The Passenger by Lisa Lutz

The Passenger by Lisa Lutz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Identity theft is all very relevant today with the Internet and electronic surveillance and Tanya Dubois is about to find out how difficult it is to do. Her husband dies falling down stairs but rather than stick around and just explain what happens she goes on the run, but why. The book was okay but it struggled to keep my interest about half way through, as there did not seem to be any new development that gave any clues to her reason to run. The main events throughout the book is her change of identity. Some of her background is delivered by the reading of backdated emails which I personally disliked, preferring discovery through events on her journey. Although having problems with retaining interest, the writing style is easy to read and does not indulge in flowery time wasters. This was not so much a thriller but more of a hard luck story and therefore the title is very apt as the Tanya does little to change her own luck and just goes with the flow.

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The Last Girl by Joe Hart

The Last Girl by Joe Hart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not exactly, Zoey is not the last girl but could be. Very slow off the mark, not happening for the first part of the book except describing the daily routine that is Zoey's life. It is only when she begins to question things does it start to come alive. The world is sent into disarray by a mystery virus/bacteria that affects women's ability to produce female babies. Zoey is a "guest" of a government establishment trying to find a solution to this problem and slowly she wonders if she is being mislead about the world outside. The author had a good storyline and failed to get it started quickly enough otherwise I would have rated it higher than three stars. Just be patient it does get going.

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Rough Justice by Brad Smith

Rough Justice by Brad Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

All of those who watch daily news will be familiar the Jimmy Saville scandal where a celebrity uses his position to get away multiple sexual crimes. This book mirrors this but based in small town America. The Mayor is tried for four rapes and gets off however he did not reckon for the resolve of Kate one of his victims. This is a very serious subject and highlights how easy it is for people in trusted positions to ignore the law for their own devices believing they are untouchable. Woven into the story is the rehabilitation of Kate's father Carl who has been just released from jail and starts work with his ex-wife's sister. This is a great story with very real issues explored.

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Pegasus Down by Philip S Donlay

Pegasus Down by Philip S. Donlay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Action packed fast paced thriller, exactly what I wanted after picking a poor book for my last read. As my first book from the Donovan Nash series proves they are stand alone and don't require any long history lesson to get started. Nash's wife is working for the U.S. Government when her plane is shot down over Eastern Europe. As Nash organises how to rescue her she discovers a sinister plot that could see an extinction event. The race is on to stop this happening and return to their family. The book is very easy reading and keeps your attention throughout. It is very much in the style of James Bond which could easily be made into a big action and effects packed movie. I will get another from the series in reserve for when I make another poor choice.

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Timon and the Spacetime Engineers by Sabine K Atkins

Timon and The Spacetime Engineers by Sabine K. Atkins
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Sorry could not finish this book read about 20% and decided it was not living up to the synopsis. I perhaps wrongly was expecting a storyline something similar to the Stargate TV series but this was totally different. I also felt that writing was a bit disjointed with events just happening but with no prior or proper explanation e.g. " He pulled his underwear out of his brother's mouth" you have to assume a glove with special power removed the underwear and placed it in his mouth as is by magic. This is not my kind of SciFi, brought up on Star Trek I expect a much more plausible storyline. It is also possible this book is targeted at a younger reader and not an adult SciFi fan.

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Final Approach by John J Nance

Final Approach by John J. Nance
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you like a good mystery and the Discovery channel then this is right up your street. People life's are thrown into total disarray by an aviation disaster at Kansas City airport when two aircraft collide on the taxiway. Charged with finding out the cause of the crash Joe Wallingford Inspector in Charge from National Transport Safety Board struggles with the politics surrounding his every move. It is not as if trying to decide whether sabotage, weather, design , interference or human error is hard enough, the politics start to interfere with the investigation. The author has written a very exciting mystery cleverly using the investigation process as his backbone to the book. First published in 1992 I am very glad we are getting another chance to read it, but now with everyday things like Airbus, mobile phones and proper airport security in their infancy.

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Deceits of Borneo by HN Wake

Deceits of Borneo by H.N. Wake
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Set fifteen years earlier than the first Mac Ambrose novel, Mac is under cover with an international bank. A CIA field agent has gone missing so Mac is assigned to find him. Initial investigations show the search for Josh is crossing with her job with the bank as a risk investigator. It appears there is significant evidence that the bank maybe getting drawn into supporting illegal logging activities and Josh could be involved. This is a great story and explores how big business and countries are involved in global climate change for good and bad. I like the way the author ties Mac into these everyday issues raising very important questions that affect us all. This novel is stand alone, in that you don't need to read the first for it to make sense. It is also very easy reading with no unnecessary filler material. I am looking forward to the next Mac Ambrose story.

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