Getting Off, tells a lot more than the story of A Criminal Lawyer’s Road to Redemption. Windsor author Veronique Perrier Mandal not only shares the life story of our city’s most storied lawyer, Don Tait, but her personal interactions with the notorious legal eagle. This is a rags to riches roller coaster story that boldy tells all.

More than just a journalist, professor, RN, actor and playwright, Mandal examines her own spirituality while learning everything there was to know about a simple man whose demons came in all forms of addictions – power, money, sex, drugs, and booze to name a few. A local census would prove that Tait was loved and hated equally by friend and foe. They came in the form of reporters, cops, lawyers, judges, and even bikers and drug dealers.

Continue reading “Rants, Raves & Reviews – Getting Off (the Don Tait Story) by Veronique Mandal” →

Cross Fire – James Patterson

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crossfireCross Fire (Alex Cross, #17) 
byJames Patterson (Goodreads Author)

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Edmond Gagnon‘s review

May 19, 2019  
This was not my favorite Alex Cross story by any means…I’d have to go with Kiss the Girls or Along came a spider. Not to say Cross Fire is not a good novel. It was a good rainy weekend read. Maybe I like the other stories because Cross’ family wasn’t dragged into the plot so much…too familiar of a psych-thriller tale, where the protagonists family is targeted or threatened.
As far as this story goes, it moved well with lots of action to keep me turning pages and even chapters, since Patterson likes to keep them to two or three pages. The plot revolves around one particular serial killer but subplots and other serial killers make the read a bit more complicated, but fun.