Book Review Archive

Reviews are listed by author's surname. Further information, such as other titles by these authors, is available from the Authors page. If you have any comments, please email me at jo9ty@geocities.com

A-B

Dave uncovers a trail that leads him to Harrisburg and then on to the economically depressed towns of Chester and Selinsgrove. Thinking that if he falls asleep Kate will die, Dave keeps popping Fastin diet pills and drinking endless cups of coffee in an effort to stay awake. Combined with determination and fear, he manages to stay awake for three more days.

With the help of his ex-girlfriend Lisa, Dave follows the trail through a seedy underworld of drugs and prostitution. He is convinced Kate has been kidnapped and has somehow managed to get caught up in the middle of a drug ring. And when people he interviews along the way end up dead, Dave must do all he can to find and save his beloved Kate.

The fourth installment in the Dave Garrett mystery series contains fast paced action all the way. Neil Albert has made his character Dave Garrett go without sleep for four days - this tact enhances the effect of the non-stop action.

Although the story was well plotted with a tidy completion, some of the events that took place seemed a little implausable. In particular, the fact that Garrett manages to survive numerous attempts on his life and still go on. But the setting of the near empty streets of Chester and the desolate countryside of central Pennsylvania are amply described. I enjoyed this story, mostly for it's rollercoaster ride, but also for it's likeable protagonist, it's interesting twist, and satisfying conclusion. Well recommended.

Reviewed by Jo Orange 13 November 1997

More information about this author is available on the Authors page.

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C-D

E-F

When Chris arrives at the US Army base where the paintings are stored, Peter hints at the possibility that there is a forgery amongst the exhibit, by telling Chris that what he should be looking for is right down his alley. But before Chris has a chance to view the Masters, he is badly injured during a failed attempt to steal the stored paintings.

Peter's body turns up outside a notorious whorehouse in Frankfurt and his death has been made to look like a robbery. Chris's military liaison, Captain Anne Green, convinces Chris that Peter's death is a coverup. Chris sets about uncovering a fake among the masterpieces, and with the assistance of military police investigator, Major Harry Gucci, searches for Peter's assassins. His search leads him to become a target, and he himself narrowly escapes death.

Elkins, Edgar-Award winning author of the Gideon Oliver series, has created, in "A Deceptive Clarity" a fascinating insight into the museum world. This mystery has an intriguing atmosphere and contains exhaustive technical knowledge about art masterpieces.

I have enjoyed Elkins writing in the past. His writing style is smooth and thoughtful. Chris Norgren has been well drawn, and is a very likable character. "A Deceptive Clarity" contains a tightly woven story based on extensive research. This is an enjoyable, vividly descriptive novel.

Reviewed by Jo Orange 26 May 1997

More information about this author is available on the Authors page.

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G-H

I-K

L-M

N-O

Ron, the gay drug dealing brother of Grace, Jason's lover, returns to Denver. He tells the pair that he is dying of AIDs and hints at being in debt. Jason gives Ron a job at his antiques shop, and Ron proves himself to be adept at cleaning old furniture and takes an encouraging but puzzling interest in his work.

Whilst on a picnic with Jason and Grace, who are exploring the Wirtz property, Ron is killed by an explosive device planted under a well-like outdoor privy. When Ron's body is recovered, a skeleton is found in the same cave shaft.

Grace expects Jason to solve the mystery of who killed her brother and why. This expectation, along with Grace's increasing distance, puts a strain on their relationship. Especially since Jason was getting ready to propose to Grace.

Another of Jason's clients, Wilson Credable, asks Jason to help sell some family heirlooms to help finance the upkeep of Credable Castle. Wilson's livelihood and home are under threat from his elder cousin Edward, who questions Wilson's right to his inheritance.

Juggling several commitments, Jason retraces Ron's movements before his death. This leads him to unearth a past filled with debt and drug dealing. Ron had made ambiguous references to "ice", and while looking through his few possessions, Jason recovers messages quoting from The Tempest. Jason then discovers a tangled linked history between the rich Wirtz and Credable families. A past filled with family jealousy and greed.

A wonderfully interwoven story from one of my favourite authors. The setting of Denver and it's surrounding environs is vividly descriptive, the story tight, and it contains no loose ends. Though it's not necessary to have read the previous Jason Lynx stories, the relationship between Jason and Grace develops in this latest story and leads the reader to wonder where it will head. I look forward to reading the sixth in this series, "A death of innocents".

Reviewed by Jo Orange 19 June 1997

More information about this author is available on the Authors page.

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P-R

S-T

U-W

Although Neil suspects Lewellen to be somehow involved in the kidnapping, she and her Hispanic lover, The Kid, travel to the desert to make a ransom drop. This leads them to a beached boat, a person wearing a feathered mask, and the recovery of the macaw, but they become engaged in a hijacking that leaves them without the ransom money.

By the time Neil and The Kid get back to town, Lewellen has died from an allergic reaction. Could Deborah's half-sister Sara, who was having an affair with Lewellen, be involved in all this? As Neil sets out to find the killer, she must deal with some interesting characters - Rick Olney, Deborah's lab assistant from the Psittacine Research Facility at the University of New Mexico; Charlie Register, a banker who is more interested in keeping Lewellen's paintings; and the stars of the story, the parrots themselves. But what has become of Deborah Dumaine?

This is the first of Van Gieson's books that I have read, so I approached it with a certain sense of incredulity. However, I was delightfully suprised. The sense of place and the description of Albuquerque and the surrounding landscape, in particular the Sandia Mountains, were very vivid. Neil Hamel (despite the annoying male name), is a strong, sensible, and intelligent woman. The novel contains a certain Southwestern spirituality and folklore, but this does not distract from the story. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Reviewed by Jo Orange 27 June 1997

More information about this author is available on the Authors page.

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Last updated 13 November 1997 by Jo Orange