Billy Summers by Stephen King

 You can't look away!

King steps back from Horror and looks at an assassin who is tempted back for one last job. It should be a simple job, but of course, things never go as planned. Especially in a Stephen King story. This book looks at average Americans, war, and how the past makes us who we are.

I was spellbound and could not put the story down. He does bring up another story - I don't think he could help himself, but it made it more enjoyable because of it. It is one of those stories where you can’t wait for the ending but dread it at the same time. This is King at his best.

Two Kinds of Truth by Michael Connelly - Harry Bosch #20

 

As with most Bosch stories, there are multiple cases that Harry is juggling. One of his old cases comes to haunt him when a murder he put away thirty years ago suddenly finds evidence that seemingly exonerates him, and Bosch is accused of planting evidence. If this wasn’t enough, Harry and his team must solve a double murder of a father and son pharmacists.

Connelly works his magic magically and keeps the pages flying as we cheer on a favorite character. Mickey Haller, the Lincoln Lawyer, plays a key role in this story, which adds to the fun. I love finding an author that has such a long list ready to dive into.

News of the World by Paulette Jiles

 I had wanted to read this story prior to seeing the film. Most everything with Tom Hanks is gold, and I did not want that influencing my review of the book.

The story follows Captain Johnathan Kidd, who travels from town-to-town reading newspapers to the locals—most who did not read in that era. In one town, he is asked to bring a young girl who had been captured and raised by the Kiowa natives and had recently been released. The girl, Johanna, is no longer part of the white race, but has converted fully to the native way of life.

Although the story is true to the era and has a good story, the telling of it is drawn out. Having been a fan of Louis Lamour and other western writers, I was hoping for more story. The premise of a child being returned to civilization is sound and historical, but I would have loved to have seen her experiences, even through her recollections or through her conversations with Captain Kidd.

The Beggar Queen by Kelly Evans

 This must be the original rags to riches saga. Captured in a raid in England during the 7th Century, Bathilde is sold into slavery in what is now France. When she captures the attention of the young king, everything changes. This woman would become Queen and would see the unification of France and influence the policies and politics of the country. This is the incredible and true story of a strong yet gentle woman and what she could accomplish in her lifetime.

The author brings this era to life with all its splendor, cruelty, and nobility. Her research and attention to detail allows the reader to travel to this harsh yet breathtaking era through this incredible time capsule. Fans of Ken Follett’s Pillar of the Earth series will fall in love with this tale.

Garden Girl by Renny DeGroot - A Cape Breton Mystery

 The story takes place in Nova Scotia. The body of a missing girl shows up years after her disappearance. It was presumed that she ran away, but now the entire community is looking over their shoulders because a murderer is in their midst. Enter Detective Gordie MacLean, an older police officer who has never been given a chance to run an investigation. To complicate the issue, the department forced him to work with a new partner, Detective Roxanne Albright.

With attention to detail and a cop who refuses to give up, this murder mystery will have you guessing at the multiple suspects until the last pages. The author shows off her knowledge of life in the Maritimes and the story has an authentic flavor that is appealing. Perfect story for fans of Murder, She Wrote or Columbo.

Cop Town by Karen Slaughter

Atlanta Police Department during the 1970s, when racism and sexism were a genuine issue in policing. For Kate Murphy, a rookie on her first days as a police officer, reality hits her straight in the face. The male officers want nothing to do with her unless it's sexual, while the female members don’t want to waste their time because so many recruits can’t cut the mustard.

But there is a cop killer in the city, and she has no choice but to team up with another female officer and hopefully learn to survive in a city which is ready to explode.

The story is gritty, honest, and hard-hitting and portrays a dark time in law enforcement. The author brings dark humor into a dark world while presenting a fast-paced, suspenseful cop tale.