COLD ZERO by Brad Thor and Ward Larsen

 COLD ZERO

by

Brad Thor and Ward Larsen

    Cold Zero is a new thriller by Brad Thor, renowned and award-winning author of the popular Scot Harvath series, with Ward Larsen, an Air Force veteran, fighter pilot, federal agent, airline captain, aircraft crash investigator, and bestselling author. Its expected publication date is February 10, 2026.

    In Cold Zero, Dr. Chen Li, a brilliant Chinese scientist, is defecting to the United States. He is bringing with him his creation, Sky Fire, a new technology that has the potential to change modern warfare and the balance of power. Kasey Sheridan, the CIA operative responsible for getting Dr. Li and Sky Fire on the airplane and out of China, relaxes a notch once the airplane leaves Chinese airspace and heads toward New York. But, unbeknownst to Sheridan, the difficult part of the extraction is yet to come. For before reaching New York, the airplane crashes north of the Arctic Circle.

    Surviving First Officer Brett Sharpe, with the assistance of Kasey Sheridan, works to assist those who survived the plane's crash landing on an ice floe somewhere near the North Pole. Communications are down, but it is not long before the Russians and the Chinese join the Americans at the site. 

    I am a long time Brad Thor fan, so I thought I would give this Thor/Larsen collaboration a try. I had my doubts at first - after all, neither Kasey Sheridan nor Brett Sharpe are Scot Harvath - but those reservations were soon forgotten and I was engrossed in this engaging thriller.

    But, Cold Zero is a cold experience. I attribute it to the quality of the writing and the overwhelming, immersive nature of this book, but I was so cold during my reading experience (despite reading the book

during a warmish winter). So bundle up - and enjoy this fast paced, action packed thriller.

IMO, Cold Zero is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

This review is based upon an Advanced Reader Copy kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

VIGIL by George Saunders

 VIGIL

by

George Saunders

    Vigil is the latest novel by George Saunders, award winning author of, inter alia, Lincoln in the Bardo, winner of the Man Booker Prize (and one of my all time favorites). Its expected publication date is January 27, 2026. 

    In Vigil, we experience the end-of-life vigil at the bedside of the dying CEO and oil tycoon, K. J. Boone. Despite this deceptively simple summary of Vigil, the book is anything but. Rather, Saunders portrays what feels like a lengthy, thought provoking, and rather complex vigil, with all the creativity and imagination encountered in Saunders's work.

    Part way through Vigil (and the vigil), I realized that the esoteric philosophical questions about eternal verities that Saunders was "forcing" the reader to grapple with were not the point of the vigil. Saunders tied those complexities to the multitude of crazinesses endemic in today's daily existence. So now, I think, I am ready to begin reading Vigil once again.

    Saunders is one of my favorite authors. His examination of the vigil in Vigil is thought provoking and delivers what I've come to expect from him. Vigil is quintessential Saunders.

IMO, Vigil is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

This review is based upon an Advanced Reader Copy kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

UNDERSTANDING LIGHT THERAPY by Cory E Stiles DVM

 UNDERSTANDING LIGHT THERAPY

by

Cory E Stiles DVM

    Understanding Light Therapy is another informative "guidebook" written by Cory E Stiles, DVM. And, like her earlier book, A Women's Guide for Pelvic Floor Health, this new book is also a highly recommended hidden gem.

    Dr. Stiles is a veterinarian who incorporates both Western (conventional) medicine and Eastern (traditional) medicine in her veterinary practice. The use of light therapy is a natural fit for her approach to medical treatment, and she has indeed used light therapy in her practice for decades.

    In Understanding Light Therapy, Dr. Stiles explains exactly what light therapy is and some of its current common applications. She explains the science behind the use of light therapy in these instances in a manner that is accessible to readers who have limited science backgrounds.

    Dr. Stiles also discusses how to set up and personalize a light therapy routine, safety, and factors to consider when purchasing a light therapy device. In addition, the book offers strategies for success - such as journaling and community support - and considers misconceptions about light therapy and future trends.

    Although this is a wonderful book, there are two very minor changes that I would recommend. First, throughout her discussion of the science and the studies and the like, Dr. Stiles includes parentheticals that reference the source of the information by a number. At the end of the book is the Reference section, but there are no corresponding numbers, and the citations do not appear to be in any particular order (alphabetical or otherwise). Second, I wish Dr. Stiles had included photographs of the different equipment that she discussed. I am not suggesting that she discuss where to buy the equipment or the lowest price or show any partiality to particular manufacturers; but, as someone who is new to light therapy, I wonder what light panels, handheld devices, face masks, wearable devices, etc. look like.

    Nonetheless, Understanding Light Therapy is very well written, informative, and easily accessible to a diversity of readers. I learned a great deal from this book. Dr. Stiles does not just provide the reader with information; she teaches the reader about something she is passionate about. It is a great read.

This book is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

A WOMEN'S GUIDE FOR PELVIC FLOOR HEALTH by C. E. Stiles

 A WOMEN'S GUIDE FOR PELVIC FLOOR HEALTH

by

C. E. Stiles

    A Women's Guide for Pelvic Floor Health is a nonfiction "guidebook" written by C. E. Stiles. And, it is a hidden gem of a guidebook. 

    The book begins with photographs, laying out in detail the precise anatomical features that constitute the pelvic floor that features centrally in this work. It is well written, very informative, and easily accessible to a diversity of readers.

    Dr. Stiles is a medical professional with extensive training and experience in both Western (conventional) medicine and Eastern (traditional) medicine. Both branches of her training and experience are depicted in A Women's Guide for Pelvic Floor Health, as her approach and suggestions offer a blend of both traditions.

    In addition to the information she provides concerning pelvic floor  health, Dr. Stiles sets forth a multifaceted approach to preventing, living with, or combating pelvic floor issues. She details approaches that may help alleviate or prevent pelvic floor issues, such as Kegel exercises, Yoga, Pilates, biofeedback, and mindfulness and relaxation. The book also provides helpful suggestions for organizing, goal setting, keeping track of progress, and motivation.

A Women's Guide for Pelvic Floor Health is not just a guide for women who have pelvic floor issues. This is a book for all women: young women, pregnant or postpartum women, and menopausal women. In a way, this is a guide for all women regarding all issues. I kind of wish Dr. Stiles had not entitled the book specifically for pelvic floor health, as her advice and suggestions pertain to many health issues women face; but, perhaps she will cover those in another book.

Meanwhile, this book is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

LETHAL PREY by John Sandford

 LETHAL PREY

(Lucas Davenport #35)

by

John Sandford

(expected publication March 25, 2025)

    In John Sandford's Lethal Prey, two of Sandford's longtime protagonists, Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers, once again join forces. Davenport, a U.S. Marshall, and Flowers, an agent with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), team up this time to tackle one of Minnesota's most difficult cold cases.

    When Doris Grandfelt was brutally murdered, the BCA investigation quickly reached a dead end. It could not be determined where Grandfelt had been murdered, and the BCA had been unable to locate the murder weapon or much evidence. Twenty years later, her twin sister, Lara Grandfelt, wanted answers. She posted copies of the files from the cold case on true-crime sites and offered the true-crime bloggers a 5 million dollar reward.

    Lucas and Virgil began reconsidering the cold case from the small amount of evidence originally collected by the BCA. With help from some of the bloggers, Lucas and Virgil slowly pieced together what had happened to Doris - and a great deal more. The explosion of information that they uncovered also brought an increased threat from a dangerous, cold, and calculating killer.

    I am a huge and longtime fan of Sandford's work. And by joining Lucas and Virgil together on this cold case, Sandford does not disappoint. This book seems different from earlier Lucas and Virgil books - there aren't as many bullets flying around, and the ending is "unusual" (for Sandford). Nonetheless, by focusing on a cold case, incorporating true-crime sites and bloggers, and adopting a new, "unusual" ending, it feels like Sandford is growing as a writer. And I, for one, am excited to follow Sandford on this journey. 

Lethal Prey is another Sandford blockbuster. Highly Recommended.

IN TOO DEEP (Jack Reacher #29)

by

Lee Child and Andrew Child

    In Too Deep, written by Lee Child and Andrew Child, is the twenty-ninth installment in the Jack Reacher series. The expected publication date for the book is October 22, 2024.

    Reacher awakens in the dark, restrained and in pain, with no idea where he is or how he got there. He later learns that he had been a passenger in an automobile accident, but he had no recollection how he came to be in the car to begin with. Reacher finds himself in the midst of a band of criminals, and he needs to quickly figure out what had led to the accident, what the group is planning, and how he can stop their nefarious plans. 

    I have been a longtime fan of Lee Child's Jack Reacher series. When Andrew Child took over the writing, I was initially appalled; the Reacher portrayed in the co-authored books was not the same character I had followed for so long. I decided to try one more, with In Too Deep, and I am glad that I did.

    The Reacher found in this latest book is closer to the character I grew to love and continually follow. The writing is certainly different. This book especially feels a bit more confused than usual, and the beginning is different than older Reacher books. While reading In Too Deep, I sort of felt like I had been dropped into the middle of the story, having missed the first part. But I wonder if this is intentional; Reacher received a head injury, leaving him confused and unable to remember the first part of the story himself. So, although In Too Deep is different, I found that it nonetheless works.

    In Too Deep is not my favorite Reacher book; however, it is probably my favorite Andrew Child Reacher book. I am happy to have the "normal" Reacher back and look forward to his next adventure.

RECOMMENDED

THE YEAR OF THE LOCUST by Terry Hayes

 THE YEAR OF THE LOCUST

by

Terry Hayes

    The Year of the Locust is the first novel in a decade by Terry Hayes, following his 2013 debut thriller, I Am Pilgram. I loved I Am Pilgram, so I was pleased to receive a copy of The Year of the Locust through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

    In The Year of the Locust, we meet a CIA Denied Access Area spy, code name Kane. As a Denied Access Area spy, Kane is expected to enter forbidden areas, complete the mission, and exit again, all on his own. While working such a mission, to meet and exfiltrate an informant and his family, Kane meets the Locust.

    I love The Year of the Locust, but I say this with a hesitation. I keep thinking "it is a great book, but...." I would give it 5 stars, but because of this hesitation, it is 4.5 out of 5 stars. However, I think that the reason for these hesitancies has to do with me, not the book. Here's the reason:

    One of the genres of books that I enjoy is thrillers. The Year of the Locust is not only a thriller, it is an Epic Thriller. It is a massive book with many subplots, leaving Kane seemingly operating all over the world. It also conveys a great deal of insight into the life of a spy. And then suddenly, the book seems to jump genres, taking a sharp turn into apocalyptic genre, a genre that I absolutely do not enjoy. It returns to thriller, but that leap left me sitting there wondering what just happened. So, that brief digression has made me pause, and hence my hesitation.

    Even so, The Year of the Locust is undeniably an Epic Thriller. It is a breathtaking experience, a must read for all thriller fans. And so, despite its one "glitch" it is definitely HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

RUN, ROSE, RUN by Dolly Parton and James Patterson

 RUN, ROSE, RUN

by

Dolly Parton and James Patterson

    Run, Rose, Run, a novel written by Dolly Parton and James Patterson, gives us an insightful tour through the world of country music. I am a Dolly Parton fan, and I enjoy many of Patterson's books, so I was excited about this book. 

    In Run, Rose, Run, singer songwriter AnnieLee Keyes finds her way to Nashville. Once there, AnnieLee is lucky and meets Ruthanna Ryder, the retired "Queen" of country music, and Ethan Blake, an army veteran who plays guitar and does studio work with Ruthanna. They all have their secrets; they all have their pasts. As the story unfolds, so do their secrets.

    Run, Rose, Run is fun. It is not a work of literary fiction - and at times the plot might seem "hokey" - but it is a cohesive, enjoyable reading experience that also provides a look inside the world of country music from our real life "Queen".

    When Run, Rose, Run was first published, I listened to the audiobook; after recently being approved to read and review an ARC, I read the book. Although I really enjoyed the book on both occasions, I highly recommend listening to this one. The narrators include Kelsea Ballerini and Dolly Parton. Either way, Run, Rose, Run is a fun reading experience.

A KILLING OF INNOCENTS by Deborah Crombie

 A KILLING OF INNOCENTS

(Duncan Kincaid & Gemma James #19)

by

Deborah Crombie

(expected publication February 7, 2023)

    A Killing of Innocents is the nineteenth installment in Deborah Crombie's Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James series. And, it is a worthy addition to this wonderful series.

    When junior doctor Sasha Johnson realizes that she has been stood up, she heads through London's Russell Square. After someone in the crowd jostles her while passing, she collapses. Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid receives the call, and he and Detective Sergeant Doug Cullen find that Sasha had been stabbed. Who would want to kill this young doctor? Why? As we follow Duncan's usual investigation into Sasha's family, her roommate, her coworkers, what seems like a straightforward, albeit puzzling, case develops complications and becomes multifaceted. We witness how Duncan and his team find the who and the why.

    Although A Killing of Innocents gives us the complex plot development that we have come to expect from Crombie, this book seems to lack a lot of the "extra-plot development" to which we are accustomed; in other words, Duncan's wife, Detective Inspector Gemma James, is largely sidelined in this book. Gemma and her sergeant, Melody Talbot, have been assigned to a task force involving the tracking and identifying of knife crimes. And, although both detectives contribute to the investigation, their participation is minimal; there is no real role for them in this book. However, Crombie has done a nice job capturing the frustration that Gemma experiences with balancing the primary care of their three children with her desire to be solving cases, work at which she excels. And, even though the plot may be more narrow - in the sense of which characters are given an active role - Crombie skillfully works in some continued development to characters who are sidelined in this plot.

   I was very excited to have the opportunity to read and review an advanced readers copy of this book. Nonetheless, when I came to the end of A Killing of Innocents, I was very sad. It is a great addition to the Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James series - and I highly recommend the book and the entire series - but at the end, I realized that my return to Duncan's and Gemma's world was over. Crombie, as always, is masterful, and I anxiously await the next installment in the series.

RIGHTEOUS PREY by John Sandford

 RIGHTEOUS PREY

by

John Sandford

(expected publication: October 4, 2022)

    In Righteous Prey, the thirty-second installment in John Sandford's Lucas Davenport series, we are introduced to The Five, a group of billionaire bitcoin investors who decide to kill off some of the worst members of society, those whom they deem need to be murdered. The Five plan and train; after each murder, the group issues a press release and a substantial bitcoin donation to a charity.

    The one mistake that The Five made was in selecting a victim who lived in Minnesota. As such, Virgil Flowers, an agent with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), was assigned to the case. In addition, one of the Minnesota senators, Porter Smalls, made sure that Lucas Davenport, a former BCA agent and current U.S. Marshal, was also assigned to the case. 

    So, once again, Sandford has given us a Prey novel where Davenport and Flowers, the stars of two of his series, are working together. And it is a doozy!

    As I have been a longtime fan of both Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers, the idea of another novel where these two team up is very exciting. And Righteous Prey does not disappoint. The plot is complex and fast paced, and the crimes seem unsolvable. But, Sandford masterfully moves Davenport and Flowers through the disparate crimes - and all around the country - seemingly seamlessly and with his trademark humor. As with most of his novels, in Righteous Prey, Sandford takes the reader along for the investigation (it sort of feels like the reader is on a ride-along). I always appreciate how Sandford's books do not make leaps of logic or skip steps and do not spring pertinent facts on the reader at the end. Righteous Prey methodically lays out the investigation and shows how Davenport and Flowers crack the case. 

    Sandford has developed a winning combination with his two topnotch main characters. Righteous Prey is a wonderful, welcome addition to the Prey books!

THE MISSING PIECE by John Lescroart

 THE MISSING PIECE

by

John Lescroart

    The Missing Piece is the nineteenth installment in John Lescroart's Dismas Hardy series. The expected publication date for this book is March 29, 2022.

    Paul Riley had been convicted of the rape and murder of Dana Rush. After serving eleven years for the crimes, and with the help of the Exoneration Initiative, Riley was cleared of the crimes and released.

    When Riley was murdered four months after his release, police arrested Dana's father, Doug Rush. And Doug hired Wes Farrell, the former district attorney and current partner of Dismas Hardy. 

    Hardy's longtime friend, Abe Glitsky, had been an inspector in charge of homicide with the San Francisco Police Department; he was now retired and doing some work for Hardy's firm as a private investigator. When Doug failed to show for a court appearance, Hardy asked Abe to locate him. 

    And, Abe investigates with the dogged determination that we have come to expect from him. But, as Doug had failed to appear, there was no client and, hence, no case. Nonetheless, this doesn't stop Abe. We accompany Abe as he follows the convoluted twists and turns that arise in this complex plot. There are multiple suspects, multiple motives.

    Although The Missing Piece is a Dismas Hardy novel, it feels a bit more like an Abe Glitsky novel. Hardy's role doesn't feel as "front and center" as we are accustomed to in Lescroart's previous Hardy books, and this is a refreshing change. Regardless of how it is categorized, The Missing Piece is another great addition to the continuing Hardy/Glitsky saga. It remains one of my favorite series.

    Highly recommended.

THE INVESTIGATOR by John Sandford

 THE INVESTIGATOR

by

John Sandford

(anticipated publication April 12, 2022)

    The Investigator, by John Sandford, is the first Letty Davenport novel. Readers familiar with Sandford's work know Lucas Davenport, the protagonist in Sandford's Prey series; Letty is Lucas's adopted daughter.

    Now twenty-four years old and having recently completed graduate work at Stanford, Letty is offered a unique position as an investigator with the U.S. Senate and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Although she works for Senator Colles, she is a liaison with DHS, works in the field with a DHS investigator (although her position is entitled "researcher"), and is issued a carry permit.

    Her first assignment pairs her with DHS agent John Kaiser and takes them to Texas, on the trail of some missing oil. What they land in is a lot more complicated and sinister than mere missing oil. Along the way, we learn how much Letty resembles Lucas - from the love of nice clothes to the knowledge of, and proficiency with, guns. And like Lucas, Letty is similarly smart and resourceful.

    I love Lucas Davenport and have always thought that Letty was an interesting addition to the Prey series. So, I was very excited to learn of Sandford's new Letty Davenport novel. But for two small issues that gave me momentary pause, I loved The Investigator. First, the plot at times felt a little fantastical. Even though we are aware of Letty's history and her proficiency with weapons and survival, it seemed a tad extreme for a 24 year old, with no official special training, on her first assignment. And second, even though we know that Letty is a lot like Lucas, there were a few parts at the beginning where Letty came across as disrespectful and bratty (for example, sitting sideways in the senator's nice leather chair, throwing her leg over the arm, and telling the senator that he was boring her). Lucas might be a no-nonsense, cut-to-the-chase kind of guy, but I do not see him as being this disrespectful. 

    Nonetheless, The Investigator is quintessential Sandford; the writing is good, the plot is complex, and the process of resolution was logical and methodical. Letty is a great character, and there is plenty of room for her to grow and develop as an investigator. I greatly enjoyed this reading experience, and I look forward to accompanying Letty on many investigations in the future.

THE ADDRESS BOOK by

 THE ADDRESS BOOK

What Street Addresses Reveal About Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power

by

Deirdre Mask

    The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal About Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power, by Deirdre Mask, is a 2021 Hurston/Wright Legacy Award Nominee for Nonfiction, a Finalist for the 2020 Kirkus Prize for Nonfiction, One of Time Magazine's 100 Must-Read Books of 2020, and Longlisted for the 2020 Porchlight Business Book Awards. Mask considers how streets are named and the effect that having (or not having) a street address has on a person. Many of us think that we have addresses so that we can receive mail; but their purpose, Mask tells us, instead is so that we can be found.

    The Address Book deals with addresses across the world and touches on some fascinating issues. Mask considers the more mundane - for example, the difficulty for emergency vehicles responding in a rural area without street addresses, and the need for an address to complete an application for government benefits - as well as the more obscure - for example, purchasing addresses in Trump's Manhattan for a building that is not located on that street, and differences with addresses in Japan and Korea that may be linked to language differences. 

    Although each of the disparate areas and issues is interesting, there does not seem to be one theme throughout the book. In my opinion, this makes it feel disjointed, like a collection of short pieces rather than a fluid work addressing one issue. Despite the lack of a unifying thread, the material is interesting. There is more to addresses than the superficial, like the mundane mail delivery, and I never considered the complexities involved in having or issuing an address. This was a thought provoking read, and I recommend it.

THE MADNESS OF CROWDS by Louise Penny

 THE MADNESS OF CROWDS

by

Louise Penny

   In The Madness of Crowds, the seventeenth book in Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series, Gamache and Three Pines, like the rest of us, are trying to return to a post pandemic "normal". Gamache was spending the winter holiday/New Year at home in Three Pines with his family when he was asked to oversee security while an academic statistician, Abigail Robinson, spoke at the local university. Robinson's position was that statistics mandate the genocide of the weak, infirm, and disabled. Although Gamache detested the position she was espousing, he was required to see to her safety when there was an attempt on her life. And then there was another murder in Three Pines, with multiple suspects.

    Louise Penny is a master at character study, and her work in The Madness of Crowds is no exception. In fact, she may have outdone herself, as this book considers both the more superficial look at Robinson's proposal and the deeper underlying reactions of the suspects and others repulsed by Robinson's arguments. Gamache was not excepted from this, and I found it interesting how his reactions influenced the investigation.

    As is usual when I finish a Gamache novel, I am saddened that my friends in Three Pines are gone again. Like many other fans, I would love to live in Three Pines, with the Gamaches and the others. It is interesting how many people want to move to this village, despite spotty internet connectivity and a very high (for its size) murder rate. 

    Meanwhile, I will anxiously await the next installment and the return of my friends. But, The Madness of Crowds is a quality addition to this exceptional series, and I highly recommend it.

THE BOOKMAN'S TALE by Charlie Lovett

 THE BOOKMAN'S TALE

by

Charlie Lovett

    In The Bookman's Tale, by Charlie Lovett, we meet Peter Byerly, a bookseller from North Carolina who is living in Kingham, Oxfordshire. He moved to Kingham after the recent death of his wife, Amanda. While browsing in a bookstore one day, Peter was surprised to find a Victorian era painting of Amanda that had been inserted into a book on Shakespeare forgeries. We accompany Peter as he tries to unravel the mysteries surrounding the painting. Along the way, we learn about a longtime feud between two neighboring families and about Shakespeare forgeries. Resolving the mystery even requires that Peter authenticate a book that allegedly formed the basis for Shakespeare's A Winter's Tale.

    The Bookman's Tale is a lovely book. The complex plot meanders through three different time periods, leaving me wishing that I had paid more attention to the dates in the chapter headings. I am a book collector wanna be and always love books about books and book people. But Lovett's book included more detail than others that I have read, including a description of the process of repairing/rebinding a book that I found fascinating.

    I thoroughly enjoyed The Bookman's Tale, and I highly recommend it.

BETTER OFF DEAD by Lee Child and Andrew Child

 BETTER OFF DEAD

by

Lee Child and Andrew Child

    Better Off Dead, by Lee Child and Andrew Child, is the 26th installment in the Jack Reacher series. Its anticipated publication date is October 26, 2021.

    In Better Off Dead, Reacher is heading west and entering a small border town in Arizona. He meets another army veteran, Michaela Fenton. She is looking for her twin brother, Michael, who has gone missing. Naturally, Reacher offers to help.

    I am a long time fan of Jack Reacher, having followed each of his adventures, wherever his wondering has taken him. But after I began reading Better Off Dead, I was taken aback; this was not the Jack Reacher whom I know and love. For example, Reacher is described as scruffy and unkempt, like a hobo. Although the quirky Reacher buys, wears, and tosses cheap clothes, he is rarely scruffy and unkempt. It is mentioned about Reacher being a civilian. Reacher might be "separated" from the army, but I do not think that he sees himself as a civilian; his entire life has been the military, and his entire being is military. There does not appear to be a military presence in this Reacher, not in his demeanor or in his thinking. And, although Reacher has no qualms about using force, he does so only if needed, only if there is no other way, and even then, only to the level required; much of the violence I was reading about in Better Off Dead felt gratuitous. 

    Both the character and the writing were unsettling. They seemed flat, lacking the usual depth found in Reacher books. Facts about Reacher seemed to be thrown out there, almost as a second thought rather than incorporated within the plot. And, the plot of Better Off Dead also felt linear and flat, lacking the usual robustness and complexity I recall from prior Reacher adventures.Yet the conclusion to this book felt overly complicated; I still do not understand the resolution, and it does not seem to fit nicely together like prior Reacher books.

    Near the end of my reading Better Off Dead, I read that Andrew Child has taken over writing the Reacher books. I don't know whether this is true or, if so, whether it is the reason for my discomfort with this book, but I do not like this incarnation of Reacher. Better Off Dead was a nice experience with a new character, but as another adventure with Reacher, I was disappointed.

THE VANISHED DAYS by Susanna Kearsley

 THE VANISHED DAYS

by

Susanna Kearsley

    The Vanished Days, Susanna Kearsley's new novel (expected publication October 5, 2021), is set around the time of the union between England and Scotland, a time of turmoil in Scotland awash with rumors about a return of the exiled King James. But, The Vanished Days is Lily's story. Lily has filed a claim to recover monies owed her for the loss of her husband, a sailor on the Darien expedition. Her claim has been challenged, and Adam is asked to investigate. During the course of this investigation, we learn Lily's story.

    I was especially looking forward to The Vanished Days as I was under the impression that it was a prequel to The Winter Sea, my favorite of Kearsley's books. I was puzzled, after completing the book, as it did not strike me as being a prequel; I then saw the book referred to as a "companion novel" (or, a "prequel and companion novel"). Although the book is not really a prequel, much of it does involve the Graemes, the Morays, Captain Thomas Gordon, and others well known from The Winter Sea.

    The Vanished Days meanders through Lily's story in typical Kearsley fashion until the end where Kearsley included a plot twist that left me feeling a bit like I had been sucker punched. After taking a quick spin through The Winter Sea (because of the prequel issue, noted above), I immediately began reading The Vanished Days once again. I have a few concerns whether the "plot twist" works, but as that involves spoilers, I won't pursue that further here.

    One of my favorite parts of all Kearsley novels is her author's notes, entitled "About the Characters." In this, Kearsley notes what is historically accurate, what historical support she has, what she has introduced and why, and the like. And, her "About the Characters" in The Vanished Days does not disappoint. I love how Kearsley respects historical accuracy and weaves the fiction around what can be found.

    I am a longtime Kearsley fan and usually love everything that she writes. I do not love The Vanished Days; it is probably my least favorite Kearsley book. To be clear, although it may be my least favorite, it is, nonetheless, a Kearsley book, and, hence, held in very high regard. I did not particularly care for Lily. Throughout the book, I felt like I was learning about Lily as an outside observer (like I was reading about her); more often with Kearsley books, I feel like the characters draw me into the book with them. And, the book felt a bit choppy, like it jumped from stage to stage in Lily's life. Although Kearsley has masterfully smoothed out some of that "jumpiness," those transitions seemed more tenuous than is typical for her. 

    Nonetheless, The Vanished Days does provide welcome background for The Winter Sea. It is a solid addition to Kearsley's complex weaving about Scottish history and the Jacobites. Highly Recommended.

ARIADNE By Jennifer Saint

 ARIADNE

by

Jennifer Saint

    Ariadne is Jennifer Saint's debut novel. Ariadne is a princess of Crete, sister to the infamous Minotaur who roams Daedalus's labyrinth beneath the palace. Ariadne is essentially the story of King Minos and the Minotaur told from Ariadne's point of view. Ariadne helps Theseus, who arrives in Crete to kill the Minotaur, and then leaves with him for Naxos. We learn of her life with Dionysus and her younger sister Phaedra's life in Athens.

    I did not particularly care for Ariadne. It felt to me like a Circe (by Madeline Miller) wannabe, and I loved Circe. I am tired of the myth of the Minotaur, and I do not care for Dionysus. The book is dark; there is a lot of death and destruction, particularly involving animals. This is something that I do not enjoy reading in general, and I find it worse to tackle during pandemic times.

    Saint's writing is fine, and I appreciate her presenting a new perspective on an old myth. Nonetheless, I was not thrilled with this reading experience.

    

THE PRESIDENT'S DAUGHTER by Bill Clinton and James Patterson

 THE PRESIDENT'S DAUGHTER
by
Bill Clinton
and James Patterson

(Expected publication June 7, 2021)

   

    The President's Daughter is the second novel written by Bill Clinton and co-authored with James Patterson. I enjoyed their first collaboration, The President Is Missing, and have been looking forward to this book. And, Clinton and Patterson did not disappoint; I love this book!

    In The President's Daughter, we meet Matthew Keating, a former Navy Seal and a one term president of the United States. After he has served his one term, his daughter is abducted by a terrorist, and the former president has to knock the rust off his Seal's training to plan and carryout a special op to try to rescue her.

    The President's Daughter is a true thriller; its pages are filled with thrill. From the outset, this reading experience felt like riding a thoroughbred who broke well from the gate and went wire to wire at a record setting pace. The President's Daughter did not slow from page one. 

    It has been a long time since I have become so lost in a book that I had to work to control the need to continue to read it. But at 608 pages, this meaty text seems to require some pacing. And, the short chapters did not help that compulsion, as "just one more" becomes difficult to deny.

    As with the first novel, this book is well written with interesting, well-drawn characters and a rich and complex plot. The ending is bittersweet, both in the substance of the book and in my realization that I am going to have to wait a long time for Clinton and Patterson to write another 600 pages.

    The President's Daughter is highly recommended.

NOMADLAND by Jessica Bruder

 NOMADLAND:

Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century

by

Jessica Bruder

    Nomadland, the movie currently nominated for a number of Academy Awards, is based on the book, Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century, by Jessica Bruder. The book was a Discover Award winner, a New York Times Editors’ Choice and Notable Book, a Kirkus Reviews Best Book, a Library Journal Top Ten Book, a Booklist Editors’ Choice, and a Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle Selection. It was also a finalist for the J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize and the Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism.

    Nomadland is about the new American migrant worker, some of the displaced older members of our society. This community of mobile laborers move around the country, following whatever employment opportunities they can find: for example, campground hosting positions; bringing in beet crops; and, seasonal work in Amazon warehouses. The majority of these new migrant workers are older Americans who have lost homes and jobs and who, despite qualifications, cannot locate new jobs. Many end up traveling and living in used RV's or vans to work these temporary, low paying positions in order to survive. These communities of migrants -- a new class of "retirees" in America -- seem to encompass all walks of life. They have created new families with others in similar situations, helping each other create a "home" in his/her RV or van, thankful that they are not homeless.

    Bruder befriended and followed these itinerant workers for three years. She bought her own used van to travel, work, and live with her subjects. So, the result of this time spent, namely Nomadland, is not a detached, academic study of a growing plight of older Americans; rather, the book is a heartfelt, insightful examination of the genesis of the problem. Although the situation described in the book can be depressing, the resilience shown by these people is remarkable. They face so many challenges -- for example, how to receive mail; how to obtain/maintain a valid driver's license; how to keep the RV/van warm (or cool); and, where to park without having to pay (and without being arrested) -- and it is incredible to read about the often ingenious methods used to resolve the problems they encounter.

    It is disconcerting to learn of this growing community. They are often unseen by most of us who have been unaware of their situation. But, Bruder does a great job introducing us to the issue, educating us as to what has been going on around us. Nomadland is well-written, thought provoking, and an all around powerful reading experience. Highly recommended.