THE TOWER OF NERO by Rick Riordan

 THE TOWER OF NERO

(The Trials of Apollo #5)

by

Rick Riordan

    The Tower of Nero is the fifth and final installment in Rick Riordan's The Trials of Apollo series. In some ways, it seems a long time since we learned that Apollo (the Greek god) was ousted from Mount Olympus, landing in New York City as the awkward mortal teenager Lester Papadopoulos. But, even after he and Meg, his young demigod "master," battle their way across the country, the adventures of the first four books seem to have come and gone in a snap. Now Apollo/Lester and Meg return to New York to face Nero. Will they be able to defeat him, and will Apollo/Lester be able to reclaim Delphi?

    I am a big Rick Riordan fan, and The Tower of Nero does not disappoint. Like all the Riordan books that have come before, this finale is well written, clever, engaging, and action packed. And, it amazes me that, after all this time, Riordan can still make me laugh. 

    Rick Riordan is the master of myth, and I cannot wait to see what he does next. Highly recommended.

MOONFLOWER MURDERS by Anthony Horowitz

 MOONFLOWER MURDERS

(Susan Ryeland #2)

by

Anthony Horowitz

    Moonflower Murders is the second installment in the Susan Ryeland series by Anthony Horowitz. Like its predecessor, Magpie Murders, this installment also involves a book within a book. And like its predecessor, it is a smash!

    Susan Ryeland had retired from publishing and moved to a Greek island with her boyfriend, Andreas. One day, the Trehearnes appeared. One of the Atticus Pund novels on which Susan had worked - Alan Conway's Atticus Pund Takes the Cake - portrayed a murder that had taken place at the hotel that the Trehearnes ran in England. Their daughter, Cecily, read Conway's book, concluded that the wrong person had been convicted and jailed for the crime, and then disappeared. Susan returns to England to assist in locating the missing Cecily.

    Moonflower Murders is delightful. It is well written and engaging; clever and convoluted. Susan Ryeland is not my favorite of Horowitz's characters; nonetheless, I soaked up every word. 

    Anthony Horowitz is clearly one of the best classic mystery writers of our time. I cannot wait to read more of his work.

    Highly recommended.