Eggsecutive Orders by Julie A. Hyzy
3rd in the series featuring Ollie Paras in the White House Chef mystery series
Ollie is the White House Chef and she and her staff are set to get ready for the Easter celebration (dinner and Easter Egg Roll) and her mother and grandmother are finally coming to visit. It will be the first time her family has come to visit since she started working at the White House. But on the morning of their arrival the secret service comes knocking at her door without any kind of explanation. Quickly Ollie figures out someone has died shortly after eating dinner at the White House - by a meal prepared by Ollie and her staff. So until an investigation is done Ollie and her staff are suspended indefinitely.
So Ollie tries to enjoy the extra free time with her mother and grandmother but feels responsible for her staff and the kitchen. When her boyfriend, Tom's job on the Presidential Protection Detail is also threatened, Ollie can't help but investigate. The tension builds between her and her boyfriend as he's made responsible for her actions. Ollie becomes a target for a newspaper columnist and her mother shows too much interest in a man connected to the dead White House guest for Ollie. Can she find a way back into the kitchen and to find the killer?
I somehow missed book 2 but didn't really feel like I was missing anything by not reading it first. I read book 1 several years ago when it came out. I enjoyed but still find Ollie kind of annoying as she never really listens to anyone and why is it that everyone seems to hate her except the President? She spends more time getting into arguments with various White House staff and even her boyfriend that you wonder when she has time to even cook? But yet I enjoy the behind the scenes look we get at the White House that I can overlook my annoyance.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Drama City by George P. Pelecanos
Lorenzo Brown, a young, black ex-con who's recently returned to the streets after doing eight years in prison on a felony drug charge. Living in D.C., crime and criminals had always been fundamental to Lorenzo's existence. Since his release, though, he's trying to live the straight life. He has a job serving as a Humane Law Enforcement Officer with the Humane Society, protecting animals from the panoply of domestic cruelty. He visits his grandma regularly and connects with other ex-cons who are trying to stay on track.
This attitude has won him a few champions, notably Rachel Lopez, his striking half-Jewish, half-Latina probation officer and friend, who spends her days "telling other people that they need to stay on track," but then goes off the rails at night, haunting hotel bars, picking up inappropriate guys, always frightened by the idea of a relationship "where she was not in complete control."
We see how their lives connect via Narcotics Anonymous Meetings where we hear other NA's stories as well as learn more about Lorenzo and Rachel. But the violence is never far behind Lorenzo as a turf war starts and by a seemingly inconsequential mistake. Now Lorenzo's childhood friend, boss Nigel Johnson and rival gang boss Deacon Taylor are at odds. But it escalates when 2 of Nigel's best boys are gunned down by Ricco Miller, boy of Deacon. While Lorenzo is upset by the events it isn't until Rachel is stabbed in the chest by a volatile, Ricco, that Lorenzo finds his killer instincts returning to the fore. He must decide how far he's willing to go--and how much he's willing to lose--in order to exact retribution.
I listened to this on CD and it was a tough read. I really have not experiences this type of life or read much about it. It felt very authentic though and it gives me hope that others who choose to live their lives right will succeed. Because that is what it is really about, making choices.
Lorenzo Brown, a young, black ex-con who's recently returned to the streets after doing eight years in prison on a felony drug charge. Living in D.C., crime and criminals had always been fundamental to Lorenzo's existence. Since his release, though, he's trying to live the straight life. He has a job serving as a Humane Law Enforcement Officer with the Humane Society, protecting animals from the panoply of domestic cruelty. He visits his grandma regularly and connects with other ex-cons who are trying to stay on track.
This attitude has won him a few champions, notably Rachel Lopez, his striking half-Jewish, half-Latina probation officer and friend, who spends her days "telling other people that they need to stay on track," but then goes off the rails at night, haunting hotel bars, picking up inappropriate guys, always frightened by the idea of a relationship "where she was not in complete control."
We see how their lives connect via Narcotics Anonymous Meetings where we hear other NA's stories as well as learn more about Lorenzo and Rachel. But the violence is never far behind Lorenzo as a turf war starts and by a seemingly inconsequential mistake. Now Lorenzo's childhood friend, boss Nigel Johnson and rival gang boss Deacon Taylor are at odds. But it escalates when 2 of Nigel's best boys are gunned down by Ricco Miller, boy of Deacon. While Lorenzo is upset by the events it isn't until Rachel is stabbed in the chest by a volatile, Ricco, that Lorenzo finds his killer instincts returning to the fore. He must decide how far he's willing to go--and how much he's willing to lose--in order to exact retribution.
I listened to this on CD and it was a tough read. I really have not experiences this type of life or read much about it. It felt very authentic though and it gives me hope that others who choose to live their lives right will succeed. Because that is what it is really about, making choices.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani
Valentine Roncalli, adrift after a failed relationship and an aborted teaching career, becomes an apprentice to her 80-year-old grandmother, Teodora Angelini, at the tiny family shoe business Angelini Shoes has been in business since 1903 in Greenwich Village.
While Valentine struggles to come up with a financial plan—and shoe design—to bring the Old World operation into the 21st century, her brother, Alfred, is pushing Gram to retire and sell her building for $6 million. It's not all business for Valentine, of course: handsome and sophisticated Roman Falconi, owner and chef at a posh restaurant, is vying for her heart.
Meanwhile Valentine is finally romantically involved with a up and coming Italian Chef 4 years after she broke up with her fiance. Everyone in her life is married or getting married and Valentine wonders if this is it as though the chemistry is there, neither make time for each other. It takes a trip to Italy with her gram for her to finally listen to her heart and do what is right for her.
Interesting story, though not really a romance as more of women's fiction with some family saga thrown in. The main focus is on Valentine and her finding her place in the world. The sequel recently came out so I wanted to read this one before I read the new book. I enjoyed it, more depth to it than I expected and the storyline was fun and entertaining. I have much more appreciation to shoes that ever before.
Valentine Roncalli, adrift after a failed relationship and an aborted teaching career, becomes an apprentice to her 80-year-old grandmother, Teodora Angelini, at the tiny family shoe business Angelini Shoes has been in business since 1903 in Greenwich Village.
While Valentine struggles to come up with a financial plan—and shoe design—to bring the Old World operation into the 21st century, her brother, Alfred, is pushing Gram to retire and sell her building for $6 million. It's not all business for Valentine, of course: handsome and sophisticated Roman Falconi, owner and chef at a posh restaurant, is vying for her heart.
Meanwhile Valentine is finally romantically involved with a up and coming Italian Chef 4 years after she broke up with her fiance. Everyone in her life is married or getting married and Valentine wonders if this is it as though the chemistry is there, neither make time for each other. It takes a trip to Italy with her gram for her to finally listen to her heart and do what is right for her.
Interesting story, though not really a romance as more of women's fiction with some family saga thrown in. The main focus is on Valentine and her finding her place in the world. The sequel recently came out so I wanted to read this one before I read the new book. I enjoyed it, more depth to it than I expected and the storyline was fun and entertaining. I have much more appreciation to shoes that ever before.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
You Have Killed Me by Jaime S. Rich and Joelle Jones
Graphic Novel set in the 1930s-era. Gumshoe Antonio Mercer finds himself unable to resist rich red head girl named Jennie when she comes to him to find her missing sister, Julie, who disappeared from a locked hotel room bathroom they shared. To further complicate matters the missing dame is his ex-lover - Mercer is actually a rich boy slumming it.
In the search to find Julie, Mercer faces down a number of tough guys, running the gamut from cops, both honest and bent, to gamblers, mob bosses and even short-tempered and knife-wielding musicians, while following the gal's trail, but nothing is ever as it seems.
I enjoyed the illustrations by Jones but found the storyline rather convoluted and hard to follow and especially hard to figure how the "twist" at the end. Plus it really should have been called "I Killed You!" but that's just my opinion. So I was thankful I had just borrowed it from the library versus actually buying it.
Graphic Novel set in the 1930s-era. Gumshoe Antonio Mercer finds himself unable to resist rich red head girl named Jennie when she comes to him to find her missing sister, Julie, who disappeared from a locked hotel room bathroom they shared. To further complicate matters the missing dame is his ex-lover - Mercer is actually a rich boy slumming it.
In the search to find Julie, Mercer faces down a number of tough guys, running the gamut from cops, both honest and bent, to gamblers, mob bosses and even short-tempered and knife-wielding musicians, while following the gal's trail, but nothing is ever as it seems.
I enjoyed the illustrations by Jones but found the storyline rather convoluted and hard to follow and especially hard to figure how the "twist" at the end. Plus it really should have been called "I Killed You!" but that's just my opinion. So I was thankful I had just borrowed it from the library versus actually buying it.
A Whole New Mind: Why right-brainers will rule the future by Daniel H. Pink
The beings with the author, Daniel Pink, going in for brain scan and explaining how it was able to detect which side responded to stimuli. He then gives a pretty good overview of how the left and right brain sides work independently but more importantly how each side has to work together.
He then discusses what major problems the United States and other Western countries are facing: Abundance, Asia, and Automation. Most people, including intellectuals and high government officials are in the coma state of not sensing the lethal effects of offshore outsourcing of high-tech jobs and R&D to the fundamental well being of U.S. and other Western countries, nor the consequence of automating white collar jobs by the ever more powerful computer hardware and software. While I had heard about outsourcing and of course very aware of automation I had not even thought about Abundance.
Part 2 of the book discusses the theory of the "six senses" that one could harvest to build a whole new mind. In Pink's worldview, Design is an asset above function. Story is an asset above argument. Symphony is an asset above focus. Empathy is an asset above logic. Play is an asset above seriousness, and Meaning is an asset above accumulation. After an extensive essay about each of these six components, Pink includes a "portfolio" of exercises (further reading, tools, and websites) which I found really fascinating.
I listened to this book on CD read by Daniel Pink and first I wasn't sure if I would even enjoy it as he was a bit stiff. But soon I became intrigued by his concepts and just couldn't stop listening or thinking about what I was hearing. I also had a hard copy which I started following along with while I was listening.
Interestingly enough the Medical Library Association has chosen this book as the common book to read before the MLA annual conference in May in which Daniel Pink will be the keynote speaker. So Becky and I suggested it for our bookclub at work. It will be interesting to get others perspectives on it as reading some of the reviews it is definitely one either people love or hate. I guess I fall under the category of loved it.
The beings with the author, Daniel Pink, going in for brain scan and explaining how it was able to detect which side responded to stimuli. He then gives a pretty good overview of how the left and right brain sides work independently but more importantly how each side has to work together.
He then discusses what major problems the United States and other Western countries are facing: Abundance, Asia, and Automation. Most people, including intellectuals and high government officials are in the coma state of not sensing the lethal effects of offshore outsourcing of high-tech jobs and R&D to the fundamental well being of U.S. and other Western countries, nor the consequence of automating white collar jobs by the ever more powerful computer hardware and software. While I had heard about outsourcing and of course very aware of automation I had not even thought about Abundance.
Part 2 of the book discusses the theory of the "six senses" that one could harvest to build a whole new mind. In Pink's worldview, Design is an asset above function. Story is an asset above argument. Symphony is an asset above focus. Empathy is an asset above logic. Play is an asset above seriousness, and Meaning is an asset above accumulation. After an extensive essay about each of these six components, Pink includes a "portfolio" of exercises (further reading, tools, and websites) which I found really fascinating.
I listened to this book on CD read by Daniel Pink and first I wasn't sure if I would even enjoy it as he was a bit stiff. But soon I became intrigued by his concepts and just couldn't stop listening or thinking about what I was hearing. I also had a hard copy which I started following along with while I was listening.
Interestingly enough the Medical Library Association has chosen this book as the common book to read before the MLA annual conference in May in which Daniel Pink will be the keynote speaker. So Becky and I suggested it for our bookclub at work. It will be interesting to get others perspectives on it as reading some of the reviews it is definitely one either people love or hate. I guess I fall under the category of loved it.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
By a Spider's Thread by Laura Lippman
8th in the series featuring Baltimore, PI, Tess Monaghan. This time out the determined reporter-turned-private detective agrees to help a handsome but off-puttingly rigid Orthodox Jewish furrier Mark Ruben find his missing wife, Natlalie, who disappeared with their 3 children. Natlalie is 13 years his junior and she married at age 18. Ruben makes Monaghan feel as if she knows nothing about being Jewish, even though her mother's family is Jewish. So Tess is driven to research the religion of her client, who's secretive, controlling, and apparently in denial. I love how she uses technology aka the Snoop Sisters, an online network of female PIs, that help her track down the family and even provides a retired librarian to tail her quarry.
As weeks go by, Tess uncovers a tangle of lies and dark plans that reveal that Ruben's gorgeous young Russian Jewish bride is anything but innocent. Yet much to Monaghan's amazement, nothing seems to dim Ruben's faith in his own tradition or to rock his sense of his role and responsibilities as a husband and a father.
To further complicate Tess's life, Crow, her boyfriend has left her and her Aunt is getting married and Tess is going to be the maid of honor as well as the best man. It' s a fun distraction to the dark storyline.
We see the story from Tess as well as the runaway wife and children. We quickly figure out that Natalie is no innocent and the situation is much more complicated than any one could have anticipated. It left me reading to the end to figure out why this was happening and it was well done. As always Lippman has this way of making me want to read more. She makes her characters and situations real but it is in no way predicable.
8th in the series featuring Baltimore, PI, Tess Monaghan. This time out the determined reporter-turned-private detective agrees to help a handsome but off-puttingly rigid Orthodox Jewish furrier Mark Ruben find his missing wife, Natlalie, who disappeared with their 3 children. Natlalie is 13 years his junior and she married at age 18. Ruben makes Monaghan feel as if she knows nothing about being Jewish, even though her mother's family is Jewish. So Tess is driven to research the religion of her client, who's secretive, controlling, and apparently in denial. I love how she uses technology aka the Snoop Sisters, an online network of female PIs, that help her track down the family and even provides a retired librarian to tail her quarry.
As weeks go by, Tess uncovers a tangle of lies and dark plans that reveal that Ruben's gorgeous young Russian Jewish bride is anything but innocent. Yet much to Monaghan's amazement, nothing seems to dim Ruben's faith in his own tradition or to rock his sense of his role and responsibilities as a husband and a father.
To further complicate Tess's life, Crow, her boyfriend has left her and her Aunt is getting married and Tess is going to be the maid of honor as well as the best man. It' s a fun distraction to the dark storyline.
We see the story from Tess as well as the runaway wife and children. We quickly figure out that Natalie is no innocent and the situation is much more complicated than any one could have anticipated. It left me reading to the end to figure out why this was happening and it was well done. As always Lippman has this way of making me want to read more. She makes her characters and situations real but it is in no way predicable.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Lover's Knot: a someday Quilt's mystery by Claire O'Donohue
Nell Fitzgerald is a Manhattan publishing professional living in New York. When her fiance wants to postpone the wedding she takes her broken heart back to the Hudson River town of Archer's Rest, where her grandmother, Eleanor Cassidy, runs Someday Quilts.
After her grandmother takes a nasty fall, Nell decides to help Eleanor recuperate and expand the store with the assistance of Marc Reed, a handsome handyman. The unexpected arrival of Ryan, Nell's ex-fiance, during a tender moment with Marc causes a major fight. Things get worse after Marc turns up at Someday Quilts scissored to death. Local police chief Jesse Dewalt, an attractive widower, has a roster of suspects, including Ryan. Ryan offers to reconcile, but first Nell must clear Ryan's name by helping Jesse solve Marc's murder.
I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this book as I do not care for the cutesy craft themed mysteries but I found the story well thought out and for once didn't use any puns. The storyline was believable and while Nell is a bit of a whiner about her life she rallied and decided to begin her life fresh. There is now a sequel that I'm curious to read and see if the story stays fresh.
Nell Fitzgerald is a Manhattan publishing professional living in New York. When her fiance wants to postpone the wedding she takes her broken heart back to the Hudson River town of Archer's Rest, where her grandmother, Eleanor Cassidy, runs Someday Quilts.
After her grandmother takes a nasty fall, Nell decides to help Eleanor recuperate and expand the store with the assistance of Marc Reed, a handsome handyman. The unexpected arrival of Ryan, Nell's ex-fiance, during a tender moment with Marc causes a major fight. Things get worse after Marc turns up at Someday Quilts scissored to death. Local police chief Jesse Dewalt, an attractive widower, has a roster of suspects, including Ryan. Ryan offers to reconcile, but first Nell must clear Ryan's name by helping Jesse solve Marc's murder.
I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this book as I do not care for the cutesy craft themed mysteries but I found the story well thought out and for once didn't use any puns. The storyline was believable and while Nell is a bit of a whiner about her life she rallied and decided to begin her life fresh. There is now a sequel that I'm curious to read and see if the story stays fresh.
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Echo by Minette Walters
Set in 1996 London, a homeless man who called himself Billy Blake is found dead of starvation in the garage of an expensive home near London's Thames. A magazine journalist named Michael Deacon is intrigued by the case and wonders if perhaps Billy Blake might actually be a merchant banker, James Streeter, who disappeared in 1988 with 10 million pounds. Coincidentally, the woman who owns the home is Amanda Powell Streeter, wife of the missing banker.
As Deacon investigates the homeless populations he meets a young teenager named Terry who lives among the homeless of London and was the last person to see Billy alive. After some altercations Deacon takes Terry home for Christmas and suddenly his isolated home life becomes a magnet for other homeless (philosophy speaking) souls. One of which is Barry a photography archivist for the same newspaper that Deacon works for. But Barry is damaged, living with his domineering mother, is also isolated by his career and his lifestyle. When Barry becomes fixated on Deacon and then on Amanda Powell Streeter, he starts to stalk Amanda and is caught by police at her home. He too is adopted for the holidays by Deacon. Another lost soul is Lawrence, a retired Jewish lawyer, who had written to Deacon in the past about other stories he had done. Their paths cross by chance and both are forever changed.
But Deacon is no different than the homeless he is investigating as he has no contact with his family and lives in a rented flat that is sterile and isolated. Because of the contact with Terry he reconnects with his mother and sister. While Terry gets to connect with another male figure who isn't interested in sexually abusing him. Plus Deacon teaches Terry how to read.
Lots of references to William Blake, the poet, from both Deacon and Billy Blake and Terry. I always find these kind of things fascinating that people can quote or recognize a piece of poetry or work and find its association with real life.
This is a complicated story but Walters writes complicated suspenseful psychological mysteries. While it wasn't hard to figure out who the murderer was it was hard to know how the book would end. Walters is not for everyone but she makes a nice change of pace.
Set in 1996 London, a homeless man who called himself Billy Blake is found dead of starvation in the garage of an expensive home near London's Thames. A magazine journalist named Michael Deacon is intrigued by the case and wonders if perhaps Billy Blake might actually be a merchant banker, James Streeter, who disappeared in 1988 with 10 million pounds. Coincidentally, the woman who owns the home is Amanda Powell Streeter, wife of the missing banker.
As Deacon investigates the homeless populations he meets a young teenager named Terry who lives among the homeless of London and was the last person to see Billy alive. After some altercations Deacon takes Terry home for Christmas and suddenly his isolated home life becomes a magnet for other homeless (philosophy speaking) souls. One of which is Barry a photography archivist for the same newspaper that Deacon works for. But Barry is damaged, living with his domineering mother, is also isolated by his career and his lifestyle. When Barry becomes fixated on Deacon and then on Amanda Powell Streeter, he starts to stalk Amanda and is caught by police at her home. He too is adopted for the holidays by Deacon. Another lost soul is Lawrence, a retired Jewish lawyer, who had written to Deacon in the past about other stories he had done. Their paths cross by chance and both are forever changed.
But Deacon is no different than the homeless he is investigating as he has no contact with his family and lives in a rented flat that is sterile and isolated. Because of the contact with Terry he reconnects with his mother and sister. While Terry gets to connect with another male figure who isn't interested in sexually abusing him. Plus Deacon teaches Terry how to read.
Lots of references to William Blake, the poet, from both Deacon and Billy Blake and Terry. I always find these kind of things fascinating that people can quote or recognize a piece of poetry or work and find its association with real life.
This is a complicated story but Walters writes complicated suspenseful psychological mysteries. While it wasn't hard to figure out who the murderer was it was hard to know how the book would end. Walters is not for everyone but she makes a nice change of pace.
Monday, April 05, 2010
Scalped Vol 2 - Casino Boogie by Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera
Sequel to Indian Country the larger focus of this volume as each story part takes place on opening night of the Crazy Horse Casino on The Prairie Rose Reservation. Each chapter's opening pages uses flashback sequences which setup the focus of each part on a particular. This perspective gives us a chance to see where the person came from. Red Crow's grim and murderous determination is really the center piece in my opinion, as his actions have a grand, sweeping effect on all the other characters to say nothing of the fact that it's HIS casino that's opening.
The larger tapestry of the ongoing story is fleshed out plus a few new wrinkles are added to complicate matters for the residents of The Prairie Rose Reservation. Is Dash the only undercover FBI agent operating on The Rez? What is Red Crow's involvement with Hmong ganglords hailing from St. Paul, Minnesota and who is this "Mr. Brass" they've sent out to "help" him with his local troubles? What does Catcher's vision mean and what can we possibly expect from such bizarre individual as he? Probably the most moving storyline is about young Dino Poor Bear, who only wants to leave the rez but once he is given the money he can't do it. He is too attached to his family and what he is familiar with and is almost a parallel between him and young Dash.
Interesting enough this collection ends with a very simliar ending as the first with the body of Dash's mother laying scalped on the ground. We do have more clues as we see what she was doing the few days before her death.
Now I'm ready for volume 3 - thank goodness for ILL.
Sequel to Indian Country the larger focus of this volume as each story part takes place on opening night of the Crazy Horse Casino on The Prairie Rose Reservation. Each chapter's opening pages uses flashback sequences which setup the focus of each part on a particular. This perspective gives us a chance to see where the person came from. Red Crow's grim and murderous determination is really the center piece in my opinion, as his actions have a grand, sweeping effect on all the other characters to say nothing of the fact that it's HIS casino that's opening.
The larger tapestry of the ongoing story is fleshed out plus a few new wrinkles are added to complicate matters for the residents of The Prairie Rose Reservation. Is Dash the only undercover FBI agent operating on The Rez? What is Red Crow's involvement with Hmong ganglords hailing from St. Paul, Minnesota and who is this "Mr. Brass" they've sent out to "help" him with his local troubles? What does Catcher's vision mean and what can we possibly expect from such bizarre individual as he? Probably the most moving storyline is about young Dino Poor Bear, who only wants to leave the rez but once he is given the money he can't do it. He is too attached to his family and what he is familiar with and is almost a parallel between him and young Dash.
Interesting enough this collection ends with a very simliar ending as the first with the body of Dash's mother laying scalped on the ground. We do have more clues as we see what she was doing the few days before her death.
Now I'm ready for volume 3 - thank goodness for ILL.
Thursday, April 01, 2010
Scalped Vol 1 - Indian Country by Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera
Indian Country introduces us to Dashiell Bad Horse, a native to The Prairie Rose Reservation, South Dakota. The first thing Dash does is get into a fight with fifteen guys in a bar. With nunchaku, no less! He is, to put it mildly, looking for trouble. He's been off the Rez for fifteen years and has just come back for reasons of his own. So Bad Horse starts working for Lincoln Red Crow, the Council Tribal President who essentially runs the reservation. He is also working on opening up a huge Casino.
It takes awhile to figure out why Bad Horse has come back and it isn't so he can reconnect with his mother. He's an undercover FBI agent who's been sicced on Red Crow by probably the most miserable and hateful FBI minder ever to "grace" South Dakota with his presence: Special Agent Nitz. Nitz has an axe to grind with Red Crow that goes back twenty some years to the murder of two FBI agents on the Prairie Rose Reservation.
This comic is harsh, nothing romantic about it and the people are hard and live hard. There's shootings, meth lab busts, rampant sex, organized crime intrigue, plus betrayal, and scalping (hence the title).
This series is not an easy one to read but I've been intrigued by the series for awhile so thought I would give it a try. I'm already waiting for the next volume - so far there are 6 total.
Indian Country introduces us to Dashiell Bad Horse, a native to The Prairie Rose Reservation, South Dakota. The first thing Dash does is get into a fight with fifteen guys in a bar. With nunchaku, no less! He is, to put it mildly, looking for trouble. He's been off the Rez for fifteen years and has just come back for reasons of his own. So Bad Horse starts working for Lincoln Red Crow, the Council Tribal President who essentially runs the reservation. He is also working on opening up a huge Casino.
It takes awhile to figure out why Bad Horse has come back and it isn't so he can reconnect with his mother. He's an undercover FBI agent who's been sicced on Red Crow by probably the most miserable and hateful FBI minder ever to "grace" South Dakota with his presence: Special Agent Nitz. Nitz has an axe to grind with Red Crow that goes back twenty some years to the murder of two FBI agents on the Prairie Rose Reservation.
This comic is harsh, nothing romantic about it and the people are hard and live hard. There's shootings, meth lab busts, rampant sex, organized crime intrigue, plus betrayal, and scalping (hence the title).
This series is not an easy one to read but I've been intrigued by the series for awhile so thought I would give it a try. I'm already waiting for the next volume - so far there are 6 total.
Edge of Winter by Luanne Rice
A maimed owl and a sunken U-boat spark an inordinate amount of activism, romance and multigenerational family healing in this winsome melodrama. Out to observe a single rare snowy owl, high school beauty and passionate bird-watcher Mickey crashes her bicycle and goes sailing into the arms of soulful surfer-dude Shane. She joins his guerrilla campaign to prevent greedy developer Cole Landry from raising said U-boat from its resting place just off their local Rhode Island beach, where the underwater hulk churns up sublimely gnarly waves.
Meanwhile, Mickey's struggling divorced mom, Neve, falls for hunky park ranger Tim, who has his own anguished reasons for revering the submarine. When the developer's son, Josh, bashes the owl with a log, Mickey, Shane and Neve take it to an ancient raptor healer, who, in an unsurprising coincidence, turns out to be Tim's estranged dad, Joe O'Casey, the commander of the navy ship that sank the U-boat.
Both storylines were interesting as we have Mickey who is trying to figure out what she is truly passionate about and her mother, Neve, is just trying to get her life back on track. The setting of East coast was interesting to me as I have never been there and who knew that there are relics from the war just off our coast.
A maimed owl and a sunken U-boat spark an inordinate amount of activism, romance and multigenerational family healing in this winsome melodrama. Out to observe a single rare snowy owl, high school beauty and passionate bird-watcher Mickey crashes her bicycle and goes sailing into the arms of soulful surfer-dude Shane. She joins his guerrilla campaign to prevent greedy developer Cole Landry from raising said U-boat from its resting place just off their local Rhode Island beach, where the underwater hulk churns up sublimely gnarly waves.
Meanwhile, Mickey's struggling divorced mom, Neve, falls for hunky park ranger Tim, who has his own anguished reasons for revering the submarine. When the developer's son, Josh, bashes the owl with a log, Mickey, Shane and Neve take it to an ancient raptor healer, who, in an unsurprising coincidence, turns out to be Tim's estranged dad, Joe O'Casey, the commander of the navy ship that sank the U-boat.
Both storylines were interesting as we have Mickey who is trying to figure out what she is truly passionate about and her mother, Neve, is just trying to get her life back on track. The setting of East coast was interesting to me as I have never been there and who knew that there are relics from the war just off our coast.
Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris
After Harper Connelly was struck by lightning as a teenager, she developed an unusual ability she is able to locate bodies and see how the victims died, although she cannot identify the murderers. This is the 2nd book of the series featuring Harper and her stepbrother Tolliver Lang.
Harper and Tolliver, are in Memphis, at Bingham College doing a demonstration for a class, identifying bodies and causes of death in an old graveyard. But suddenly Harper is confused as she finds not one body but 2 and one ends up being the body of Tabitha Morgenstern, a kidnapped young girl she had failed to locate 2 years ago in Nashville. Even more strange is the family of the young girl now live in Memphis.
Suddenly everyone wants something from Harper, reporters, the family, and of course the police assume they had something to do with it. So Harper and Tolliver check into a fancy hotel with a large suite which becomes a meeting place for all kinds of interesting characters who think they know more than they do.
This was a well done who-done-it and I did not suspect the real killer. I enjoy how Harris writes who dialog and creates the atmosphere that should be spooky but isn't. She has a real ability to make me feel sympathy for her damaged characters.
After Harper Connelly was struck by lightning as a teenager, she developed an unusual ability she is able to locate bodies and see how the victims died, although she cannot identify the murderers. This is the 2nd book of the series featuring Harper and her stepbrother Tolliver Lang.
Harper and Tolliver, are in Memphis, at Bingham College doing a demonstration for a class, identifying bodies and causes of death in an old graveyard. But suddenly Harper is confused as she finds not one body but 2 and one ends up being the body of Tabitha Morgenstern, a kidnapped young girl she had failed to locate 2 years ago in Nashville. Even more strange is the family of the young girl now live in Memphis.
Suddenly everyone wants something from Harper, reporters, the family, and of course the police assume they had something to do with it. So Harper and Tolliver check into a fancy hotel with a large suite which becomes a meeting place for all kinds of interesting characters who think they know more than they do.
This was a well done who-done-it and I did not suspect the real killer. I enjoy how Harris writes who dialog and creates the atmosphere that should be spooky but isn't. She has a real ability to make me feel sympathy for her damaged characters.
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