Underground Airlines by Ben H Winters

Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

When I read the synopsis of this book I was excited by what to me was a totally new idea, however sometimes ideas are not executed too well. Admittedly slavery is a very difficult subject unless you are dealing with historical facts, but writing on slavery in an alternate future is not so easy. It is obviously very difficult to imagine slavery still legal in the the U.S. surviving all the changes over the years since the civil war. Putting all that aside the story is more akin to escaping POWs during World War 11. The central character in the story reflecting the determination of Steve McQueens role in the Great Escape. Doing everything necessary and not giving up. Victor takes this approach in his pursuit of escaped slaves “runners” for the US Marshall service but only to further his own freedom. Finally he gets the chance to be really free and not bound in any way, but at what cost?

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The Rare Earth Exchange by Bernard Besson

The Rare Earth Exchange by Bernard Besson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have always enjoyed the publications of Le French Book and this is no exception. Following a terrorist cyber-attack on an aircraft at Orly airport in Paris and the subsequent death of a former French president, the private investigation / intelligence company Fermatown is hired by the French Government to find out who is responsible. This is the second novel for the Fermatown team, it revolves around the very lucrative market trading of rare earth elements used in high tech industries, and the corruption which has spawned from it. Obviously knowing what I like to read, the author has developed a very good detective story, cleverly combining it with a plausible political conspiracy. Although the plot is complex, the style is easy to follow and captivating. Another very good story and translation from Le French Book.

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