Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, & technology book reviews, plus social, political, & economic commentary
Outcry WitnessThomas ZigalTCU Press (http://www.prs.tcu.edu) This concluding novel in Thomas Zigal’s “New Orleans Trilogy” is a compelling and well-written mystery thriller. It also is timely and reflective of controvery. Worldwide, Catholicism continues to be roiled by dark headlines about sexual abuse cases involving supposedly celebate priests and other church officials. In U.S. law, according to … Continue reading Hiding and Exposing Sins
Allure of Deceit Susan Froetschel Seventh Street Books – paperback, Kindle The road to hell definitely is paved with good intentions in this well-written, intelligent, engrossing thriller. Some Americans with “do good” desires blunder into a culture they do not understand–rural Afghanistan–and create one hell of a mess as they attempt to offer “help” … Continue reading ALLURE OF DECEIT: American philanthropy brings deadly trouble to rural Afghanistan in this intelligent thriller – #fiction #bookreview
Five Dark Riders Bill Sloan (Zipp City Press, paperback, Kindle) Bill Sloan is an acclaimed historian and veteran newspaper journalist previously nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. He also is one of America’s best writers of World War II Pacific-theater combat narratives. (His latest, Undefeated: America’s Heroic Fight for Bataan and Corregidor, was published in April.) … Continue reading Five Dark Riders – A novel rich with history, intrigue, action & romance – #fiction #bookreview
The Seven Wonders: A Novel of the Ancient World Steven Saylor (Minotaur Books, hardback, list price $25.99; Kindle edition, $12.99) To be honest, until I picked up this book, I had paid zero attention to best-selling author Steven Saylor’s long-running Roma Sub Rosa series of mysteries set in ancient times, in the Roman Empire. The hero … Continue reading Steven Saylor’s ‘The Seven Wonders’ – A fine intro to Gordianus the Finder, famous sleuth of ancient Rome – #bookreview #in #mystery #fiction
Fans of noir fiction prefer their stories dark and gritty. They relish harsh tales told from troubled viewpoints: crime victims, serial killers, suspects, witnesses. A private eye may be snooping around somewhere nearby. But cops and sheriff’s deputies are not yet on the scene. A terrible act central to the story is just about to be … Continue reading Lone Star Noir: Deep in the (Dark) Heart of Texas
Corsair By Clive Cussler with Jack Du Brul (Putnam, $27.95, hardback) Some fans of Jack Du Brul’s writing think his name should be listed first on the cover of Corsair, a new installment in the popular Oregon Files series. But, regardless of who actually wrote what within this 437-page action-thriller, the team of Cussler and … Continue reading Fast-Paced Action: By Sea, by Land and by Air
Books, Commentary, & More 