I haven’t read much of Jeffrey Deaver but like his Lincoln Rhyme character. I’ve also see The Bone Collector movie. I wasn’t sure at first that I liked how the antagonist narrated his part in the story, but it was an important part of the plot and went to understanding the character’s motives. The Vanished Man is the name of a particular illusion, performed by illusionists or magicians. And this story is all about magic and illusions – it has more surprises, twists an turns, than watching a motocross race on a dirt track. The story is good and characters believable. I can promise that you’ll be fooled more than once reading this book and Deaver will keep you guessing right up until the end.
This is a shout to all you Lee Child and Jack Reacher fans. There is a new series on Amazon Prime, simply called, “Reacher”. And fear not Reacher fans, Tom Cruise is NOT playing the lead. As we all know, little Tommy is about half the size of the main character depicted in the thriller novels.
Alan Ritchson (formerly of Aquaman) fills the role of Reacher, literally. The man is huge, perhaps a bit too buff in my opinion, when you see his six-pack abs and bulging muscles. Reacher, after all, travels the country by bus, eating copious amounts of diner food, and yet we never see him working out. Unless it’s when he’s beating up someone.
The whole first season (8 episodes) is based on Child’s Killing Floor novel, and in my opinion, moves a lot quicker than some of the author’s sometimes excruciatingly over described narrative. There’s a little bit of nudity, both male and female, some profanity, and a fair amount of violence that doesn’t go over the top with gory details.
Cathryn and I both enjoyed the series and give it a 9 out of 10.
This was one of three Bosch novels I traded for while in Sayulita, Mexico. All are out of order, something that happens when you pick up cheap second-hand books to read while you’re away. If that’s not confusing enough, I’ve made it worse by watching all seasons and episodes of the Bosch TV series. So, where it was nice to read the more in-depth literary versions of certain stories, it also had me confused at times where certain characters, partners and cases have been changed or condensed for the theatrical version. Either way, it’s all Bosch and it’s all good. This story is typical Harry, where he won’t rest until he brings a killer to justice. Throw in an old case that comes back to haunt him, worry about his daughter, the usual politics that comes with police work, and you have another good Bosch novel.
When will Harry Bosch be old enough to fully retire? It mentions in this book that he’s almost 70! That means he’s been chasing killers for over 40 years. That would be way more than enough for me to want something more out of life. But then who could we count on to fight for all those lost souls…the one’s that matter because they all matter. Even though Harry is retired from policing it doesn’t stop him from teaming up with one of his old partners (Renee Ballard) to hunt down killers. And Bosch’s brother from a different mother (Mickey Haller) gets a bit of ink in this book, now that the two of them have found some common ground to get along. I enjoyed The Night Fire but the Ballard character just doesn’t do it for me. As usual, Bosch is the anchor that holds Connelly’s ship fast. Hopefully the author can get a few more stories out of our favorite cop character before he gets stuck in the mud at the bottom of the ocean.
They say not to judge a book by it’s cover (and page count) but that’s exactly what I did with this novel, leaving it to linger on my ‘to read’ shelf at home for quite a while. Now I’m glad I’ve read it and happily rate it five stars. The intro had a bit puzzled as to plot and content but once I started flipping pages I was hooked. Greg Iles deserves kudos for keeping me interested for the whole 546 pages – the quick pace of the story never lagged throughout. The story gets a bit complicated and deep at certain points but it was thought-provoking for me and I enjoyed the challenge. Even the title was weird, I thought, but The Footprints of God is a good read that I highly recommend.
I could find no reason to give this book any less than five stars. Considering the page count, it was a quick and easy read. The plot was a bit intricate but it moved well and held my interest throughout. The story was like an action thriller, without all kinds of killing and mayhem. Instead, the author relied on suspense and intrigue to keep the pace lively and exciting. A legal story that lacks Grisham’s riveting courtroom drama, it gives readers a whole new take on what it’s like for a hungry young wannabe lawyer. My only minor disappointment was how the story ended so abruptly…I was waiting for a unique twist or turn of fait, but it just ended. Still, it was a great read.
This book was recommended to me by a friend and I’m disappointed that I had to pay the full purchase price. It was a decent read for those who like to follow notorious serial killers, but most of the content in the book is already public knowledge. I did learn some new things, where the author had dug up parts of the old investigations that weren’t made public. And although she is a former district attorney, the book reads more like a gathering of media clippings presented as short stories by a former journalist – which the author is. For those who’ve never heard of the cold cases in this book, I’m sure they’ll find it more interesting than I – a former police investigator who is well aware of most of the cases in this book.
The Rooster Bar by John Grisham (Goodreads Author) Edmond Gagnon‘s reviewDec 22, 2021 · edit liked it Although I don’t think this book is one of Grisham’s best, it was still a good read. It wasn’t the type of courtroom drama we are used to with this author; the plot addresses the American legal system from a whole new angle-a story about three law students trying to work their way through law school, while accumulating massive student debt. After suffering the loss of a close friend, the trio comes up with a unique plan to beat the system and work their way out of debt. Although their methods are immoral and illegal, it’s easy to sympathize with them. They make many mistakes along the way and there are enough twists and turns in this story to keep your interest. Getting off to a slow start with this book, I found myself picking up my pace and actually enjoying it in the end.
It’s been too many years since I’ve visited the Pomegranate Restaurant in Windsor, and after eating there tonight, I’m disappointed I didn’t return sooner. The ‘Pomo’, as we used to call it, is still a family-run business serving excellent Chinese food to long time loyal customers. Take out business was brisk while Cathryn and I were there, with many obviously picking up dinner to bring home.
Back in the day, when I worked for a living, we took our lunch hours and completed reports in the back corner of the dining room. And on occasion, I’d loose money while playing cards with the staff after hours – all in fun, of course, since everyone is family there. It was nice to see some familiar faces and hear that Chef Henry was still in the kitchen, serving great food.
As with most Chinese restaurants, the menu is huge, but the wait staff is more than happy to help with your selection and very responsive to fine tuning your order. The wonton soup was hearty and served piping hot. The pork spring rolls were crispy, with a filling that reminded me of the inside of a tortiere. We had two each but wanted more.
Our two main dishes consisted of house special egg foo young and stir-fried veggies with all the goodies you can think of. And to top it off, besides the traditional fortune cookies, they gave us extra almond cookies. I forgot how addictive they are. The service was fast and friendly and prices are reasonable. Cathryn and I both give the Pomegranate a 9 out of 10, since nobody is perfect 🙂
My favorite memories of breakfast are when I ate at my grandparent’s house, where almost every meal was cooked in bacon grease or lard, on the stovetop in an old cast iron skillet. Bad for you, some would say, but my Pepe lived to 84. And he smoked. One of his specialties was something you rarely see in a restaurant these days – corned beef hash. I love the stuff.
I discovered a place called the MCM Restaurant many years ago, while working the Drouillard/Walker Road beat with an old war horse we affectionately called Hammer. At 2005 Ottawa Street, across from Juniper Books, it was a typical diner that served the type of good meals you’d get at home, for reasonable prices. I loved going there for breakfast, cooked on a grill that was directly behind the counter.
At some time in the not too distant past, the MCM closed and was replaced by Roast ‘N Toast. I smiled when I walked in the front door and recognized the same old bar stools at the counter, and cozy atmosphere of days past. The smell of bacon frying on the grill gives me great great pleasure, but when I saw corned beef hash on the menu I was ecstatic. It wasn’t quite the same as grandpa’s, probably because the grease wasn’t a month old.
Roast ‘N Toast is my kind of diner – they serve breakfast all day. Who says you can’t have bacon and eggs for lunch? My new favorite there is the Meat Lovers Skillet, piled high with ham, sausage and hamburger meat, eggs, cheese, and home fries. It easily fills me up, leaving no room for their sinful homemade butter tarts that stare at you from behind the counter.
The restaurant has suffered through Covid like the rest of us, but they added unique wooden partitions for privacy and social distancing. They also added outdoor seating. Each and every time I’ve been to Roast ‘N Toast, my meal has been perfectly cooked and delivered to my table by courteous and friendly staff who aren’t afraid to tweak your order to your liking. And if you’re a reader, be sure to keep your receipt for a 15% discount across the street at Juniper Books.
A Monte Christo special that I’ll be trying to order next time I’m there.
