The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand

The Castaways
Elin Hilderbrand
ISBN 10: 1600246222
ISBN 13: 9781600246227

Hachette Audio
Read by Katie Hale

Unabridged 11CDs/13hrs

A Summer read that is good anytime of year! A copy of this audio book will take you away from whatever is bothering you and transport you to the beautiful shoreline – where you can live vicariously through an endearing cast of characters that will not soon be forgotten.

Author Cassandra Clare Discusses Her Audiobooks

http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1

Watch a short video of Cassandra Clare talk about the Clockwork Angel audiobook and narrator Jennifer Ehle

By: Cassandra Clare  • Narrated by: Jennifer Ehle

 

http://www.simonandschuster.com/

 

The Ghost Writer by Robert Harris

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING EWAN McGREGOR & PIERCE BROSNAN

The Ghost Writer

by Robert Harris

read by Roger Rees
Audio 5CD’s

ISBN: 0743583043
ISBN: 978-0743583043

Simon & Schuster Audio

Visit author, Robert Harris

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CLICK HERE to Listen to
an audio clip of The Ghost Writer

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Robert Harris’ latest novel, The Ghost Writer sounds like an insider’s account, with all the sordid, juicy stuff we all want to know but will not admit we want to know. Mixing some recent history with fictional characters, in a real world, easily recognizable setting and the result is an entertaining listening experience!

The retired, disgraced British Prime Minister tapped his trusted aide, Mike McAra to help him write his memoir. After the mysterious, untimely death of McAra, a new ghostwriter is hired to iron out the wrinkles, add a little more detail and put the finishing touches on. The ghost joins Lang and his entourage, which consisted of a small security detail, several secretaries, his assistant and many speculated mistress, and his wife, Ruth, on Martha’s Vineyard, where they have rented a mansion. Adam Lang has created this cocoon, surrounding himself with those who are necessary or wanted, eliminating everyone else, including the citizens who turned on him.

Adam Lang’s smooth, charismatic demeanor catapulted him to the top of the political ticket, where he enjoyed high approval ratings. Then the world changed, as the war on terrorism branched off in an unpopular direction, taking with it Lang’s political popularity and casting a long, dark cloud over his legacy. Already being tried in the court of public opinion, the people unabashedly blame Lang for their suffering, as the UK has been the repeated target of terror attacks. And then it goes from bad to worse…Lang may be asked to stand before the International Criminal Court and answer to the charge of war crimes.

Robert Harris is as light with his pen as Fred Astaire was on his feet! Giving us a view of the inner sanctum is like pulling the curtain aside, revealing to the world there is no wizard…when all is said and done we are all human. And that’s what is at the heart of this story…people…living, breathing and flawed.

Narrator Roger Rees brings the characters to life, painting each with stunning audio detail, making them memorable and believable. The audio will keep you riveted,  twisting your thoughts and emotions in a new direction with every chapter. You will laugh out loud,  nod your head in agreement and shake your head in dismay, often all three within moments of each other. Even if you have read the book, the audio offers you a whole new experience!

Happy Reading,

RJ

Accustomed to aging rock-stars, the ghost is out of his element in the political arena, however, he will soon discover the two have more in common than he ever imagined! Ugliness and secrets abide here too…the difference…politicians “bury their stories.”

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Author, Robert Harris allows us a bit of insight into his thoughts on the difference between good and bad books -

And what they have in common, these bad books, be they novels or memoirs, is this: they don’t ring true. I’m not saying that a good book is true necessarily, just that it feels true for the time you’re reading it.

- and he couldn’t be more right! The Ghost Writer definitely rings true, the characters are believable, displaying the kind of behavior we have come to expect from politicians. Of course, the actions aren’t always good and more often than not it is the mistakes, mess ups and out right corruption that catapult their memoirs to the top of the charts.

Additional covers:

Also by author Robert Harris, Conspirata -

National Bestseller

Publishers Weekly Bestseller

Description

On the eve of Marcus Cicero’s inauguration as consul of Rome, the grisly death of a boy sends ripples of fear through a city already wracked by civil unrest, crime, and debauchery of every kind. For Cicero, the ill forebodings of this hideous murder only increase his frustrations and the dangers he already faces as Rome’s leader: elected by the people but despised by the heads of the two rival camps, the patricians and populists.

Caught in a political shell game that leaves him forever putting out fires only to have them ignite elsewhere, Cicero plays both for the future of the republic and his very life. There is a plot to assassinate Cicero, abetted by a rising young star of the Roman senate named Gaius Julius Caesar — and it will take all the embattled consul’s wit, strength, and force of will to stop it and keep Rome from becoming a dictatorship.

Robert Harris once again weaves a compelling and historically accurate tale of intrigue told in the wise and compassionate voice of Cicero’s slave and private secretary, Tiro. In the manner of I, Claudius, Harris vividly evokes ancient Rome and its politics for today’s listeners, documenting a world not unlike our own — where the impulse toward dominance competes with the risk of overreach, where high-minded ideals can be a liability, and where someone is always waiting in the wings for a chance to set the world on fire.

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Also from Simon & Schuster -

Available June 1, 2010

The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris

 

  The Unnamed
Joshua Ferris
ISBN: 1600248772
ISBN: 9781600248771
Unabridged Audio, 8CDs

Read by Author, Joshua Ferris

Hardcover available,
Little, Brown & Company

Hachette Book Group

www.joshuaferris.com

 

 

The Unnamed takes us inside the world of Tim and Jane Farnsworth. Tim’s successful law practice allows them to enjoy exotic vacations, beautiful homes, and all the material things exclusive to those with money.  Married twenty years, parents of a rebellious teen daughter, Becka, the Farnsworth’s seem to have it all…But, they share a secret, Tim suffers from an affliction that has no name, no list of symptoms to refer too and no cure. This “illness” causes Tim to walk, uncontrollably for hours and hours, or even days on end, until he literally collapses from exhaustion. After sleep has refreshed Tim’s body and mind he calls his wife to pick him up. The long hours Jane is forced to wait for the phone call are excruciatingly painful and are taking a physical and emotional toll on her. When we join the story Tim is once again under the influence of this mysterious ailment that has visited them on two separate occasions in the past.

When this undefined, unnamed illness presents itself, their lives are uprooted and thrown, as if a leaf, into the eye of a hurricane – never knowing where it will take them, how long it will last or if they will survive it! As the story progresses Tim is overtaken again and again; forced to roam aimlessly by the nameless disorder. Becka and Jane aren’t entirely certain they are dealing with an authentic physical ailment. And I must admit that I teetered back and forth, one minute believing it was a figment of Tim’s imagination and the next, being convinced it was an extremely rare condition. Author, Joshua Ferris uses symbols throughout the story, to bring the pain and emotional turmoil this family is suffering front and center.

The Unnamed is Ferris’ second novel and although he has avoided the sophomore slump it doesn’t quite reach the level of its predecessor. That said, the two novels are completely different and thus cannot be fairly compared. The Unnamed is part mystery, part domestic drama with neither being fully explored. Ferris does an excellent job narrating the audio version, (available from Hachette Book Group.)This is not the typical story where all questions are answered and everyone lives happily ever after. It is an unusual story that explores what it is to be human, how we love and to what extent we will go for those we care about.

Definitely worth a listen!

Happy reading,

RJ
Facebook | Twitter | FriendFeed |

 

 

 

Joshua Ferris’s first novel,
Then We Came to the End, won the
Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award, the
Barnes and Noble Discover Award,
and was a National Book Award finalist.

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JANUARY 2010 – BEST BOOKS of the MONTH

 

1.

Just Kids
by Patti Smith
Avg. Customer Review:

Hardcover

Amazon.com Review
Amazon Best Books of the Month, January 2010: Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe weren’t always famous, but they always thought they would be. They found each other, adrift but determined, on the streets of New York City in the late ’60s and made a pact to keep each other …

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2.

Bloodroot
by Amy Greene
Avg. Customer Review:

Hardcover

Amazon Best Books of the Month, January 2010: Bloodroot is that rare sort of family saga that feels intimate instead of epic. Set in Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains, it’s told largely in tandem voices that keep watchful eyes on Myra Lamb. She is a child of the mountain, tied to …

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3.

You Are Not a Gadget: A Manifesto
by Jaron Lanier

Avg. Customer Review

Hardcover

Amazon Best Books of the Month, January 2010: For the most part, Web 2.0–Internet technologies that encourage interactivity, customization, and participation–is hailed as an emerging Golden Age of information sharing and collaborative achievement, the strength of democratized wisdom. Jaron Lanier isn’t buying it. In You Are Not a … Read more

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4.

The Unnamed
by Joshua Ferris

Avg. Customer Review:

Hardcover

Amazon Best Books of the Month, January 2010: It’s back. With those words Tim and Jane Farnsworth reenter a nightmare they know so intimately it needs no other description. "It" may not be found among an insurance company’s diagnostic codes, but the Farnsworths, a couple made wealthy by Tim’s …

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5.

The Many Deaths of the Firefly Brothers: A Novel
by Thomas Mullen

Avg. Customer Review:

Hardcover

Amazon Best Books of the Month, January 2010: Set against the bleak backdrop of Depression-era America, The Many Deaths of the Firefly Brothers is the story of Jason and Whit Fireson, a fictional pair of bank-robbing siblings, and their flirtation with immortality. Famous for daring heists and impossible …

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6.

The Lock Artist: A Novel
by Steve Hamilton
Avg. Customer Review:

Hardcover

Amazon Best Books of the Month, January 2010: Mike Smith is a "boxman." He can open any safe, padlock, or locked door without a combination or a key–a talent that lands him in prison at the age of eighteen. He spends his time writing down the story of his …

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7.

Mr. Shivers
by Robert Jackson Bennett
Avg. Customer Review:

Hardcover

Amazon Best Books of the Month, January 2010: With his debut novel, Mr. Shivers, Southern writer Robert Jackson Bennett presents a pulpy, Great Depression horror story where a mysterious killer "trails death behind him." After his daughter is brutally murdered, a revenge-seeking Marcus Connelly leaves Memphis on a hunt …

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8.

Bunny Days
by Tao Nyeu
Avg. Customer Review:

Hardcover

PreSchool-Grade 1—The bear from Nyeu’s Wonder Bear (Dial, 2008) returns in three simple stories. In each tale, six white bunnies are lounging around when Mr. or Mrs. Goat comes by and disrupts them. Bear comes to the rescue and repairs the damage. Each story ends with, "Everyone is happy." …

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9.

Eighth-Grade Superzero
by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
Avg. Customer Review:

Hardcover

Amazon Best Books of the Month, January 2010 They don’t call it middle school for nothing. Reggie McKnight (aka "Pukey") is trying hard to stay under the radar after a really embarrassing start to the school year. But, he’s somehow been drawn into the middle of a …

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Cemetery Dance by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

Cemetery Dance
Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

ISBN 10: 1600242650
ISBN 13: 9781600242656
Grand Central Publishing

Unabridged Audio, 12CDs, 13.5hr
Read by Rene Auberjonois’

www.prestonchild.com

Hachette Audio 

Cemetery Dance 

Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child have long been known for their ability to stand out amid a very crowded genre – and they certainly carved a niche’ with Cemetery Dance. Agent Pendergast has worked his share of interesting cases and had more than his fair share of close calls, but this time he has to risk much more than his physical safety…in Cemetery Dance, Pendergast dances with the devil, stepping in between the shadows on a journey that will take him places even he never imagined. 
 
The narrative opens on the remnants of a wedding anniversary celebration interrupted by a knife wielding assailant, that leaves New York Times reporter William Smithback Jr dead and his wife, Nora Kelly (Museum of Natural History anthropologist) clinging to life. There seems to be no question as to the identity of the assailant – several neighbors within the Upper West side apartment complex readily identified the attacker as one of their own, a neighbor, Collin Fearing. But that is impossible…Collin Fearing had been dead and buried for nearly two weeks.  Thus setting the stage for an intriguing tale that will take our team of detectives into the lair of a modern day cult in the heart of Manhattan.

Vodou rituals, mysticism, sorcery, within this realm the Obeah is the most dreaded and the most feared of all practitioners. The Obeah or Obeahman is believed to have virtually limitless powers, including the ability to resurrect the dead, which seems to be what someone wants the residents of New York to believe. Digging into this case, Pendergast will find some unusual characters hiding sinister motivations beneath the cloaks of the cult.

With several well known and beloved characters reprising their roles in Cemetery Dance fans are in for a real treat – however, as with their other novels, this one stands alone. So, there’s no reason to hold back – if you have never read a Preston/Child novel before, you can pick this one up and dive right in. Their writing is so spot on, detailed and character driven there’s nothing missing accept you! And with Rene Auberjonois’ providing the narration even those who have read the print version will be intrigued by his incredible presentation. His portrayal of Agent Pendergast breathes life into the fictional character, pulling him off the pages of the book and presenting him in living color. I was amazed by the depth and range Auberjonois employed throughout, going so far as to incorporate gutteral, zombie noises into the narrative. Which I must admit gave me a shudder and added a bit of “oh my” to the vibe. The audio version of Cemetery Dance (from Hachette Book Group) is exceptional and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys an exciting novel that doesn’t fit into any of the pre-determined, cookie-cutter classifications. Preston and Child do an extraordinary job delivering highly unusual material in an intelligent manner that enlightens the reader and engages your senses on a variety of levels. The information revealed in the novel was so provocative, it peeked my curiosity, prompting me to dig deeper into the topics. This is entertainment at its finest, from two of today’s most popular authors. Knowing this and accepting the story for what it was intended allows you to sit back, relax and thoroughly enjoy this unique work.

 

Happy Reading!

 

 

Alex Cross’s TRIAL by James Patterson & Richard Dilallo

   

Alex Cross’s Trial
James Patterson & Richard Dillalo
ISBN: 1600248535
ISBN: 978-1600248535

8CD’s, Unabridged
Read by Dylan Baker featuring Shawn Andrew
Hachette Audio

Available in Hardcover (Little, Brown & Co)

www.jamespatterson.com

“The Cross family had more than one hero…”

Alex Cross’s TRIAL, bridges the gap between generations of Cross men – taking us back in time to a turbulent and frightening era in American History, when folks were separated by color and justice was in deed blind…

This novel is a departure from the strong crime drama Cross series – written by the fictional character “Alex Cross” (as was “Big Bad Wolfe”). Thanks to Nana-Mama’s memory and Ben Corbett’s personal journals, Alex was able to put this haunting story on paper and share it with the world. He writes in the introduction – “…it is a story that helps illuminate why so many black people are angry, hurt, and lost in this country, even today. I also think it is important to keep this story alive for my family, and hopefully for yours.” And he couldn’t be more right – it is important…no matter how painful our past, we must learn from it – because those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.

Attorney Ben Corbett had made quite a name for himself, as a white man, the son of a prominent Mississippi judge, he represented defendants of color during a time in the nation’s history when to do so put your career, family and even your very life in jeopardy. The story opens with Corbett defending a black servant accused of murdering her wealthy white boss. Of course, it comes as no surprise when the all male, all white jury returned a guilty verdict. This sets the stage for an amazing narrative – that follows Corbett
back home, to Eudora, Mississippi on a special, top secret assignment, requested by the President of the United States. Corbett had served under Roosevelt in the military and the President trusted him to conduct an “off the record” investigation and report directly back to him. Rumors of lynchings, terrorist like activities, civil rights violations, etc., if the stories were true, the Klu Klux Klan was alive and well in the south. President Roosevelt gave Corbett the name of the man he wanted him to talk too…Corbett’s contact…Abraham Cross.

Ben Corbett is impressed by Abraham Cross from the moment they meet, he knows Cross is a very special and wise man. At first Ben has a hard time believing the horror he witnessed as a young man is still occurring, however, after one afternoon with Abraham ‘touring’  lynching sites he realizes the Klan is thriving and everyone knows it. As the story continues tragedy strikes the Cross family and the Klan comes calling to collect their “just dues” from Ben Corbett. Will he become a chapter in this secret story he was sent here to uncover? If the Klan has their way…the answer is a resounding and absolute YES!

An incredible, moving story, that hurtles towards the ending with such ferocity you feel as though you are standing on the edge of a mountain and could teeter off at any second.

James Patterson and Richard Dillalo have delivered a story that is as disturbing as it is exciting – the no-holds-barred narrative is so “in your face” it stings and the lynching scenes are drawn with such meticulous detail you can almost smell the lingering odor of death as you read these haunting depictions. The pain, heartbreak and fear is palpable throughout as the eyes of a nation fall upon Eudora, Mississippi. The text is so point on you cannot help but feel flushed with emotion. Alex Cross’s TRIAL is emotionally charged, action packed and tells the story of how a family’s struggle against injustice gave one man the strength to stand against his own for what he knew to be right…not for posterity, fame or fortune –  simply because it was right!

There’s nothing conventional about Alex Cross…narrators Dylan Baker and Shawn Andrew tell this story with heart, courage and absolute dedication to the characters, breathing life into it and with each succeeding chapter they draw the scenes and put you in the center of each…You will be angered by this story, you will probably tear up (or cry, I sure did!), you will feel the pain of those who are hurting and the joy and pride of those who find the courage to stand tall. In a nutshell, you won’t regret the hours you spend with this book.

Happy Reading,  

RJ McGill
  

Beat The Reaper by Josh Bazell

 Beat the Reaper
Josh Bazell

ISBN: 9781600244322
ISBN: 1600244327
Little, Brown & Company

Hachette Book Group
Unabridged, 6CD, 7hrs
Read by Robert Petkoff

www.joshbazell.com

Hachette Audio

Set in Manhattan’s worst hospital, Josh Bazell paints a dismal, picture for the main character, intern, Dr. Peter Brown. Working long hours, surrounded by an uncaring, overworked staff, that are unaffected and uninvolved, he finds himself waging a one man war to help his patients beat the reaper. But for Peter Brown, the war is much more personal, he too is trying to outrun or outwit death…and Brown knows all too well, that the reaper has many faces.

Through flashbacks and memory spurts, we learn Peter Brown a.k.a. Pietro Brnwa is hiding more than a few skeletons in his hospital locker. Rescued from his neglectful parents by doting, devoted grandparents only to see them brutally murdered at the tender age of fifteen. He became determined to a state of near obsession to find those responsible for his grandparents death. He joins the Locano Family, who quickly put his hatred and anger to work as an assassin, known as Bearclaw. Experiencing a change of heart, Pietro flips sides, entering the Witness Protection Program, from which he is now on the lam. Adding fuel to this multi-level fire, Brown is recognized by one of his new patients- the chart lists him as Mr. LoBrutto, but this long time mafia associate was at one time known as, Eddy Squillante and he harbors a deep grudge against the good Doctor Brown and knows numerous other mobsters who would kill him on sight.

This edgy story is littered with street humor, that borders on crude at times and yet it is perfectly suited for the depressing, death trap hospital scenario Bazell has designed as Brown’s stomping-group through-out “Beat the Reaper.” The mature language and detailed violence are not suited for younger audiences or those who are offended easily by brash, over-the-top cursing and blood, guts and gore. It says something about the author’s ability to write the material and the narrator’s ability to convey it that this one needs a “Mature Content” warning label. However, as most adults will agree some things are for children and others are not –and that’s okay – ….”Beat the Reaper” is a grown up tale that will having you snickering one second and out right laughing the next. So, if you are looking for a good story to take you away from the ordinary for a few hours, Beat the Reaper is an excellent choice.

Happy Reading,

RJ McGill

I am looking forward to Josh Bazell’s future works!

 

  Paperback available September 14, 2009

 

LISTEN TO A SAMPLE CLIP
from Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell

The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly (audio)

The Brass Verdict
Michael Connelly
ISBN: 1600244017
ISBN: 9781600244018
www.michaelconnelly.com

Unabridged, 10CDs, 11.5hrs
Hachette Audio
Read by Peter Giles

Hardcover, 432 Pages
Little, Brown & Company
 

New York Times Bestselling author Michael Connelly takes a leap of literary faith uniting two well known characters in one novel and lands softly amid adoring fans and rave reviews. Actor Peter Giles narrates, bringing the characters to life with special wording, accents and voice inflections, individualizing each, making the characters recognizable and believable.  

In 2005’s The Lincoln Lawyer, we were left with Haller’s promise that he would return – and return he has…albeit divorced, estranged from his daughter and recovering from both the gun shot wound and an addiction to pain killers. With his ex-wife (Lorna) as secretary/manager and her fiancée (Cisco), as his lead investigator, Mickey plans to slowly recoup his clientele and rebuild his rolling practice. Operating a lucrative law office from the backseat of a Lincoln town car was but one of his signature tricks and he was determined to reassert himself as the quintessential Lincoln Lawyer.

But his plans for a slow comeback are fast tracked when fellow attorney Jerry Vincent is found murdered in the parking garage adjacent to his office. Summoned to a closed door meeting with Chief Judge Holder, Haller is unceremoniously informed he has inherited Vincent’s practice and is responsible for his case load. A laundry list of cases was the last thing Haller wanted, so he quickly disposed of most of them. However, there was one case he hoped to maintain – that of millionaire, studio executive Walter Elliot, accused of murdering his wife and her lover. 

It would appear Vincent’s untimely demise handed Haller the goose that laid the golden egg, wrapped in box with a beautiful bow…but, then again, nothing is ever as it appears, is it?

Attorney Mickey Haller, from The Lincoln Lawyer’s and Detective Harry Bosch (33 year veteran of the police dept), from the celebrated Bosch series, share the spotlight in this murder-mystery-legal drama, sparring and teasing each other throughout with bits of carefully worded information meant to illicit more than it reveals. Forever questioning the intentions of the other, on the surface they seem to represent polar opposite points of view, but they have a great deal more in common than either is willing to acknowledge.
This novel barely scratches the proverbial literary surface of this brotherly relationship and I am anxious to see Connelly explore this further in the future.

Exciting, interesting and filled with twists that satisfy fully – “The Brass Verdict” is a solid good read!

Happy Reading!

RJ McGill
 

CLICK @HERE@ to read an excerpt from The Brass Verdict (via Open Book)

Brass Verdict = cop slang for an execution

 

Paperback
available August 29, ‘09

 
 

The Gate House by Nelson DeMille (audio)

The Gate House
Nelson DeMille

ISBN 10: 1600244106
ISBN 13: 978-1600244100

Also available in Hardcover

Hachette Audio

Nelson DeMille Online

The long awaited sequel to DeMille’s 1990 hit, “The Gold Coast” reunites readers with the Sutter’s, Stanhope’s, Bellarosa’s and all the foo-foo, high class pretentious folks that call the North Shore of Long Island home. Although almost twenty calendar years have elapsed, within the novel, it is half-as long, and begins months after the tragedies of 9-11.

John Sutter, returns to the Gold Coast to handle the final arrangements for an ailing, elderly woman, who had been a dedicated family servant. After sailing around the world and residing in England, it feels almost like a bad case of dejavu, because it seems he is right back where he started. His beautiful ex-wife has also returned and they are now neighbors. It doesn’t take long for the two to find their way to each other and like everything else in this novel, the outcome is predictable. What ensues is a long winded, over blown and excruciatingly slow journey to an all too perfect ending, for characters that are nearly impossible to form any kind of emotional attachment with. The Gate House was disappointing on several levels, mostly because there was simply no element of suspense…even the occasional reader could discern the outcome long before the revelation. Although the narration did add a bit of humor and made the journey a bit easier we’ve come to expect a tighter, more concise story from a best selling author of such caliber.

Here’s to hoping this is the last of the Sutter’s and that DeMille sharpens his pen and returns to the strong, character driven, suspenseful ways of old.

Happy Reading,
RJ McGill

BoneMan’s Daughters by Ted Dekker

BoneMan’s Daughters
Ted Dekker

ISBN: 9781600246043
ISBN: 1600246044
Unabridged, 9CD, 10.5hr
Center Street Publishing
www.teddekker.com

Hachette Audio
read by Robert Petkoff

*Special conversation with author @CD9”
Ted Dekker, author of 20+ best selling novels, beloved by a dedicated following..so how is it possible that many booklovers aren’t familiar with this incredible body of work? Because Dekker’s books have been classified spiritual or Christian – and that tag caused readers to leave the book on the shelf, thus missing out on some of the most prolific, character driven writing penned in recent years. BoneMan’s Daughters showcases Ted Dekker at his dark thriller best!

Good vs evil? Right vs wrong? That fine line that divides the two sides, the one that is usually so easily defined, can, in the right, or should I say, wrong set of circumstances, blur – when confronted by the unimaginable, the impossible becomes not only plausible, but almost understandable, maybe even excusable, right?

BoneMan’s Daughters opens somewhere in the Iraqi dessert, with Military Investigator Captain Ryan Evans’ convoy being attacked. Evans is taken hostage and held in a bunker by a man named Khalid. The newspapers would refer to the kidnappers as insurgents or radicals, neither is accurate. The truth, is far more frightening, Khalid, like Ryan was a father, and his child was killed by a Coalition bombing. The anger and resentment that grew within this man was palpable and he would force Ryan to experience “collateral damage,” first hand! Khalid presented Ryan with a choice, murder an Iraqi child or sacrifice his family in the child’s’ place.

The events in the desert changed Ryan Evans – he realized he had neglected his family, that it would take a long time to heal the wounds his absences had inflicted upon those he loved, but he returned to Austin determined to make things right with his wife, Celine and their adopted daughter, Bethany and move on with their lives. However, fate had yet another twist in store for Ryan Evans, it seems Celine had already moved on…and into the arms of the District Attorney. As for Bethany, well, at 16, with images of NY City and a new modeling gig dancing in her head, she wasn’t interested in Ryan’s new found Fatherly love. With horrific images from Iraq haunting him day and night, divorce looming and losing his daughter, Ryan is on the verge and retreats into himself. And then, the story heats up, shifting into overdrive and barreling straight into Ryan Evans heart.

And the hits just keep on coming…

News Flash – notorious serial killer, BoneMan released from prison on a technicality… BoneMan, that single word conjured up disturbing, hellish memories for locals. The name refers to his method of murder, meticulously breaking the bones of his teenage female victims, without perforating the skin. After a two year hiatus, a teenage girl is abducted…BoneMan’s quest to find the perfect daughter continues. It would seem all eyes would be on the recently released prisoner – but not so…some very well informed investigators see the two year lull coincides quite nicely with Ryan Evans deployment. But Evans doesn’t have time to be upset or offended by such outrageous accusations…BoneMan has his daughter, Bethany and if Ryan can’t find her in time, she will suffer the same fate as the six young girls before her, becoming forever one of BoneMan’s Daughters.

A spine-tingling tale of family, betrayal, suffering, and survival. The narrator’s use of strong inflections, varied accents and emotional tones and speeds breathes life into these fictional characters, making each feel not only real, but personally familiar. Dekker’s use of current events and headline worthy subplots adds yet another level of chilling realism to BoneMan’s Daughters. A well written, well delivered novel that demonstrates Dekker’s ability as a first rate writer and assures us (readers) we have a lot to look forward too.

Happy Reading!

RJ McGill

Also available in Hardcover & Large Print Hardcover

“To sin by silence when we should protest makes cowards out of men.”
- Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Visions IN Death by JD Robb (audio)

Visions In Death
Nora Roberts writing as J.D. Robb
ISBN-10: 1-59355539-3
ISBN 13: 978-1593555399
Audio Cassette – Read by Susan Ericksen
Brilliance Audio
Putnam Publishing Group
www.noraroberts.com

Nora Roberts, (writing as J.D.Robb) has crafted a hard hitting, female detective series that consistently one ups itself and always finds a place at the top of the best seller charts and Visions In Death is no exception.The year is 2059 and New York City Detective, Eve Dallas is called to Central Park to investigate the murder of Elisa Maplewood. Arriving in an expensive gown and heels, Dallas seems as out of place as the horrific scene she and partner, Detective Peabody pour over. Carefully and methodically they collect anything that could possibly lead to the apprehension of a suspect. The killer had gone to great lengths and taken unnecessary risks in order to stage the scene…the victim was displayed on the rocks near the lake, her hands posed as if in prayer, with a single red ribbon around her neck. Upon closer examination, Dallas discovers the most alarming, as well as, the most telling clue, the eyes had been removed with surgical precision.

When Celina Sanchez, a licensed, registered psychic offers to help with the investigation by sharing her disturbing and surprisingly accurate visions, Dallas is less than receptive to the idea. However, after an extensive background check and some cajoling, Dallas and Peabody pay Celina a visit at her home. During their conversation, Dallas presents the psychic with the ribbon from the crime scene, to which Celina has no reaction whatsoever. When the psychic continues to question why she was unable to connect, Dallas admits it was a fake, which upsets and impresses Celina tremendously. When the actual ribbon was retrieved from an evidence bag and given to Celina, she had an immediate and severe reaction, which surprised and alarmed the two seasoned detectives. Despite following up on all leads, exhaustive searches and Celina’s visions, more bodies were discovered with the killer’s grotesque signature.

Agreeing to an interview with the press was an unusual step for Dallas, however, she had a plan and reporter Nadine Furst had the means to put it into action. If this killer was motivated by a hatred of women, if he harbored feelings of male superiority, what better way to call him out of the shadows than to have women discussing his shortcomings on television. While Dallas was right about his reaction, she miscalculated the target of his rage. She had anticipated, as the lead investigator the killer would come after her, instead her partner, Detective Peabody was viciously and mercilessly attacked.

As visions of death become shocking crime scenes, Dallas must venture inside a killer’s twisted mind to find what motivates him to do his dastardly deed. During the hunt for this psychopath, she is forced to deal with abuse issues from her childhood that she has spent a life-time trying to bury. The author takes the reader through an action-packed murder mystery, while at the same time personalizing the story through the growing bond between Dallas and husband Roarke, as well as, the relationship between Peabody and Dallas. The reader is given a glimpse into Eve’s past and the issues that haunt her, motivate her and have shaped her strong, in your face personality. The characteristics that make her such a good cop are the very same traits that force her to keep everyone at arm length distance.

The twists and turns will keep you glued to your seat, trying to figure out who is behind this latest series of murders in the city that never sleeps. An excellent audio experience that I recommend to anyone that enjoys thrillers and mysteries.

Happy Reading!
  – RJ

The Penny

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The Penny
Joyce Meyer & Deborah Bedford
Audio CD (abridged version – 5CD)
ISBN-10: 1594839352
ISBN-13: 978-1594839351
Hachette Book Group USA
www.hachettebookgroupusa.com
www.deborahbedfordbooks.com

Also available in Hardcover

How many times have you walked past a penny on the ground without so much as a second thought? Jenny Blake did just that, and then for some unexplainable reason, turned, ran back and retrieved the penny from the hot asphalt. At the tender age of 14 Jenny had no way of knowing the significance of her actions on that blistering summer day in 1955. The Blake family lived in St. Louis, which during the 50’s and early 60’s was a hotbed of racial tension. So when Jenny, a white girl, befriends Aurelia, a black girl recently integrated into the same school, she must keep the friendship a secret. Although Aurelia’s family welcomes Jenny into both their home and church, the same acceptance could not be found within the Blake household. Jenny’s father in an abusive, horrible man, that mistreats his daughters in every conceivable way. Working for Miss Shaw, the local jeweler, Jenny begins to see Christianity at work, in small ways that others barely notice. Yet, no matter how hard she prays, her fathers abuse continues and she struggles to understand why God seems to be ignoring her pain. With Miss Shaw’s guidance, and Aurelia’s unwavering friendship she continues building her faith, one step at a time. Little by little God’s truth is revealed to her…..”God doesn’t always make something go away because we pray, He often gives us the strength to stand up to it.” And that knowledge changes her life and that of those around her.

The authors indelible ability to recognize the miraculous wonders of God, even the smallest of details, is but one of the many things that makes “The Penny” a beautifully moving reading experience. Despite your religious convictions, this is a wonderful story where the authors reveal their inspirations subtly and slowly, never preachy, over-bearing or offensive, “The Penny” is much like the soft-spoken, loving direction one receives from a beloved parent. There’s something for everyone in this heart-felt, inspirational story. The narration is exceptionally well delivered, adding depth and conviction to the reading experience. I highly recommend this novel to any reader that simply enjoys a strong, powerful story. (Just make sure you don’t start listening (or reading) until you have several hours of free time… you will not want to put it down.)

Happy Reading!
  -RJ

Click here to view the Reading Group Guide for “The Penny”

Re: Hooked by Matt Richtel

Hooked
by Matt Richtel
read by Jason Singer
Fiction/Thriller(abridged audio)

ISBN-10: 1-59483-968-9
ISBN-13: 978-1-59483-968-9
Hachette Audio
www.HachetteAudio.com
www.mattrichtel.com
Nat Idle, a freelance journalist who decided after graduating from medical school that he was better suited for a career writing about versus practicing medicine, left the required residency program and never looked back. The novel opens as Nat sits in a San Francisco Cafe, reading a book when a woman places a folded note on the edge of his table, then, without pause quickly exits the cafe. He picks up the note and attempts to follow the mysterious woman outside, only to catch a brief glimpse of her speeding away in a red Saab. He then reads the note….”Get out of the cafe–Now”! It was much more than the words that grabbed Nat, it was the script – it was Annie’s handwriting. Annie, his deceased girlfriend, for whom his heart still ached. How? His swirling thoughts are interrupted, as at that very moment the cafe explodes, knocking him off his feet.

This single terrifying moment changes Nat’s life once again, and launches the story into overdrive. Richtel takes the reader on a fast paced journey, full of relentless action and drama. With the added dimension of Jason Singer narrating, readers can easily visualize the sharply etched, strong characters Richtel created, especially the ruthless, clever and devilishly ingenious Kendle family. The exact circumstances surrounding the loss of Annie aren’t explained until later, which adds to the tension and myriad of questions that urge the reader on. Nat appears to be a hopeless romantic unable to bury the past and move forward. But this too will be understood as yet another ingredient of this carefully woven high tech web of deceit is revealed.

Hooked is the perfect title for this debut novel from Matt Richtel. Undoubtedly after this reading experience, there will be lots of readers hooked on Richtel’s strong delivery. Hooked will leave even the most astute suspense thriller fan in awe of Richtel’s ability to weave the unimaginable into the very fabric of reality. You will never again surf the web or check email without wondering, if only for a brief second…”what if?” …then, the uncomfortable laugh as you shake it off as…paranoid lunacy!
But is it? Or… are we already, hooked?

Also available in paperback

paperback, Pg 292

Re: Simple Genius by David Baldacci *audio

Simple Genius
David Baldacci
Read by: Ron McLarty
Fiction/Suspense

ISBN: 1594839018

www.hachettebookgroupusa.com/

www.davidbaldacci.com

(5-CD abridged set–also available in hardcover- ISBN: 0446580341)

David Baldacci– a name synonymous with mystery, intrigue and suspense. His distinct flair for weaving a bit of truth into his fictional creations has allowed him to present believable stories that are highly entertaining. Add the talented actor/author Ron McLarty narrating, and Simple Genius could easily have been a heart-stopping, over the fence hit… but it falls a bit shy of the homerun marker.

After her latest outburst of self-destructive behavior and threatened with jail time, investigator Michelle agrees to enter a private clinic. While in treatment, her partner, Sean contacts his ex-lover for an assignment. With funds drying up, he did not have the luxury of holding grudges. After an outburst of self-destructive behavior, Michelle lands in jail, where Sean sternly advises her the only way to avoid serious time is to enter a private clinic, an offer she begrudgingly accepts. While she cools her heels in the hospital, Sean is forced, due to a lack of funds, to take an assignment from his ex.

Suicide or Murder? Officially Monk Turing’s death was ruled a suicide, but Sean was interested in the unofficial version. Monk’s body was found just inside the perimeter of the CIA’s top secret training facility, Camp Peary–known as the “secret place” by the locals.
Monk’s autistic daughter, Viggie, was frightened and had great difficulty expressing her feelings. When anyone got too close she would withdraw into her own world. At times Viggie would play a specific selection on the piano, shout “codes and blood,” then disappear up to her room. When Michelle arrives, Viggie takes to her instantly. Numbers and codes, secrets and stories–Monk had programmed his daughter–and now the only way they could protect her was if she trusted them enough to tell them what she knew. And that was a very big if. And Michelle’s mental stability is still quite questionable.

In a nutshell:
Lives depend on the codes hidden within the mind of a grieving child, that refuses to talk to anyone except Michelle and she’s fresh out of the psych unit. The character interaction is robotic and when you combine that with onion thin plot layers, the result is a flat, foul smelling reading experience that is undoubtedly saved by the unparalleled narration of Ron McLarty. Although everything gets tied up at the end, it feels as if the author was restricted or limited in some way all the way through. There are so many stories within this story and each could have been a really good book, individually, but thrown together it reminds me of a child’s finger painting…we want so badly to get it, to really like it — but honestly it is simply a mess. Pick this one up at the library or borrow it from a friend, the audio is worth listening to if for no other reason than the excellent narration and the extra information about Bletchley Park and the infamous Beale Cipher.

Happy Reading!
RJ

Extras:
While Babbage Town is a fictitious setting, it was inspired by Bletchley Park, just outside London. Within this facility, many German codes were broken by the Allies, during WW II. Also, there’s a wealth of information regarding the Beale Cipher on the bonus CD.Including the three page cipher, the parts that have been decoded, maps and much more.

RELATED SITES – of interest:

http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/


http://unmuseum.org/beal.htm


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beale_Ciphers