Genre: Historical Fiction

Click book cover for Amazon.com

Ronald Balson has an amazing understanding of the events that occurred during WWII, and he is one of the best storytellers among contemporary authors that I have had the good fortune of reading. His latest novel, Eli’s Promise, will grab at your heartstrings and pull you into a world filled with the struggle for survival and the strength of family bonds.

The empathy that Balson makes us feel for protagonist Eli Rosen never lets up, as we follow him from Nazi-occupied Poland to post war Germany and finally to Chicago during the Vietnam War era. While Eli was luckier than most Jews in Poland, his family's construction company kept them out of the camps for most of the war, watching what happened to most of Poland and eventually to Eli’s family was heart wrenching. I especially appreciate Balson’s ability to paint a realistic and terrifying picture of the camps without graphically describing the torture.

The sections of the book that focused on allied occupied Germany and the displaced persons camps was a true education for me. I certainly knew these places existed but didn’t realize how uncomfortable they were. Eli and his son spent time trying to help those with nowhere to turn, but the trading of illegal Visas often seemed the only way out. These people had their lives, but there was little else left from the world they once inhabited.

I also enjoyed the sections that took place in the mid sixties in Chicago. It is so alien to what Eli knows, but he is determined to find the truth as he searches for the wife he was separated from so many years before and tries to make his way among strangers who soon become friends.

Balson is a master at characterization, and the reader enjoys the warm relationships between his characters even as he/she is caught up in their pain. He focuses very little attention on the Nazi’s themselves but rather shows us what horrors these men brought to a people who did them no harm.

​
- Beverly

​
​Publisher - St. Martin's Press
Date of Publication - ​​September 22, 2020

​Genre: Fiction

​Click book cover for Amazon.com

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult is a story that might seem familiar to us, and it is easy to pass it by as redundant, but one would be making a mistake in doing so. In this book, as in every book that Picoult offers, the characters are so vividly drawn that it is difficult to let them go when that last page is reached. The reader will feel haunted by the “what if’s” that each of her characters will have to live with even after the story is well ended.

One day in a small New Hampshire town a young man walks into his typical American high school with two rifles, two handguns and a heart filled with vengeance. Nineteen minutes later ten lives are over, many more are injured and an entire school has to deal with an all too familiar tragedy. The question that haunts us is...could this have been avoided.

Written in flashbacks and real time, the story of Peter’s life is told with such insight that one must wonder if Picoult ever experienced bullying herself. It is said that some children are walking victims, and if this is so, then Peter is such a child. From his first experience on the school bus until the day he pulled the trigger for the last time, he was tormented by his peers and never understood why. With all the death and destruction, it is interesting that Picoult makes us feel the most sympathetic towards Peter himself.

Jodi, his best friend through elementary school is another victim in a way. She abandon Peter in high school and hangs with the popular crowd, but is all too aware of what their bullying is doing to her former friend. She is dealing with her own form of bullying from a controlling boyfriend while trying to come to terms with her relationship with her mother, superior court judge Alex Cormier.

The reader’s heart goes out to Lacy and Lewis Houghton who, after losing a son to a drunk driver, must face the possibility of losing another to the justice system. Picoult’s ability to make each character feel deserving of our sympathy is never stronger than when the reader begins hoping that defense attorney Jordon McAfee pulls that rabbit out of his hat and saves a boy who seems beyond saving.

There are some weaknesses in this book. Alex would have been forced to recuse herself from the case early on in a real life situation, and hopefully some teacher might have stepped in to protect Peter at some point in schools today, but they can be quickly overlooked as the reader spends several hours peeking into the heart and soul of some of Picoult’s most troubled characters.

- Beverly

​
​Publisher - Washington Square Press; 1st edition 
Date of Publication - February 5, 2008

Genre: Thriller

Click book cover for Amazon.com

Years ago I came across Jonathan Kellerman’s Alex Delaware series, and have been a fan ever since. In fact, I am a fan of the entire Kellerman family, or at least the three Kellerman authors. Wife Faye Kellerman has written 26 books featuring LAPD homicide detective Peter Decker, and son Jesse has written several by himself and several with his dad.

Half Moon Bay is the third in this series featuring Deputy Coroner Clay Edison. In this book Clay struggles with balancing family life (the exhaustion of a new daughter) and working the night shift. He is called to a local park where the decades old remains of a child are found by construction workers. When a local businessman believes that the body might belong to his long missing sister, Clay begins to investigate.

Unfortunately, there is more than one problem that Clay is dealing with while workers are razing the park (a haven for the homeless) so a building can be erected. Protesters become involved, introducing Clay to some not-so-friendly characters.  He works on the clock and off the clock looking for answers, and sometimes these trails lead him to places he doesn’t want to be.

The Kellermans have a way of putting everyday people into some really tenuous situations, but these likable characters usually find their way out and “save the day.” The book was a fast read filled with interesting characters, relationships, and twists and turns. Half Moon Bay is the first of this series that I have read, but I will go back and catch up when time allows.

- Beverly


​Publisher - Ballantine Books
Date of Publication - ​July 21, 2020

Genre: Mystery

Click book cover for Amazon.com

 In this time of uncertainty there is one thing I can count on...David Rosenfelt can always “take my sad day and make it better.” His familiar characters are like the friends that you look forward to spending time with, and his story lines draw you in as attorney Andy tries to make the world a little better place for the dogs he comes in contact with and the people who love them.

In fact, Andy is desperate to retire and spend his time rescuing as many dogs as humanly possible, but fate seems to have other plans for him. This time it comes in the form of the stray that his friend Beth found that seems to have been owned by a man who was recently murdered. When the owner shows up to claim his dog he shares a frightening story with Andy. He was on a boat with two other men discussing business when bullets started flying. He escaped and is now a person of interest in the murder of his colleagues.

Of course any man who comes out of hiding to retrieve his dog is worth helping in Andy’s world, and the excitement begins. Rosenfelt’s stories are always character driven and watching Andy and company go from jam to jam is always entertaining. While his bad guys are always bad, they won’t keep you up at night a la Hannibal Lecter, and his good guys will always make you smile.

There is a happily ever after in this book as in all of Rosenfelt’s novels, and this is the perfect time for the reader to get lost in a positive ending.


​-Beverly


​Publisher - Minotaur Books
Date of Publication - July 7, 2020

Genre: Legal Thriller

Click book cover for Amazon.com

Truth be told, I have not read every book in Levine’s series featuring attorney Jake Lassiter. I am not sure why, and I just might go back and catch up on those I missed. Jake is an interesting character, and like Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter and Coben’s Myron Bolitar, he surrounds himself with equally interesting people. His fiancé, Melissa, and his nephew, Kip, feature heavily in Cheater’s Game as Jake tries to save Kip from himself.

The plot of this latest book is so timely that it is almost uncomfortable. Twenty year old Kip, who was raised by Jake since Jake's sister deposited the very young child on his doorstep, is exceptionally intelligent and seemingly equally naive. Kip gets involved with a wealthy con man who acts as a mentor and convinces him to join his business. He has Kip help him in conning millions of dollars out of parents who want to insure that their children will be accepted into the finest colleges in the country. In fact, with Kip's expertise in taking the SAT’s, which he does for the clients' sons and daughters, the young people are accepted into the schools of their choice. Everyone is happy...except for the government.

When his “mentor” cuts a deal with the government and throws Kip under the bus, Uncle Jake takes on his most difficult challenge yet. He must convince a jury to find Kip not guilty, even though the government has a rock solid case. Adding to the stress is Jake’s health issues, which cause him migraines, memory lapses and dizzy spells. Jake is suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition that many former football players are dealing with now. Jake, a former Miami Dolphin, is taking part in medical trials headed up by his fiancé.

This “ripped from the headlines” legal thriller is easy to read as a stand alone even though it is the fourteen book of his series.

-Beverly


​Publisher - Herald Square Publishing
Date of Publication - April 20, 2020

Genre: Legal Thriller

​Click book cover for Amazon.com

Wow! The Big Lie is so topical it is scary. Criminal attorney Jack Swyteck is asked to represent Charlotte Holmes, gun lobbyist and one of Florida’s 29 electors who is bound by oath and law to cast her vote for President MacLeod, because he won Florida by the thinnest of margins. Once again the country will have a president who did not win the popular vote.

When Charlotte announces that she intends to cast her vote with her conscience and throw the electoral college to Florida Senator Evan Stahl, the president's opponent, President MacLeod, doesn’t take it well. His hand-picked prosecutor intends to prove Charlotte is unfit to cast her vote.

Whenever Jack Swyteck is in the picture, you can be sure that his client will have the best representation possible and that we, the readers, will be reading a story to remember. With help from Theo, his “friend/investigator/former client/bodyguard”, Jack is determined to prove Charlotte fit to cast her vote, even while he is loathe to get involved in politics.

Grippando has been one of my go to authors for many years, and his stories always do seemed “ripped from the headlines.” Although there were one or two slow moments in this book, it was certainly worth reading. For the most part it kept me turning pages and rooting for Charlotte to have the right to represent all of the people of her state.

-Beverly

​
Publisher - Harper
Date of Publication - February 25, 2020

Genre: Legal Thriller

Click book cover for Amazon.com

In The Holdout, Graham Moore gives us a legal thriller different than any I have read before, and I hated to turn that last page. Protagonist Maya is part of a jury convened to decide on the guilt or innocence of Bobby Nock, a twenty-five year old teacher accused of murdering Jessica Silver, one of his students. Jessica vanished on her way home from school one day and hasn’t been seen since.

The story alternates between the trial itself and a meeting of the jurors ten years later as they participate in the making of a docuseries about the case. The flashbacks of the trial are told from the viewpoint of each of the jurors as the novel progresses, and when one of the jurors is murdered while making the docuseries, everyone becomes a suspect.

Moore does a masterful job keeping the reader guessing about the original murder as well as the newest one, and each of the jurors pull the reader in with their own life stories told along with their experiences during the trial. When their individual secrets threaten to be revealed during the present day murder investigation, the consequences for all involved could be disastrous.

Moore’s strength in his characterization coupled with his ability to weave together a mesmerizing story make this a book you don’t want to miss.

- Beverly


Publisher - Random House
Date of Publication - February 18, 2020

Genre: Legal Thriller

Click book cover for Amazon.com

Victor Methos is an attorney, so it doesn’t surprise me that he can tell the legal stories that he does so well. His frame of reference is his own practice, and his obvious talent with the written word draws his readers into a world in which he is quite familiar. What does surprise me in A Gambler’s Jury is how successful he is in inhabiting the persona of a female protagonist.

Most men who write legal thrillers do so through the voice of male protagonists. Methos introduces us to Attorney Dani Rollins, a woman fighting her own demons as she fights for her clients. His ability to capture her emotions and speak through her voice is a testament to a truly talented author.

Dani’s latest client is a mentally challenged teenage boy who supposedly masterminded a drug deal that was way beyond his abilities. Someone is setting him up, and the system just might be a part of it. With  help from Will, her investigator, Dani does all she can to set Teddy Thorne free from a justice system that is using him to make a point. It is a solid story that keeps the reader rooting for Teddy as the deck is stacked against him.

My only complaint about the book is a general one. Why do authors feel the need to paint all defense attorneys as barely functioning alcoholics? I don’t like to spend a great deal of time around people who are inebriated at parties, so why would I want to spend time with them when I am enjoying a good book? I realize it adds a dimension to a character, but I believe a good author can add a dimension in a more creative way. Methos surely qualifies as a talented author, and I hope he brings a sober Dani back to help fight the bad guys in another book.

- Beverly
​

​​Publisher - Thomas & Mercer
Date of Publication - February 27, 2018

Genre: Legal Thriller

​Click book cover for Amazon.com

I have been a Margolin fan since I first picked up Gone But Not Forgotten many years ago.  He pulls you in on the first page and never lets you go.  Most of his books are stand alone, and his plots are always fascinating. He does have one series that I thoroughly enjoy, and A Reasonable Doubt is the third in the series that follows the exploits of attorney Robin Lockwood.

Margolin created such an interesting character in Lockwood that I understand why he doesn’t want to let her go.  Aside from being an extremely bright defense attorney, she is a former MMA fighter which adds depth to her character.  She is surrounded by several interesting secondary characters, but there is never a doubt as to who is the star of this series.

In A Reasonable Doubt magician Robert Chesterfield requests her help in obtaining patent protection for an illusion that he is about to present.  As a criminal attorney Robin explains that she would not be the right choice, but Chesterfield insists.  He had been defended in a murder trial several years before by Regina Barrister, former partner of the firm and a legal legend. Regina, suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s, retired from the firm after mentoring Robin to follow in her footsteps.  Chesterfield is somewhat mysterious as he gives her a retainer and asks her to please look into his patent protection.

Shortly after the meeting, Robin is invited to the unveiling of his illusion.  Chesterfield disappears, as expected, but he never reappears.  Robin isn’t sure whether he is in hiding from his many enemies or whether one of those enemies actually harmed him.  Following her, as she tries to track him, makes for some very exciting reading.

Margolin does such a good job with his characterization of the despicable magician, that you can easily see any number of people wishing to make him disappear.  His characters are always multifaceted though, and the reader continues wondering if perhaps Chesterfield is more than just a con man.

A Reasonable Doubt is a wonderfully plot driven story that will have the reader wondering until the very end.

- Beverly


​Publisher - Minotaur Books
Date of Publication - March 10, 2020

Genre: Mystery

Click book cover for Amazon.com

The women of James Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club are at it again in The 19th Christmas. Lindsay (detective), Cindy (reporter), Claire (coroner) and Yuki (prosecuting attorney) represent their city well as they work together to solve crimes through this series. In this story they are trying to stop a crime that they believe will happen, but have no idea of the who, what, why, where or how. Information is slow to appear, and danger to the city seems imminent.

Meanwhile Cindy involves Yuki in the case of an undocumented immigrant who is being held without trial for a murder that Cindy believes he didn’t commit. I assume this is Patterson’s way of bringing relevance to his story, but it felt a little forced to me at times.

It is difficult not to love these four women and the men who surround them. The 19th Christmas seems to focus on Lindsay more than the others, and I found that a little disappointing. I found myself wanting to see more of the others, and I had a little bit of trouble keeping focus in the middle of the book, although the beginning did pull me in.

If you are a fan of the Women’s Murder Club, you will probably want to get this book, but I will admit that it wasn’t my favorite of this series.

- Beverly

​
Publisher - Little, Brown and Company
Date of Publication - October 7, 2019