Genre: Historical Thriller

Click book cover for Amazon.com

Neville's book alternates between the 1790's and 1972, and there is no doubt that she spent much of her time on historical research.  At times I felt it was a bit too heavy in historical figures, but on the whole it is an interesting story about two intriguing women and a lost chess set. The chess set, once owned by Charlemagne, has magical powers and was hidden to be kept away from those who would use it for evil and self-serving purposes. The plot centers around the search for it.

The author is very descriptive in her writing, and her use of metaphors/similes help paint a vivid picture of the 1790's, a Pyrenees abbey and the French Revolution. Much like Dan Brown, Katherine Neville uses history and European locations to build a plot of intrigue. I found myself more drawn to the characters in the earlier times and am not sure if that is due to the author's writing or my interests. This book was originally published in 1988, a decade before Brown started finding success, and it didn't flow as smoothly as Angels and Demons or The Da Vinci Code for me, but it will certainly capture those readers whose interests lie in that genre. Those who are chess buffs will enjoy that aspect of the novel as well.

I find it interesting that Catherine Velis, her twentieth century protagonist, is a computer expert...definitely a twentieth century career. Her assignment in Algeria brings her face to face with a world so different than the one she leaves behind, and she gets involved in a quest more dangerous than she could have imagined. Since the author herself has worked as an international computer expert, a painter and photographer, she probably had an easier time fleshing out Catherine than her other characters.

The book is a bit long and gets too involved in parts, but on the whole I think it was an interesting story that married history and intrigue well.  Sometimes I find books written years ago are worth bringing back to a new audience and am glad Kindle published The Eight again this year.

- Beverly


Publisher - Open Road Media
Date of Publication - July 21, 2015

Genre: Historical Fiction

Click book cover for Amazon.com

The use of descriptive language in Burke's latest book, Wayfaring Stranger, is what first drew me in.  I am not a fan of highly descriptive books, but his way with words enhanced every page of this historical novel.  Whether the main character is talking about his family- "in better times, our family would have been sitting together on the porch, in wicker chairs  or on the glider, with glasses of lemonade and bowls of peach ice cream" -  or letting us feel his mother's descent into madness- "she wore out the rug in her bedroom walking in circles, squeezing her nails into the heels of her hands, talking to herself, her eyes watery with levels of fear and confusion that nobody could dispel" - James Lee Burke's words always make the reader feel something. I wanted some peach ice cream and felt his mother's anxiety.  Those emotions convinced me to keep reading.

The author also introduces good vs evil in very interesting ways, and in this book inherent evil seems to be part of us all, even when our intentions seem good. The story begins with a young Weldon Holland encountering the infamous Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow on his grandfather's land, and shows how important chance meetings can be and the lasting impressions they can make.  The book shows a maturing Weldon as he survives WWII and rescues the beautiful Rosita, who becomes his wife.

Weldon eventually gets involved in the oil business and experiences bigotry, anti-semitism, anti-communism and violence that was so evident in those post war days.  Burke shows us that good is continuing the fight to win over evil, and he humanizes the battle quite well.
I have not read many of Burke's books, and I don't pick up historical novels too often, but something about this book kept me turning the pages.  Through good and bad I liked Weldon, and the supporting characters were strong and interesting.  Even if Historical novels are not your typical genre, I recommend that you give this one a try.

- Bev


Publisher - Simon & Schuster
Date of Publication - July 15, 2014

Genre: Non-Fiction

Click book cover for Amazon.com

Ronald Kessler has written many books about the secret service, the CIA and the FBI. He
began his career as a journalist in 1964 on the Worcester Telegram and then became an investigative reporter for the Boston Herald.  He later worked for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He won many awards during his tenure as a reporter and obviously built up a little book of "connections."  The information that he shares in this book and the people he quotes are fascinating.  This book was quite simply great fun to read. Who doesn't like to know all of the gossip about famous people?  If these people are Presidents, it is all the more fun.

We all know that JFK was less than faithful to Jackie, but this book names names and gets into the nitty gritty about the where, when and how many (at one time).  LBJ was another player it seems.  Lady Bird actually caught him having sex with a secretary on his coach, so he insisted that that the secret service put in a buzzer system to alert him when Lady Bird was coming.

There is a chapter on the history of the secret service which first began on July 5, 1865, to track down and arrest counterfeiters.  It was interesting to see how the role of the secret service changed through the years.
 
I found some of the things he wrote difficult to imagine.  Jimmy Carter, for example, was said to be the least likable President.  He refused to speak to the men on his detail and did not want them to say as much as hello to him. Seeing the humanitarian that he has become makes me realize how much the Presidency can warp a person while he/she is in office.
 
The book also goes into what measures are taken to protect the President. It is fascinating to read about the manpower and money that is used whenever "POTUS" goes anywhere.
I can go on, but that would ruin the fun of reading the book for yourself.  I promise that you don't have to be a history buff to thoroughly enjoy this book!

- Beverly


Publisher - Crown Forum
Date of Publication - August 4, 2009

Genre: Historical Thriller

Click book cover for Amazon.com

Quite a few years ago, I picked up a copy of a book called The Amber Room by an author I had never heard mentioned. Steve Berry captured my attention with that well written historical thriller and has never let me down.  His first few books were stand alone thrillers, and then he introduced us to Cotton Malone, a one time operative for The Magellan Billet, a secret arm of the  U. S. Justice Department. As we get to know Cotton, we find him an antiquarian book dealer in Copenhagen. That doesn't last long though, and he is called to duty time and time again.

Nine books later he is still following when duty calls.  In The Lincoln Myth, he gets a call from his former boss, Stephanie Nelle, and he is once again surrounded by mystery and danger.

Those who follow my reviews know that I love history woven into my thrillers, and Berry rarely disappoints.  This time the story involves a mystery dealing with Abraham Lincoln and Mormonism.  Berry makes these strange connections work, and the story is fun to follow.

He also includes questions about the constitution, making us wonder if it is perhaps less than perfect.

I am also a lover of philosophy, and I enjoyed the philosophical questions that arise as the story unfolds.  There are surely a number of ways to look at most issues, even though our twenty-first century politicians probably wouldn't agree with me.

For those who are fans of Cotton, this book will be a fun read.  The old characters appear, and new ones are introduced, and Cotton usually comes out on top.  On a personal note, I would love to see another stand alone from Berry next time. I want something to grab me the way that The Amber Room did all those years ago.

- Beverly


Publisher - Ballantine Books
Date of Publication - May 20, 2014

Genre: Historical Thriller

Click book cover for Amazon.com

Sam Bourne (pseudonym for British journalist Jonathan Freedland) writes his novels showing a journalist's love for research and history.  This is his third novel, and it was published in 2008.  He had another published in 2010 and one in 2012, but the reviews were not good, and I never was able to find them. I did read the two he wrote before and thoroughly enjoyed both of them.

Freedland has spent over twenty years covering the struggles in the Middle East, and this novel deals with Judaism as well as any I have read.

The story begins with the death of seventy-seven year old Gerald Merton. He is an elderly British citizen who is shot by a United Nations' security guard on alert after a tip about an alleged terrorist attack. Fearing that they were in for a major international incident after killing a seemingly innocent tourist, Henning Munchau, primary legal counsel for the U.N.,asks attorney Tom Byrne to help.  Byrne has had a bit of career trouble, but he owes Munchau a favor and takes on the task of meeting with Merton's daughter Rebecca, in England.

While talking with Rebecca, Tom picks up a notebook he mistakes as his own.  Before returning it, he reads it and finds it belonged to Gerald Merton.  It contains details of his parent's murder suicide and the capture of him and his sisters by the nazis.  The more that Byrne searches (with Rebecca's help) into the past, the more confused they become. Merton was the sole survivor of a nazi massacre, escaped and joined a resistance group determined to extract vengeance.

There are many complications in the United States, but I don't want to give any more of the story away.  I recommend this to anyone with an interest in a well written historical novel that will keep you up at night trying to understand how human beings can rationalize committing acts of horror and still go home at night with smiles on their faces.

- Beverly

Publisher - Harper
Date of Publication - December 2008

Genre: Historical Thriller

Click book cover for Amazon.com

One of my favorite things about ebooks is that older books are reintroduced to us. At God's Mercy was first published in paperback form in 2003. This historical and suspenseful novel was published again in ebook format in February of 2014. Happily I found it this time and lost myself in the story of two brothers.

The story opens in Poland during WWII. A young woman running for her life abandons her newborn twin sons in order to save their lives. They are brought to America and raised by two different families.

Fifty years later Rabbi Jeremiah Neumann lives a pious life in New York, raising his daughters to be observant Jews. He and his wife are surprised to discover the existence of his twin brother Isaiah, a Priest in a nearby church. The brothers meet and decide to travel to Poland and learn more about their past. Page by page we join them as the past and the present mesh together and the atrocities of the past touch the lives of the present.
I highly recommend this book for those who enjoy history mixed in with suspense.

- Beverly

Publisher- Jewish Fiction
Date of Publication- January 16,2014