Author: ekkarn

Fireproof – Alex Kava

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Fireproof – Maggie O’Dell #10 – Alex Kava

Book 6 for the year was the latest Maggie O’Dell novel I’ve read — Fireproof. This is book #10 in Alex Kava’s excellent series, and over the course of these books, Maggie has faced just about everything: serial killers, teenage suicide bombers, even exposure to the Ebola virus. Along the way, she’s also learned about her father’s affair and discovered she has a stepbrother.

The Story

In Fireproof, Maggie — along with her partner R.J. Tully and D.C. homicide detective Janet Racine — is on the trail of a serial arsonist. She’s still dealing with lingering effects from a head wound sustained in her last case (Hotwire), but the investigation quickly becomes more than just arson when the body of a brutally beaten man is found behind a dumpster near one of the fires.

Is the arsonist also the killer? Maggie doesn’t think so.

As the fires grow in number and deadliness, the team can hardly keep up — but investigative reporter Jeffrey Cole and his cameraman Samantha Ramirez always seem to be on the scene first. Jeffrey’s curiosity isn’t limited to the case; he begins digging into Maggie’s personal life, and soon the investigation seems to be headed straight toward her.

Final Thoughts

When I read a book, I don’t tend to overanalyze. My questions are simple:

  • Did I like the characters?
  • Was the action fast-paced?
  • Did the suspense build?
  • Did the story hold my interest?
  • Did I enjoy the ride?

For Fireproof, the answer to all of these is a resounding yes. While there’s less profiling than in some earlier books, it’s still a gripping, well-paced story. The ending hints at a possible sequel, but for me that was just icing on an already satisfying thriller.

I’ve always enjoyed Maggie’s mix of strength, vulnerability, and determination as she faces both dangerous criminals and her own personal demons (including her complicated relationship with her mother). The great thing about this series is that you don’t have to read the books in order to enjoy them — so feel free to jump in here, then go back and catch up on Maggie’s life.

Book 5 of 2013 – Fire in the Ashes – Jonathan Kozol

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I read Death at an Early Age by Jonathan Kozol about 40 years ago, it was a stirring account of his first year as a teacher in the Boston school system working with some of the most disadvantaged students in America. The book won the National Book Award in Science, Philosophy and Religion. It has sold more than two million copies in the United States and Europe. The book made an impact on me and lead me to change my major to education, however I soon ran away from education and concentrated on Political Science, it wasn’t until several years later I returned to school at the University of Georgia and received my B.S. ED in social science education. But stuff happens and I never taught, I got caught up in life and work and a family and I took the easy path and stayed where I was, but many times I regret the decision not to teach. Anyway throughout the years I kinda stayed away from  politics and the writing of Jonathan Kozol. I knew he was out there fighting for the poorest of the poor in the South Bronx with books like Amazing Grace and Rachel and Her Children but I never read them. Well when I saw his new book Fire in the Ashes: Twenty-Five Years Among the Poorest Children in America I couldn’t resist and it has become Book 5 of 2013.

The book tells the stories of many of the children that Jonathan has touched and have in turn touched him. There are stories of children overcoming all odds and exceeding their wildest dreams and then there are others who just couldn’t break free and their lives ended tragically.  Here are what some others say about the book…..

“Jonathan Kozol is America’s premier chronicler of life among the children of societal neglect. And Fire in the Ashes may be his best book yet…. Kozol does not just write about these people; he becomes an intimate part of their lives, sharing their triumphs and defeats, and too often mourning their deaths…. If you care about the children who are the future of America, this is a book you must read”– Ellis Cose – Author of The End of Anger and The Rage of the Privileged Class.

“Jonathan’s struggle is noble, his appeal urgent. What he says must be heard. His outcry must shake our nation out of its guilty indifference.” – Elie Wiesel

and finally from Deborah Meier, Author of In Schools We Trust and The Power of Their Ideas echoes my sentiments about the book:

“Kozol has a knack for describing his relationships with poverty-stricken children with a sympathy that is so straightforward, one can not indulge in pity. Fire in the Ashes is a wonderful book, I couldn’t put it down”

Many of the children in Fire in the Ashes were helped by The Education Action Fund that Jonanthan has established. From his website Jonathan Kozol.com :

The Education Action Fund is a nonprofit charitable foundation, provides direct support to many of the children and adults portrayed in Jonathan’s books, and to others living in profoundly segregated inner-city neighborhoods, served by underfunded and overcrowded schools, who share in the same impoverishment. Continue Reading 

So go read this book… donate to the fund to help those who need help the most! And maybe someday I can figure out what I can do to help and then do it!

Book 4 of 2013 – The Inquisitor’s Key – Jefferson Bass

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Book No. 4 of 2013 is the latest Body Farm Novel from Jefferson Bass (aka Jon Jefferson and Dr. Bill Bass) The Inquisitor’s Key. This book is number seven in this fine series and it’s a little different from its predecessors. While the main storyline does involve bones, specifically, whether or not the bones that Bill Brockton’s assistant Miranda and her former archeology professor Stefan Beauvoir have found under the Palace of the Popes in Avignon France are the bones of Jesus of Nazareth, the setting is not the typical range of Bill and Miranda. Avignon France is a long way from the Body Farm in Knoxville and their offices beneath Neilan Stadium on the campus of the University of Tennessee. Finally, there’s a lot more history included in this novel, as the story twists and turns involves The Pope and the Palace of Popes in Avignon, and The Shroud of Turin.

Historic Centre of Avignon: Papal Palace, Episcopal Ensemble and Avignon Bridge

Alongside of the present day action in Avignon, Jefferson Bass weaves a story of Avignon in the 14th century (the time period when the Shroud has been dated to be from) that includes: Pope John XXII, the White Cardinal and Inquisitor Jacques Fournier, Johannes Eckhart – a prominent theologian and mystic charged with heresy, painter Simone Martini and the object of the poet Petrarch’s sonnets Laura de Noves!

Bill and Miranda link the bones to the image on Shroud of Turin but when the bones turn out to be 2,000 years old all heck breaks out and soon Bill and Miranda are in a fight for their lives!

As always the characters Bill, Miranda and everyone else are well-developed and Bill and Miranda’s relationship is a strong part of the story. But this book with the addition of its historical aspects takes the series to a new level. I love books that teach me something about history and this one certainly did! Even though this is the seventh book in the series and there are references to what has happened in the past I don’t think it’s necessary to have read the other books to enjoy this book. So good find it and enjoy!!

Book 3 of 2013 – Destiny of the Republic – Candice Millard

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Borrowing the closing line from King Kong and morphing it a little “Oh no, it wasn’t Giteau that killed Garfield, it was the doctors!”, makes it fit Book Number 3 of 2013 Destiny of the Repbulic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard. The subject of the book is the assassination of the 20th President of the United States, James A. Garfield. Considering the mass of information that most history classes cover about all you ever hear is that Garfield was shot by a disgruntled person who wanted a civil service appointment. What we weren’t told was the appointment Charles Giteau wanted was Ambassador to France, or what an amazing man and beloved President, Garfield was,if only for a short period. The tale of the assassination involves obviously Garfield, and Charles Giteau his assailant, but also includes the theories of Joseph Lister and the inventions of Alexander Graham Bell! Millard has taken these pieces and woven a fine and easy reading and enjoyable book!

A little about the characters. First James A Garfield. Garfield was born into extreme poverty his father was killed when he was to and his family was left with nothing, but through hard work and education Garfield rose to become a graduate of Williams College, a Union General and eventuallly the Republican nominee for President, When on the 34th ballot at the Republican Convention, Garfield’s name was placed in nomination Garfield’s reply was ” I challenge the correctness of the announcement. The announcement contains votes for me. No man has a right, without the consent of the person voted for, to announce that persons name and vote for him, in this convention,. Such consent I have not given….”. The chair refused his objection and eventually Garfield became the nominee. Garfield was a staunch abolitionist and his election was the first time blacks and whites voted along side each other to elect a President. In many ways his election reminded me of Obama’s because of what it meant to African-Americans!

Charles Giteau was insane no question about it his mission in life was to remove the President and save the nation and in the process, he would be loved by the new President Chester Arhtur and Sherman would march to the jail to free him! Giteau was known around the White House and visited often and at one point he even met the President! He stalked him for days before finally deciding on the train station for the execution. He never believed that he was doing anything wrong just removing the President much as if he died of natural causes!!

But the real kicker is that if it wasn’t for the treatment he received after the shooting lead by Dr Willard Bliss, he probably would have survived. Millard comments that if he were a derelict shoot in the Bowery of New York he would have survived. One of the main reasons for this is that the American Doctors did not believe in the antiseptic theories of Joseph Lister! Even  though death related to infections were dropping rapidly throughout Europe where Lister’s methods were employed!! The US doctors still wouldn’t believe, so they probe the wounds with fingers and unsterilized instruments and eventually Garfield rotted from within!

National Museum of Health and Medicine, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC.
For 11 weeks Garfield endured unsterilized probings, large doses of quinine and a vermin-infested sickroom.

Finally, Alexander Graham Bell was thrust into the story as he rushed feverishly to create an induction machine that would find the bullet! He may have succeeded but Bliss was convinced that the bullet lay on the right side of Garfield’s body and would only allow Bell to search that side of Garfield’s body!

In this book that I think is the key to loving history she focused on the people that made the history and made the time period come alive with her descriptions of the cast of characters that surrounded the assassination!

NY Times Review: The Doctors Who Killed a President

Book 2 0f 2013 – The Boy in the Suitcase – Lene Kaaberol and Agnete Friis

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Book No. 2 of 2013 is the first book that I received as a Christmas present this year The Boy in the Suitcase by Lene Kaaberol and Agnete Friis! The book came from my daughter Elizabeth after I commented on the cover of the book (when I picked it up at the library for her) that it says “Fans of Nordic crime fiction rejoice” that I was a fan of Nordic crime fiction!  Anyway after reading the book i am a fan of the authors and so are a lot of others. Here are the awards that it have been bestowed upon it:

The New York Times Book Notable Crime Book
Strand Magazine Critics Award Nominee
Indie List November 2011 pick
Barry Award Nominee Best First Novel
Harald Morgensen Award for Best Danish Thriller
Glass Key Crime Fiction Award Nominee

Not bad, eh! The plot of the novel revolves around Red Cross nurse Nina Borg. Nina is a person who does her best to save the world one person at a time, so when she gets a frantic call from her estranged friend Karin she can’t say no. She’s given a key to a locker in the Copenhagen train station and in the locker she finds a naked and drugged three-year old boy! Is he a victim of child trafficking? Soon she plunged into a mystery that may end up costing her, her life. Quickly, she is racing across Denmark to find out who the boy is and where he belongs!! the Washington Posts says:

“Terrific…. Once you start reading, you can’t stop – it’s as if the poor kid’s life depends on your getting to the end as fast as possible”

I enjoyed the book particularly the last 100 plus pages when all the various pieces of the puzzle began to be put together! So if you are a fan of good reads, not just Nordic fiction check this one out!! Lene Kaaberbol has sold more than two million books worldwide as a fantasy write and Agnette Friis is a journalist and children’s writer The Boy in the Suitcase is their first collaboration. The second which also features Nina Borg is Invisible Murder!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Books – Just What I Needed – Right!

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Hello, my name is Edward and I’m a book-a-holic! Yes and I need to be kept away from bokstores and libraries! The other night even after getting so many books for Christmas I was checking out the list of books I made before Christmas and my Wish List on Amazon and I saw Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness , Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard, which looks to me to be a great read! So I checked the library catalog and it was checked in at one of the branches, so I requested it, and tonight it came in!

Now this I mind you is while I am currently reading The Boy in the Suitcase, along with Empire of the Summer Moon about the Indian Wars against the Comanches and Waging Heavy Peace Neil Young’s autobiography both of which I am enjoying! Anyway I went to the library to pick it up and rather than just walking straight to the check out desk to pick it up, I went and checked out the new books and of course there were two other books there that I just had to have! One was Fireproof the latest Maggie O’Dell novel from Alex Kava and the other The Inquisitor’s Key the latest Body Farm novel from the pen of Jefferson Bass. I love Kava’s O’Dell and Bass’ Bill Brockton so I couldn’t pass them up! Now I just have to find the time to read them all! Oh, if I could just read as fast as my wife and daughter who I think can average about a book every day or so!

Ok so let’s make a plan of attack – hum, Empire of the Summer Moon and Waging Heavy Peace are both ebooks, so I can read them a little at a time – so I’ll split my main reading time between The Boy and the Suitcase and Destiny of the Republic, that is until another book catches my fancy like that Bill Brockton book or the Patrick Lee book I got for Christmas – no Edward focus!!! One book at a time – no two at a time – oh hell to many books too little time!!! So now back to Denmark and that poor boy Nora found in the suitcase!

Book 1 of 2013 – Reset: Iran, Turkey and America’s Future

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 Book 1 of 2013 is a book that I picked up at Dollar Tree, Reset: Iran, Turkey and America’s Future by Stephen Kinzer. I knew little about Mr Kinzer when I purchased the book, but I found the premise that the best path for the US to follow to lead to a stable Middle East runs not through Israel and traditional Arab allies but through Turkey and Iran. The foundation of the premise is that these are the only two countries in the Arab world that have a strong democratic tradition. I realy enjoyed the history Kinzer presents in the book. I knew little about Kemal Ataturk. I knew the name but not the impact that he had on the formation of a democratic Turkey. Kinzer also discusses the democratic foundations of Iran that were derailed by the US as we supported the 1953 coup that replaced democracy in Iran with the despotic Shah, a move that ultimately lead to the theocratic government that now is in power in Iran. Other highlights included an analysis of the US’ support of and partnerships with both Saudi Arabia and Israel, which really my not be the best in the ;llong run for the US!

Here is a little more information about Stephen Kinzer from his website:

Stephen Kinzer is an award-winning foreign correspondent who has covered more than 50 countries on five continents. His articles and books have led the Washington Post to place him “among the best in popular foreign policy storytelling.”

Kinzer’s most recent book is Reset: Iran, Turkey, and America’s Future. “Stephen Kinzer is a journalist of a certain cheeky fearlessness and exquisite timing,” The Huffington Post said in its review. “This book is a bold exercise in reimagining the United States’ big links in the Middle East.” Complete biography

Here’s another review of the book from  John Lancaster of The Washington Post:

Review of Stephen Kinzer’s “Reset: Iran, Turkey, and America’s Future”

Based upon this book I think that I will seek out some of Kinzer’s other books especially All the Shah’s Men!

 

 

He’s Just Sayin’ – Andrew’s 2012 Prog Rock Favorites

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Ok so now you’ll have it from a ProgRock expert and not someone who’s still learning about the genre! Here’s an abbreviated list of some of his favorite albums of 2012. This post is cross-posted from  his blog I’m Just Sayin’…

I have kind of let my blog slide a bit, so I wanted to kick 2013 off with a list of some of my favorite albums from 2012.  I’m a little behind with new releases this year, but I wanted to share some of the albums that have stuck with me throughout the year.  Hope you enjoy!

Big Big Train – English Electric Part 1

This album may very well be my favorite of the year.  It sounds to me like it could be a follow up to Genesis’s Selling England By The Pound.  The album has a very English feel to me, full of great melodies.  I enjoyed their previous album The Underfall Year but it really didn’t click with me like this one did.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDyBTqy1Z10]

Beyond The Bridge – The Old Man And The Spirit

I believe in one of my few posts over the past year I mentioned this album, it is probably my favorite progressive metal album in a long time.  It’s big, bombastic, full of amazing vocals and musicianship.  It has everything that I love.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDPNW8o3WSU]

The Night Flight Orchestra – Internal Affairs

This is just a fun, fun album.  Formed by the singer from Soilwork and bass player from Arch Enemy, one would expect a heavy album, and that couldn’t be further from what this is, a straight up classic 70’s rock album with some of the catchiest melodies I have heard in a while.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE99mc_ubHc]

Thank You Scientist – Maps Of Non-Existent Places

This album literally has everything jazz, funk, prog, metal, alternative, horns & strings.  It’s just everything thrown together, but it works and it works extremely well.  This album got a lot of play by me throughout the summer..

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UMfPvl8EgM]

Jess And The Ancient Ones – Jess And The Ancient Ones

This is a more recent addition, but it catapulted to one of my favorites of the year very quickly.  Very retro sounding, great female vocals, songs about satan, how can you go wrong.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofI2heJhcOc]

That’s 5 for now, I’ll post a few more in the coming days.  Hope you check some of these out and maybe find something new to enjoy!

Christmas Books to Add to My To Be Read Pile! Oh Boy!

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The Boy in The Suitcase - one of my Christmas Books

So as we start 2013 let’s take a look at the boat load of wonderful Christmas books that I received. ! First there’s the book I received from my daughter Elizabeth, that I am currently reading The Boy in the Suit Case by Lene Kaaberboll and Agnete Frillis. This is the first book in a planned three book series featuring Red Cross worker Nina Borg. Elizabeth picked the book because, I told her after I picked up book two of the series a month or so ago for her at the library, that it said on the cover “Fans of Nordic crime fiction rejoice”,and that I was a fan of Nordic crime fiction, so the book sounded good to me! So far I was right!

 Two Joe Hill Books from Uncle Jim

Two books came from Kathy’s Uncle Jim and wife Nathalie both by Joe Hill Horns and Heart-Shaped Box. I’ve never read any of his books but I was a big fan of his dad, Stephen King’s early books! They also gave me a Book Light that will come in handy when I am staying up late to finish one of Joe’s books!

 A Thriller and Three Mysteries and A Civil War History book from My Wife

Four books came from my wife – Deep Sky by Patrick Lee. This is the third book featuring Travis Chase and The Breech an anomaly that is the governments most carefully guarded secret. I’ve really enjoyed the first two books in this series The Breech and Ghost Country and there’s no question that this one will be just as good!

One of the non-fiction books I received was Jeffrey D Wert’s new book about the Civil War A Glorious Army: Robert E Lee’s Triumph 1862-1863. This one has two things going for it Wert’s writing and Robert E Lee! I know I’m going to love it!

The last two books from my wife are from two of my favorite authors. The first is The Silent Girl a Rizzoli and Isles novel from Tess Gerritsen The Silent Girl. I’ve really enjoyed all the Rizzoli and Isles novels. It will be interesting to see how I like this one now that I’ll have the TV actors who play Rizzoli and Isles in my head when I read it!

The second book is the 19th book in the great Dave Robicheaux series by James Lee Burke. I’ve read every one of them but Book 8 Burning Angel. I think I will make it a goal to read that one this year, then I can say I’ve read the complete series!!

A History Book From Andrew and Meaghan

Son Andrew and daughter-in-law Meaghan gave me the other non-fiction book that you readers will read more from: Events that Changed the World. I bet you didn’t know that on November 20, 1917 the first tank battle was fought in Cambrai, France! On that day a large number of tanks were incorporated into a battle plan for the first time : they were used in a full scale assault on the Hindenburg Line in Northern France! Bet you can’t wait!!

Oops finally I also received Boyd Morrison’s latest book The Vault, which came disguised as Ruth Rendell’s book The Vault, because my wife says she couldn’t read my writing, but since she already had read the book I don’t know!!

So thanks everyone for setting up my reading for the first part of 2013!! Now it’s time to get back to The Boy in the Suit Case.!

Book 38 of 2012 – Sign of the Cross – Chris Kuzneski

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I first met Jonathan Payne and David Jones on their fourth adventure The Lost Throne  for Book 3 of 2012, I traveled back in time to their second adventure Sign of the Cross. Both books sprout from the mind and pen of a terrific writer Chris Kuzneski. From his website:

The first victim is abducted in Italy then crucified over a
thousand miles away. The next day, the same crime
is repeated—this time in Asia and Africa.
Three different continents but one brutal pattern:
someone is reenacting the execution of Christ.

While visiting Spain, Jonathon Payne and David Jones
are arrested for crimes they committed during their
military careers. Fortunately, the CIA brokers a deal on
their behalf: all charges will be dropped if they help
catch Dr. Charles Boyd, a master thief who has stolen
some of the finest treasures in Europe.

With little choice, the duo begins their pursuit, only to
realize that Boyd is more than a criminal. He is one
of the world’s top experts on Ancient Rome and is
close to making a discovery that threatens to rewrite
the basic foundations of Christianity.

From its breathtaking beginning to its mind-blowing
conclusion, expect the unexpected with Sign of the Cross.

This is the type of book I love, one that blends history and action into one terrific story! At the end of these types of stories many others tell you what is actual fact and what the author made up, at the end of this one Chris didn’t say. He writes in the Author’s Notes: ” I have no intention of telling anyone (including my mother) which details are true and which are make-believe. I mean, that’s one of the reasons I chose to become an author. I longed for the opportunity to blur the line between fact and fiction without ever having to explain myself”

Well in this book he certainly did blur those lines, and he left me wondering about the events surrounding Christ’s crucifixion! I love the book and the characters of Jonathan Payne and David Jones. I read on Chris’ website that he almost killed Jones off in the FIRST book, boy, are all his fans thankful he didn’t do that!!

the series is now up to Book 7 so I have a lot of catching up to do and for all of you who haven’t spent time with Payne and Jones believe me it’s time well spent!!