Until the Debt is Paid by Alexander Hartung

Until the Debt is Paid by Alexander Hartung
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jan Tommen, a Berlin homicide detective in love with Betty his new girlfriend, wakes up with not only a hangover but a big gap in his memory. Returning to work he is assigned a new case, where he quickly becomes the prime suspect. Not trusting his colleague to clear him, he goes on the run enlisting help of friends to help with the investigation to clear his name. You might think this is bad enough but it gets worse with more dead bodies. Alexander Hartung has written an outstanding murder mystery, keeping you guessing who is guilty all the way through. The graphic description of the crimes sets an unreal atmosphere and elevates the story to a new level of urgency to solve the murders. The translator Steve Anderson should also take credit creating an exciting easy to read thriller.

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Hell's Fortress by Michael Wallace

Hell's Fortress by Michael Wallace
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Post apocalypse thriller, but not your normal one, this is by the grace of God. In a world ripped apart by a mega volcanic eruption a religious cult in southern Utah, USA tries to defend their town and survive. You would expect a religious group would be welcoming and helpful, not this one. The story quickly splits in two with Eliza and companions seeking to rescue her fiancée Steve in LA, with her father Jacob Blister Creek's leader organising the defence. The author clearly illustrates how far people will go to survive regardless of religion or creed. It is an entertaining read however a little irratating with continual referencing to their religious beliefs and lifestyle which I find totally alien.

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Seven Wonders by Ben Mezrich

Seven Wonders by Ben Mezrich
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If mystery and adventure in the style of Indiana Jones is your thing then this book is for you. The Grady twins are poles apart however when Jack the adventurer discovers his brother Jeremy has linked the seven wonders of ancient and modern, he tries to discover what it all means. The excitement builds by solving the ancient puzzles whilst avoiding the booby traps and the competition who are hunting Jack and his companions to steal their secrets. Travelling around the world you do get a bit of a history lessons and some science lectures but it does add to the understanding. Quite predictable but none the less it is like Indiana Jones and reasonably entertaining.

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Sons of Sparta by Jeffery Siger

Sons of Sparta: A Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis Mystery by Jeffrey Siger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


At times this seemed more of a Greek comedy rather than the billed murder mystery. The relationship between the principal characters all police employees is very entertaining, almost telepathic and aids to lighten the reality of the murder itself. Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis allows his colleague Detective Yianni Kouros to investigate the mysterious death of his uncle not long after a family get together in the isolated southern region of Mani. With a tradition of family feuds going back centuries, things are not quite what they seem and soon Kaldis is guiding the investigation from Athens. This is a very entertaining murder mystery full of lighter moments, and minimal Greek history to set the background and atmosphere. This is the sixth in this series of cases for Kaldis written by Jeffery Singer as a frequent visitor to Greece uses his personal knowledge to great effect.

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Private India by James Patterson & Ashwin Sanghi

Private India by James Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When asked about James Patterson is he any good? I always say he is reliable and will always give you a good read. This is my first book in the Private series I have read and I am pleased to say that Private India hits the same mark. Santosh Wagh is the chief of the Mumbia office who lands a good old ritual serial killer case to solve. I think Ashwin Sanghi as co author has done an excellent job in adding the Indian flavour to this thriller making the circumstances of the murders feel more real. He also adds the right amount of background of Indian culture in explanation helping to crank up the atmosphere and is not without humour. My favourite line to describing Indian civil servants "It is a well known fact that Indian government servants reached their offices late and made up for it by leaving early". This atmosphere combined with Patterson's expertise in thrillers has produced a very fast paced and entertaining story.

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Hostage by Kristina Ohlsson

Hostage by Kristina Ohlsson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The name hostage is a little misleading it should be Hijack, but maybe the author had a reason for this, if so I missed it. Hostage or Hijack this is a very good novel full of action, thrills and cliff hanging moments. The story starts with what is almost the ending as the author describes the events leading up to that point. After a slow start the pace picks up and we meet the central character Eden Lundell head of the Security Services counter-terrorism unit in Stockholm. Eden who has previously worked for MI5 is tasked to catch terrorists responsible for the four bomb threats targeted at Stockholm and the subsequent hijacking of a flight to USA. With only scraps of evidence to work with the team of specialists try to piece together the reasons behind these actions and get the aircraft safely on the ground.

Very exciting and feels like "real time" story telling which has been expertly translated into English. Kristina Ohlsson finishes chapters on cliff hangers and you have to read on through one two more chapters before returning to that key moment to find out what happened. Frustrating but very exciting to read.

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Crude Carrier by Rex Burns

Crude Carrier by Rex Burns
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I don't often reward a book with 5 stars but when it meets all my criteria the rating is simple. This is my first Rex Burns novel and was very pleased when I found out he was a "no messing about author". He starts straight in with the plot, an unexplained death at sea to which the parents of the sailor understandingly wants some answers. James Raiford of the Touchstone Agency is hired it investigate and provide the answers. Assisted by his daughter Julie they decided some undercover work is required to find the truth about Harold Rossi's death.

The author does not waste in words in flashbacks, unnecessary background, history lessons or any of the other ploys some authors use to fill the book. Rex Burns just gives you gripping action, mystery and just enough clues to keep you entertained up to the climax of the book. Excellent high seas adventure which will make me seek out other Rex Burns novels


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