Author: ekkarn

Ally Venable Band – Puppet Show is a Winner!

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Ally Venable - Puppet Show

Ally Venable Band Starts This Week’s Blues Music Rotation

Yesterday, I had a chance to take a good look at the Roots Music Report Blues Charts. After reviewing the charts I listened to a few minutes of many albums to see if they match my taste. I ended up with thirteen albums to listen to over the rest of the week. The album that intrigued me the most yesterday was Puppet Show from the Abby Venable Band. Currently, the album is number 23 on the Contemporary Blues Album Chart.

Evidently I have been doing a lousy job of keeping up with hot new blues artists from Texas.  Because Abby  is one of th hottest.t young blues artists (she’s 19 years old) in the Lone Star State.‘Ms Venable was named East Texas Female Guitarist of the Year in both 2014 and 2015. And her band was named East Texas Music Awards Blues Band of the Year in 2015,2016 and 2017.

About the Ally Venable Band

Ally Venable is both the leader, and lead vocalist and of course lead guitarist. Ally started  singing in church at your  age. In recent years though she picked up the guitar and found her passion.

Ally’s band mates Bobby Wallace and Elijah Owens provide a solid rhythm section. Wallace is the bassist and Owens the drummer. Wallace has tons of experience and is a master at his craft. While Owens is a classically trained musician.

Puppet Show is the band’s  third album. Train Wreck Blues was the band’s debut album and No Glass Shoes was their sophomore release. There are some helping hands on Puppet Show. Guitarist Gary Hoey provides his great guitar work on track one “Devil’s Son”. While Ally’s mentor Lance Lopez adds his guitar to “Bridges to Burn” track two. Steve Krase plays harmonica on the album and Eric Steckel adds some keyboards.

Final Thoughts

Bottom Line : Based on a limited number of listens Puppet Show is a winner and will stay in my rotation for a while, so check it out!

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Here’s Ally Venable Band performing “Gas Monkey” at the Dallas International Guitar Festival in 2017….

Noir By Christopher Moore: A Hilarious Tribute to Classic Crime Fiction

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Noir - Chrostopher Moore

Noir by Christopher Moore

Through the years  I have read and enjoyed many of Christopher  Moore’s books. Typically, I find them extremely funny and Noir is a very funny trip through a quirky underworld, using both humor with a great storyline . A story set against a backdrop the reminds the reader of a classic film noir.

From Moore’s website…

The absurdly outrageous, sarcastically satiric, and always entertaining New York Times bestselling author Christopher Moore returns in finest madcap form with this zany noir set on the mean streets of post-World War II San Francisco, and featuring a diverse cast of characters, including a hapless bartender; his Chinese sidekick; a doll with sharp angles and dangerous curves; a tight-lipped Air Force general; a wisecracking waif; Petey, a black mamba; and many more. Read More

The Bottom Line – Christopher Moore’s Wit Shines Through

The Bottom Line is Noir deserves between around 4.5 stars. What the plot lacks, the setting and characters and Moore’s quick wit more than make up for, leaving me (and you if you read it) laughing and happy! But don’t just take my word for it here’s what some others say about Noir….

Moore is a master of metaphor and a sultan of simile. . . .It takes an author of remarkable talents to keep a profitably urinating snake, a dame named for a dairy product, and a slimy extraterrestrial all running through a narrative.”
– Washington Independent Review of Books

Raymond Chandler meets the SyFy Channel… Fans of noir film and fiction will find a lot to enjoy in this loving genre tribute, and those already familiar with Moore’s books will simply be in love.”
– Library Journal (starred review)

So Check it Out! As for me I will be checking out Moore’s latest book Razzmatazz soon!

Links

Author’s Webpage
Chris’s Blog
Goodreads
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Amazon

About Christopher Moore

Christopher Moore is an American writer. Christopher Moore was born in Toledo, Ohio and grew up in Mansfield, Ohio. An only child, Moore learned to amuse himself with his imagination. He loved reading and his father brought him plenty of books from the library every week. He started writing around the age of twelve and realized that this was his talent by the time he was 16, and he began to consider making it his career.

Visit Christopher Moore Page

The Hush by John Hart (Johnny Merrion #2)

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John Hart is one of my favorite authors. Here’s what others say about the writing of John Hart

“John Hart creates novels that are somehow raw, tender, brutal, and exquisite – all at the same time. Exceptional.” – CJ Box , #1 NYT Bestselling Author

“Hart’s writing soars off the page with a lyricism that probably only James Lee Burke can match.”      – Daily Mail, UK

About the Hush by John Hart

The Hush is the second book writtenby John Hart featuring Johnny Merrimon. The first was The Last Child. So while The Hush is technically a sequel it just doesn’t feel like a series. At least not like the other series books.

The Story

The Hush picks up Johnny  ten years after the actions in The Last Child….from JohnHart’s website…

It’s been ten years since the events that changed Johnny Merrimon’s life and rocked his hometown to the core. Since then, Johnny has fought to maintain his privacy, but books have been written of his exploits; he has fans, groupies. Living alone in the wilderness beyond town, Johnny’s only connection to normal life is his old friend, Jack. They’re not boys anymore, but the bonds remain. What they shared. What they lost.

But Jack sees danger in the wild places Johnny calls home; he senses darkness and hunger, an intractable intent. Johnny will discuss none of it, but there are the things he knows, the things he can do. A lesser friend might accept such abilities as a gift, but Jack has felt what moves in the s, and forgottenwamp: the cold of it, the unspeakable fear.

More than an exploration of friendship, persistence power, The Hush leaves all categories behind, and cements Hart’s status as a writer of unique power.

Final Thoughts

Overall the book is a little different from Hart’s previous books. Hush Arbor is a mysterious place and strange things happen to those who venture into this swampy area. So to get the full impact of the book the reader may need to be one who believes in the supernatural!

However, the end result is that The Hush is another terrific book by an ultra-talented new writer! One of my favorites.

Links

Author’s Website:
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Goodreads: John Hart
Goodreads: Redemption Road
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Breaking Wild – Diane Les Becquets. A Wild Ride!

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I picked Breaking Wild by Diane Les Becquets up on the day that I went to pick up another book that I had requested from the library. I started to read it and I literally could not put it down until I finished it!

The Story

The book tells the story of Amy Raye Latour who on the last day of a hunting trip sets out to get her elk. Unlike her two male friends who were hunting with her, Amy was hunting with a crossbow, When her shot hits the elk but doesn’t bring it down she stalks the wounded animal over the Colorado mountains in a snowstorm – what could go wrong!

She loses her way and is lost, among the search and rescuers is Pru Hathaway  a strong woman who like Amy had come west to escape past tragedies The story alternates between Amy’s fight for survival and Pru’s  fight to find out what really happened to Amy!  

What Other Authors Thought

The following two quotes provide great comments on this stirring novel……

“The sheer force of this book lies in the force of its two main characters. These are
complicated women [who are] defined…not by their histories, their loves, their mistakes, or their suffering, but by their actions. It makes for a powerful, visceral book about the incredible human capacity to transcend the limitations imposed by our own pasts and our own fears.”
— Tana French, New York Times Bestselling author of In The Woods

“Diane Les Becquets brings to life the story of two very different and captivating women, whose worlds collide through a series of unexpected and compelling circumstances. When one goes missing in the wilderness and the other sets out to find her, the pages practically turn themselves as the reader races through this harrowing and heart-wrenching tale, determined to discover how it all turns out.”
— John Searles, New York Times Bestselling author of Help For The Haunted and Strange But True

My Thoughts

Breaking Wild is another 4,5 star book! Both of the lead characters in this book are well-drawn and strong women and the way that Ms Les Becquets presents their story is wonderful, Each chapter provides a little more information about the life of Pru Hathaway and the fate and life of Any Raye and I tell you it’s tough to put the book down, because you just need to know the final outcome!

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About Diane Les Becquets

Diane Les Becquets is the author of the national bestselling novel BREAKING WILD, published by Berkley/Penguin Random House, which was the winner of the Colorado Book Award in general fiction and the New Hampshire Outstanding Fiction Award. The novel was also shortlisted for the Reading the West Book Award in fiction and was an Indie Next Pick. For more information, visit lesbecquets.com

If You Enjoyed The Last Ranger Here’s Where My Reading Went (and Where It’s Going)…

  • Nora Kelly (Preston & Child) — archaeological thrillers I’m planning to dive into, a natural next step after the dig storyline here
  • Breaking Wild — Diane Les Becquets — a gripping wilderness survival story that I couldn’t put down (see my original post)
  • Alice Henderson — Alex Carter series — where I’m heading next with environmental thrillers
Preston & Child
The Last Ranger - Peter Heller
Peter Heller
The Vanishing Kind Alice Henderson
Alice Henderson

Discover The Lewis Man: A Gripping Tale in Lewis Trilogy

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The Lewis Man Peter May

Introduction

The Lewis Man is the second book in Peter May’s remarkable Lewis Trilogy. As The Guardian described it:

“As good as its predecessor…not only a good mystery, but also a moving and evocative portrayal of a place where the weather is matched only by the church’s harsh patronage….”

Set in the remote and windswept Isle of Lewis, this story blends murder mystery with an intimate portrait of the people who endure life in a harsh and beautiful land.

Setting the Scene

From the book’s prologue:

“On this storm-lashed island three hours off the northwest coast of Scotland, what little soil exists gives the people their food and their heat. It also takes their dead. And very occasionally, as today, gives one up.”

During the annual peat harvest, the bog gives up the body of a nineteen-year-old male. The corpse is astonishingly well-preserved—a classic bog body. Such remains are often thousands of years old, but this one has a clue that places it firmly in the modern era: an Elvis tattoo on the forearm.

The Mystery Unfolds

The boy’s internal organs are intact, allowing for DNA testing. When the DNA is matched against samples from island men (taken during the events of The Blackhouse), the results shock the community—it’s connected to Tormod MacDonald, father of Marsaili, the childhood sweetheart of series protagonist Fin MacLeod.

Fin, recently retired from the Edinburgh police, has returned to Lewis to restore his family croft—and perhaps some relationships. But Tormod is suffering from dementia, drifting between past and present, and he may hold the key to solving the mystery of the bog boy.

Tormod’s Hidden Story

Through the haze of Tormod’s mind, a decades-old tale emerges—one of two brothers unknown to Marsaili and other locals. As the narrative shifts between Fin’s investigation and Tormod’s fragmented memories, long-buried secrets are unearthed, changing everything the characters thought they knew.

Why It Stuck With Me

When my wife sent me the Facebook challenge to list 10 books that have stayed with me, The Blackhouse should have been there. Now, The Lewis Man belongs on that list as well.

It’s a tightly woven mystery that keeps the truth hidden until the final pages, but it’s also a beautiful, if sometimes bleak, portrayal of life for the MacDonalds, MacLeods, Murrays, and others who call the Isle of Lewis home.

About the Author

Peter May, a Scotsman now living in France, is also known for his China Thrillers featuring Beijing detective Li Yan and American forensic pathologist Margaret Campbell—also well worth reading.

I haven’t yet started The Enzo Files, featuring Scottish forensic scientist Enzo MacLeod, but after finishing the Lewis Trilogy, I may have to.

Awards and Recognition

Winner:

  • Prix des Lecteurs of Le Télégramme newspaper in France (10,000 Euro prize)
  • Prix des Lecteurs 2012 at Les Ancres Noires Festival, Le Havre, France
  • 2012 Prix International at the Polar & Co Festival, Cognac, France

Shortlisted for:

  • UK Crime Writers’ Association Dagger in the Library Award (2012)
  • Scottish Crime Book of the Year (2012)
  • Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year (2013)

Final Thoughts

If you’ve never read a Peter May novel, start with The Blackhouse. I’m willing to bet you’ll move quickly on to The Lewis Man.

Rating: ★★★★¾ (4.75/5)
Year Read: 2014
Book Number: 24 for the year

Links

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Dave Gunning – Lift We All Need One

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Lift - Dave Gunning

Today I listened to Lift the new album from Canadian singer-songwriter Dave Gunning. I first listened to Gunning’s music a few years ago, I listened to his 2012 album No More Pennies. Dave’s music fits in that niche of folksinger’s who write great story songs. Guys like fellow Canadians James Keelaghan and Gordon Lightfoot….from the Toronto Star…

Gunning is the next big thing in the True North of Song, an artist as compelling, as assured and attentive to every nuance of the writing process, as Lightfoot, Cockburn and Stan Rogers before him.”

Dave Gunning’s Career

The recording career of rootsy East Coast singer/songwriter Dave Gunning now spans 21years and 10 earlier albums.

Dave Gunning’s Award‘s

two Canadian Folk Music Awards and eight East Coast Music Awards,

2012 Juno Award nomination for his acclaimed album … a tribute to John Allan Cameron.

He was the winner of the Indie International Song Contest (for his song, “Hard Workin’ Hands,” co-written with Ron Hynes) and has been a finalist in other major international songwriting contests.

About Lift

Lift is Gunning’s 11 th album and was leased on his own imprint Wee House of Music . All 13 tunes are Gunning originals ,though 9 of the songs were co-written by a variety of talented friends/peers. The co-writers list includes fellow East Coasters Matt Andersen, Catherine MacLellan, and Thom Swift, plus American Sally Spring.

Gunning also recruited a list of musicians to help on the album. The list include:

I particularly liked the pedal steel from Asa Brosius!

Dave writes this about Lift .……

Gunning acknowledges that “this album has more personal and introspective songs than my past recordings. I do still love songs that are about things and tell a real story, like the songs of Stan Rogers. They inspire me.”

A fine example of that here is “I Robbed The Co. Store,” which tells the true story of a group of British settlers in Nova Scotia in the 1770s forced to steal from a storehouse reserved for troops just so they could feed their families. A more contemporary song with a Pictou County setting is “They Don’t Do That No More.” “That one is inspired by the fight we have here against a pulp mill that is just an environmental disaster,” explains Gunning. The mournful sound of the pedal steel punctuates his lament that “there’s poison on the harbour floor.” It’s a song one of Dave’s key inspirations, the late folk great Pete Seeger, would have been proud to call his own. Read More

So Check Out Dave’s Music!

Here’s Dave performing “Sing It Louder” from Lift – Dave says this about the song….

The Video

 “Sing It Louder,” is actually a tribute to Seeger. “My goal was to write a song you could imagine him singing,” says Gunning. “As folk singers we should all aspire to carry the torch of Pete Seeger and his message of social justice.”

I do believe, Pete would be proud!

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About Dave Gunning

Dave Gunning is a Canadian folk singer-songwriter born in Pictou County, Nova Scotia. Gunning credits the first live concert he ever observed, a 1981 double bill of John Allan Cameron and Stan Rogers, to be a major driving force in shaping the direction his life would take as a musician. That show changed my life. Wikipedia

Born: Pictou County, Canada

 

Close Your Eyes – Michael Robotham

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Unraveling Michael Robotham’s Close Your Eyes Mystery

(Joseph O’Loughlin #8)

Michael Robotham - Close Your Eyes

Close Your Eyes Begins….

From Goodreads….

When a former student bungles a murder investigation, clinical psychologist Joseph O’Loughlin steps in to face a ruthless killer.

A mother and her teenage daughter are found murdered in a remote farmhouse, one defiled by multiple stab wounds and the other posed like Sleeping Beauty waiting for her Prince. Joe O’Loughlin is drawn into the investigation when a former student, trading on Joe’s reputation by calling himself the “Mindhunter,” jeopardizes the police inquiry by leaking details to the media and stirring up public anger.

With no shortage of suspects and tempers beginning to fray, Joe discovers a link between these murders and a series of brutal attacks where the men and women are choked unconscious and the letter “A” is carved into their foreheads. Read More

Joe Faces Family Problems

Along with the above there is a secondary storyline the book. Joe is asked by his estranged wife to move back into their cottage with his family which includes his wife and their two daughters. Joe is thrilled at the prospect of reuniting with his wife and daughters only problem is that his wife has cancer. And once again Joe is faced with the problem of balancing his work and his family!!

Bottom Line:

Close Your Eyes is another excellent book from Michael Robotham. This series is one of my favorites and like many of them it keeps getting better which is very hard to do because Robotham set the bar really high with his early books!!

I will even forgive him for joining the ranks of William Kent Krueger and Karin Slaughter

Ratings: Goodreads **** (4.15)  *RGrandad **** 1/2 (4.5)

Links

Michael Robotham Website
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Goodreads;

About Michael Robotham

Michael Robotham is an Australian crime fiction writer who has twice won the CWA Gold Dagger award for best novel and twice been shortlisted for the Edgar Award for best novel. His eldest child is Alexandra Hope Robotham, professionally known as Alex Hope, an Australian producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Wikipedia

Born: 1960 (age 64 years), Casino, Australia

Notable awards: The CWA Gold Dagger, 2015, 2020

Notable works: Life or Death

 

Alex Kava – Hidden Creed – Ryder Creed #6

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Hidden Creed - Alex Kava Ryder Creed #6

Hidden Creed – Ryder Creed #6 – Alex Kava

I’m not a dog person — we’ve always had cats.
But Alex Kava through her Ryder Creed series has convinced me just how many incredible things dogs can do that cats can’t (or simply won’t). Hidden Creed was book #41 for me this year, and it might just be the best yet in the series.

My History with Alex Kava

I’ve been reading Alex Kava since 2005, when I first picked up A Perfect Evil, the debut Maggie O’Dell novel.
The only Maggie O’Dell book I haven’t read is Stranded (#11) — and yes, I’ve checked it out from the library more than once, even started it, but always got sidetracked by another book. That’s worth noting because Stranded is the story where Ryder Creed and Maggie first meet — and that case is mentioned here in Hidden Creed.

Why the Ryder Creed Series Stands Out

For me, the heart of this series is the characters — both human and canine.
Ryder Creed and Maggie O’Dell are two of my favorite fictional characters, and Kava has surrounded them with a strong supporting cast:

  • Brodie – Ryder’s sister
  • Hannah – his business partner
  • Jason – an ex-soldier and valued employee
  • And, of course, the dogs — my personal favorite being Grace, the fearless Jack Russell Terrier.

As Tracie Hotchner of the Radio Pet Lady Network™ put it:

“It’s impossible not to care about and root for the human and canine heroes in Kava’s series.”
I couldn’t agree more.

The Story

During a K-9 training session in Florida’s Blackwater River State Forest, Ryder and Brodie follow Grace’s lead straight to a shallow grave. Soon, more bodies are discovered — and it becomes clear this is the isolated dumping ground of a serial killer.

Meanwhile, Maggie O’Dell is in Pensacola investigating a storage locker purchased at auction. Inside? An array of body parts and containers — possibly the twisted cache of a killer.

Kava weaves four distinct storylines together, creating a tense, fast-moving thriller where the suspense doesn’t let up until the very last page.

The Bottom Line

If you love page-turning thrillers with memorable characters, Hidden Creed is a must-read. While it works as a standalone, I recommend starting with Desperate Creed (#5) to get the most out of the relationships and backstory — especially between Ryder and Brodie.

And if you want to fully understand Maggie O’Dell, go back and read some of her solo cases. She’s had some fantastic adventures of her own!

Author’sWebsite |
Wikipedia
Goodreads
Amazon

Alex Kava is the New York Times, USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of twenty-three novels that include the critically acclaimed series featuring K9 handler Ryder Creed and the international bestselling series with FBI profiler Maggie O’Dell.

She’s been awarded two Nebraska Book Awards, a Florida Book Award and the Mari Sandoz Award.

Published in thirty-five countries, her novels have sold seven+ million copies and have appeared on bestseller lists in the UK, Australia, Germany, Poland, Italy and Japan. Full Bio

 

Charlie Donlea Shines in His Debut Summit Lake

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Summit Lake is Charlie Donlea’s debut novel and a smashingly great debut it is!

From Goodreads…..

Set in a small, picturesque North Carolina town, Charlie Donlea’s suspenseful debut novel tells the haunting story of a murdered law school student, the reporter assigned to her story—and the intimate connection that comes when the living walk in the footsteps of the dead.

“No suspects. No persons of interest. Just a girl who was alive one day and dead the next.” Read More

The Story

The murder victim is Becca Eckersley a first year law student and the daughter of a powerful attorney who is about to become a judge. After Becca is murdered investigator Kelsey Castle is sent by her employer Events magazine to Summit Lake to find out what happened.

Once she arrives Kelsey discovers that the murder appears to be more complex than the theory that the Feds are promoting that it was a random robbery gone bad. The story is told from dual perspectives—Becca’s in the months before her death and Kelsey’s in the present—the book is a fast-paced thriller filled with twists and intrigue. 

The story also explores the connection between the living and the dead as Kelsey walks in Becca’s footsteps, uncovering dark secrets that may help solve the crime and confront her own past. 

Bottom Line:

Summit Lake was a very good read. It took me a while to get into the story and I must admit that I found some aspects of the story somewhat implausible. Particularly the willingness of the county police chief to give police files to Kelsey.

But the overall story more than made up for those minor dislikes

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Ke

    Into The Wild With – The Vanishing Kind by Alice Henderson (Alex Carter #4)

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    The Vanishing Kind Alice Henderson

    Wildlife biologist Alex Carter returns in The Vanishing Kind by Alice Henderson a tense, immersive novel of suspense  set in a vast wildlife preserve in New Mexico— and the his may be her most dangerous assignment yet!

    Originally Posted June 2025 Revsed and Updated April 2026

    📖 What’s It About?

    Searching for the Elusive Jaguar  in the Wild of New Mexico with Alex Carter…..

    In her fourth outing, Alex Carter accepts an assignment to determine whether any reclusive jaguars roam the preserve. Once a species that was prevalent throughout the US the species is now endangered.  Alex hopes that her study can find at least one of these great cats!

    Alice is not alone in this vast preserve and the lands surrounding it.  First there is a dangerous group of anti-immigrant vigilantes are  terrorizing the nearby town and the archeological dig. The dig is excavating the grave site area of a sixteenth century Spanish conquistador near where Alex has setup her camp. When the vigilantes discover the purpose of Alex she becomes a target of their wrath! The groups fear is that if Alex finds a jaguar it will impend the completion of the border wall.

    Alex also encounters a local farm couple, a couple helping the immigrants, the eccentric funder of the archeological dig and at least one person out to kill any jaguar she may find!

    🧠 My Thoughts About The Vanishing Kind by Alice Henderson

    Once again Henderson constructs a novel that provides both suspense and action, coupled with educating the reader about endangered species. In her previous assignments Alex has study wolverines, polar bears and caribou, and I learned more about those species then I ever knew! In addition,  I learned a lot about how a wildlife biologist sets out to study these endangered species. (Who knew jaguars are attracted to Obsession perfume).

    I believe The Vanishing Kind  contains a larger and more diverse cast of characters then any of Alex’s previous assignments. But it still provides the feeling that it’s Alex against the world!

    As always Henderson creates a strong sense of place in The Vanishing Kind. The presence of the archeoligical dig not only adds to the cast f characters but the importance of the jaguar in the culture of the American southwest and the Spanish presence  in the area.

    If you enjoy thrillers with a strong sense of place and a capable, independent protagonist, this series is for you. While this novel can be read independently from the series, since the series is only four books old go back to the fist book A Solitude of Wolverines to get the complete backstory of Alex Carter.

    So if you like novels that provide both excitement and education check out The Vanishing Kind. As for me, I can’t wait for Alex’s next assignment! Hmm, maybe my next read will be The Medici Return by Steve Berry his Cotton Malone stories also educate and entertain!

    A Final Wrap – The Vanishing Kind by Alice Henderson

    I will say that throughout the book, while I was enjoying it I wasn’t that impressed. I didn’t find it  all that suspenseful. That ended a little over halfway through the  book,  when the rich funder of the dig asked the members of the dig and Alex for dinner and cut off the digs funding! After that all help broke out and the novel shot along to its conclusion. And I wasn’t expecting Alex’s savior to appear!

     

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    Alice Henderson
    Alice Henderson
    Visit the Alice Henderson Page

    If You Enjoyed The Vanishing Kind, Here’s Where My Reading Went (and Where It’s Going)…

    • Nora Kelly (Preston & Child) — archaeological thrillers I’m planning to dive into, a natural next step after the dig storyline here
    • Breaking Wild — Diane Les Becquets — a gripping wilderness survival story that I couldn’t put down (see my original post)
    • Peter Heller — The Last Ranger / The River — atmospheric wilderness novels blending nature, danger, and reflection (see my posts)
    Preston & Child
    Diane Les Bequets
    Peter Heller