Tag: Reviews

Cross – James Patterson

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13128Cross (Alex Cross, #12)
by

James Patterson (Goodreads Author)
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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

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

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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

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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.

India 47 Restaurant & Bar

On By Author Edmond GagnonIn Food & DiningLeave a comment

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Are you looking for something different to tingle and tantalize your taste buds, exotic and spicy foods that scream flavour? You have to check out the new India 47 Restaurant & Bar at Lesperance and E.C. Row, in the former Webb’s or Rygate. I don’t know a heck of a lot about authentic Indian food, only having been to a couple other restaurants serving that particular country’s fare, but this new venture caught my attention.

Continue reading “India 47 Restaurant & Bar” →

The Jealous Kind – James Lee Burke

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

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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.

Jack Reacher – Midnight Line – Lee Child

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33378951The Midnight Line (Jack Reacher, #22)
by Lee Child (Goodreads Author)

15204490

Edmond Gagnon‘s review

Mar 18, 2020


I think this book only deserves three and a half stars, but that’s not allowed and I went to four because it’s hard not to like Jack Reacher. My problem was I felt this story fell short in the pace and action categories that usually make a Reacher novel great. I thought it lagged through the middle and the author got a bit carried away with repeating the same incidents, through the different character’s perspectives.
The plot was still good, although predictable and much tamer than other Reacher novels I read, but if you’re a fan it’s still a good read and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Therapy – Jonathan Kellerman

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127221Therapy (Alex Delaware, #18)
by Jonathan Kellerman

15204490

Edmond Gagnon‘s review

Mar 14, 2020


Anh…this Kellerman novel didn’t come close to rocking my world. I had no problem getting into it, but the plot got complicated quickly with too much conjecture and guesswork dialogue between Milo Sturgis and Alex Delaware.
The story was interesting and moved well, but I found myself skimming on more than one occasion, bypassing useless back story, and jumping ahead to something interesting. The detective work was realistic, but I think the author goes overboard by having a psychologist doing some interviewing and investigating.
I’ve read books in Kellerman’s Alex Delaware series before and found Therapy the least enjoyable of all. I’m not saying it’s not worth a read, just that I was disappointed.

The Litigators – John Grisham

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11600163The Litigators
by

John Grisham (Goodreads Author)
15204490

Edmond Gagnon‘s review

Mar 06, 2020


A bit slow off the start, this book was truly enjoyable. Grisham is a master a weaving a courtroom tale and this story takes you a step further – into the office of Finley and Figg, two ambulance chasers. Formerly being in law enforcement, and spending hundreds of hours in courtrooms, I found myself chuckling and relating to the lawyers in this story. I’ve seen all sorts of good and bad lawyers in action and Grisham’s characterizations are right on.
The Litigators is kind of a riches to rags to riches kind of story for one particular lawyer who leaves a power legal firm with hundreds of solicitors to join a ’boutique law firm.’ Some of the plot is predictable, but the author keeps the story fun and interesting along the way. The ending wasn’t a big surprise and leaves you feeling satisfied with how you got there.

Murder in Montana – Anna Schilke

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23767009Murder in Montana
by Anna Schilke (Goodreads Author)

15204490

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)

15204490

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 🙂