Perfect People - Peter James

Perfect People by Peter James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Child parent relationships are always very emotive subjects, but add in a bit of Sci Fi as in Logan's Run, mix it with current affairs in the way of religious mania and you get this riveting novel.

This the first book of Peter James I have read and I am very impressed by the way he has taken a tragedy from everyday life and turned out this highly recommended story. The main characters are secondary to the great storyline, they are there to provide the glue for the story and could be swapped out for a new set and still have the same impact.

The Klaesson family suffers tragedy with the loss of their son to a rare genetic borne condition. Seeking to avoid this happening again they buy the services of a controversial scientist who claims he can eradicate the problem genes from their next child. I cannot describe any more as I don't want to spoil your enjoyment

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In the Company of Wolves by James Michael Larranaga

In the Company of Wolves by James Michael Larranaga
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Quin Lighthorn starts his new internship at Safe Haven, a company buying life insurance policies. This is a tale of lies and corruption and fraud from start to finish, with its murders, drugs and alcohol thrown in. It may have been written some time ago, but I am very glad the author decided to let us read it. As it is full of lies, deception and drug induced hallucinations, you are kept on your toes till the end with the outcome never certain.

The author must be congratulated for a very well executed novel, very easy and compelling read. The analogy with wolves which runs through the story is clever and cements the "Indian" theme in place. My only question is, as it took twelve years for this to publish, will we ever see book two?

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No Way Out - A Karen Vail Novel by Alan Jacobson

No Way Out by Alan Jacobson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Very good action thriller with all the normal fight scenes, car chases and James Bond type action. Good story line of CIA/FBI/MI5 operatives saving Britain from a terrorist attack. The main character Karen Vail I believe has been overworked as to me she was very unlikeable, gobby, know it all, with ego to match. She could have been toned down a little to make her acceptance with her peers more believable. Written for an American audience the author added various references to the differences between English and American English, one or two of these changes in language use is fine and makes the point, overuse makes them irritating, as does calling police cars "cruisers" .

The story was told at a fast pace with action in every chapter. This is the kind of story ideal for making into a movie, however I not sure Karen Vail would have the same appeal as James Bond. Although I have some misgivings the book is very enjoyable and therefore meets my criteria for recommendation.

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Vanishing Trail by Stephen Kosa

Vanishing Trail: The Taking of Jonathan Bishop by Stephen Kosa
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of my fastest ever reads, not because it was short, but because it gripped me from start to finish. Extremely well written and none of that very frustrating padding used by some authors. This author does not dwell on items not central to the storyline, everything is connected. Stephen Kosa has included everything you need for a thrilling read, believable characters, sound plot and twists and turns to the end.

Jake is an attorney in a the small town of Maple Creek who has suffered the tragedy of losing his wife and having to raise their son without her. Jonathan as the title suggests is abducted just as a another death hits the family. Will Jake get Jonathan back and can he get back some normality into his life? The answers are all there and you won't want to stop reading until the end. Highly recommended.

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The Land of Dreams by Vidar Sundstol

The Land of Dreams by Vidar Sundstol
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The attraction of this book was it genre and its award collection, for me this was very misleading. The story got off to a good start with the central crime described early on, however from then it turned into a history lesson on Minnesota and Lake Superior Indians. This lesson was broken with self analysis of the main character forest policeman Lance Hansen. I think the author has missed an opportunity to engage and entertain the reader, the plot is sound but is not developed, staying on a very narrow course and the book is bulked with the history and self appraisal. On a positive note the translator has used easy to read language, just a pity it was not more exciting. This book can stay low on your reading list.

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Cold Tuscan Stone by David Wagner

Cold Tuscan Stone: A Rick Montoya Italian Mystery by David Wagner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Steady but not thrilling, this adventure into the criminal art world takes in Tuscany, one of my favourite places in Italy. Translator Rick Montoya works undercover to lure out the criminals stealing precious artefacts of Tuscan history. Working with the local police chief it starts to get nasty. Who is the mastermind behind the stealing and how will it end? Good questions and you are kept guessing until the end. Worth reading but not high priority.

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Painted Ladies by P. R. Ellis

Painted Ladies : A Jasmine Frame Story by P. R. Ellis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The story line is more than just your regular ex-cop working with the police to solve a gruesome murder case. The author PR Ellis takes you into the life of a transgender trying to establish her new identity as first and foremost a women and then an investigator. As first in the series you get some of Jasmine Frame's history but it is necessary to set the scene and establish the relationships with her ex colleagues. We are also educated as to the clear differences between transgender and transvestism and the trials they endure to gain acceptance. The book could well have been written for a TV series ( no pun intended ) as it has that feel, nether the less it is an exciting and gripping thriller especially for a debut.

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