Review of "Spin: A Captain Chase Thriller" by Patricia Cornwell

This second book in the 'Captain Chase' series opens soon after the dramatic conclusion of the first novel Quantum. The stories should be read in order.

*****

Captain Calli Chase and her identical twin sister Carme are savants who have an interest in aerospace science and aspire to be astronauts. Both women are pilots, but their careers have taken different paths.



Carme is in the Air Force and Calli is a scientist and NASA investigator. Since they were born, Calli and Carme have been groomed to be prototypes for merging cutting edge technology and AI with humans, and that plan is now being brought to fruition under the auspices of four-star Space Force General Richard Melville (Dick).....



.....and the girls' parents, both of whom are employed by NASA.



It's critical to 'upgrade' Calli and Carme now because evil billionaire Neva Rong, who runs a corporation called Pandora, is poised to co-opt the internet, industry, technology, and space for her own nefarious purposes.



Neva has inveigled powerful people into her schemes - including government bigwigs - and is able to steal, murder and manipulate without any blowback.

Dick is trying to stop Neva, and he needs Calli and Carme to assist him. Thus both women are implanted with advanced technology throughout their bodies, including an AI called ART. ART is connected to a quantum computer, and can pull up and analyze information in milliseconds.



ART relays information by way of 'talking' on a mobile phone or - if there's a need for secrecy - displaying information on special contact lenses worn by Calli and Carme. (Note: the implanted technology, and what it does - like monitoring body functions, opening locks, functioning as a GPS, communicating with drones, sending information to Dick, and so on - is described in detail.)

Neva Rong knows that Calli, Carme and their parents are involved in a plan to neutralize her, and she means to wipe them out.



To get inside information about the Chases, Neva is trying to use a 10-year-old boy genius named Lex, who's being mentored by Calli and Carme's father.



Mr. Chase always wanted a son and tends to share more with the boy than he should. Though Lex is exceptionally gifted, he's also a mischievous kid, and his shenanigans cause BIG trouble at NASA's Langley Research Center.



Calli narrates the story, and she describes one dramatic situation after another as she chases an errant Lex; is repeatedly stalked and attacked by killers;



goes to a meeting in the White House;



is sent on a mission that could alter the future of humanity; and more.



Calli also talks about her food cravings, body image, conversations with Dick, Carme and her parents, Lex's less-than-ideal home situation, and so on....all of which serves to personalize Calli and make her more interesting.

The author clearly did intensive research for this novel, and Cornwell describes myriad kinds of engineering, satellites, aircraft, spacecraft, etc. in detail. Cornwell also employs innumerable acronyms, which are hard to remember. I could have done with less of this tech talk, as it doesn't always advance the story. That said, this is an exciting futuristic tale that many sci-fi fans would enjoy.

Rating: 3 stars

Review of "Eight Perfect Murders: A Novel of Suspense" by Peter Swanson

Malcolm Kershaw co-owns the 'Old Devils Bookstore' in Boston, which sells mysteries and thrillers.



Years ago, to raise the bookstore's profile, Malcolm wrote a blog post listing eight novels that contain perfect murders. The books he chose were:

The A.B.C. Murders by Agatha Christie
Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith
Deathtrap (a play) by Ira Levin
The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne
Malice Aforethought by Anthony Berkeley Cox
Double Indemnity by James M. Cain
The Drowner by John D. Macdonald
The Secret History by Donna Tartt

The blog post got few likes or comments and Malcolm more or less forgot about it until now, when he's contacted by FBI agent Gwen Mulvey.



Mulvey believes someone is murdering people using the books on Malcolm's list as blueprints.

Gwen asks Malcolm to re-read the books on his roster, and compare them to files of several crimes.....to see if there are similarities. Gwen plans to do the same thing, so she and Malcolm can discuss.



Malcolm is immediately struck by the fact that he knows one of the victims on Gwen's list, and he fears the killer is trying to target him in some fashion - either attempting to pin the crimes on him, or planning to murder him.

Malcolm is afraid to speak about the matter to Gwen, so he consults a retired police detective he sometimes joins for a drink.



The ex-cop supplies Malcolm with information that sends the bookstore owner on a surveillance and reconnaissance mission, and Malcolm starts to feel like a detective himself.



As the story unfolds there are more killings, all of which seem tied to Malcolm and/or his list in some fashion. However, not everything is as it seems, and twists and surprises crop up throughout the novel.



This book has received many rave reviews but I found it a little bit tedious. The plots of the aforementioned books are discussed again and again, and the narrative moves along too slowly for my taste. (Note: If you haven't read the books on Malcolm's list, this novel will contain spoilers.)

I did like the big reveals, which are fun, though somewhat predictable. Still, if you're a fan of the books on Malcolm's list, you'll probably get a kick out of this novel.

Rating: 3 stars

Review of "Corduroy Mansions: Corduroy Mansions #1" by Alexander McCall Smith

'Corduroy Mansions' is an apartment building in Pimlico that houses an eclectic group of people.



The story revolves around the building's residents as well as their friends, acquaintances, and co-workers.....and recounts entertaining anecdotes about the various characters.

For example, William, who lives on the top floor of Corduroy Mansions, is a fiftyish wine shop owner who'd prefer to think of himself as forty-eightish. William is frustrated with his n'er do well son Eddie - a twentysomething who has no job, plays loud music, and sponges off his dad.



In an attempt to get allergic Eddie to move out William takes in a dog, Freddie de la Hay, an affectionate fellow who gets involved in various sorts of mayhem.



Meanwhile, William's platonic lady friend Marcia has designs on the reluctant wine merchant and Eddie has a 'bit of fun' that endangers poor Freddie's life.



A group of young women share the middle floor apartment.



One of them, Jenny, is an assistant to a self-absorbed, oily politician named Oedipus who makes up ludicrous excuses to avoid each and every social interaction he's invited to. For instance, invited to a function six months away Oedipus responds that he'll be busy - attending a funeral. Oedipus is so unlikable that his own mother, Berthea, can't stand him.



Another roommate, art student Caroline, is toying with the idea of a romantic relationship with her friend James, who's not sure if he's gay or not.



And Dee, who runs a health/nutrition shop, obtusely insists her young male assistant needs a colonic cleanse - which she'll administer.



Then there's Terence (Berthea's brother), a sweet but hapless fellow who drives his antique car at about eight mph. When Terrence accidently fries the car's engine he decides to get a high-powered Porsche - with predictable (and unpredictable) consequences. And so on.



The story is filled with entertaining characters and humorous stories. Highly recommended for light reading.

Rating: 4 stars

Review of "The Long Drop: A True Crime Novel" by Denise Mina

"The Long Drop" is a fictionalized story about a real multiple murderer named Peter Manuel - who's known as 'Scotland's First Serial Killer.' 


Peter Manuel

Manuel was convicted of killing seven people across southern Scotland in the 1950s, and was hanged at Glasgow's Barlinnie Prison in 1958. The trial scenes in the novel are based on transcripts of Manuel's actual court proceedings. 


Barlinnie Prison



*****

As the book opens in December 1957, a man named William Watt is accused of killing his wife, sister-in-law, and 17-year-old daughter in Lanarkshire, Scotland - but the evidence is too thin to keep him locked up. 


William Watt

Nevertheless, Watt - who owns a string of bakeries - is desperate to clear his name. Thus Watt takes the bait when Peter Manuel contacts Watt's lawyer, Laurance Dowdall, and says he 'wants to help.' Manuel says he knows who murdered Watt's family, has the gun that was used, and is willing to produce the evidence. 

Attorney Dowdall is very skeptical since Manuel is a known criminal, having been convicted of a string of burglaries, thefts, and sexual assaults. In fact it's very likely that Manuel killed the three women himself and then hid the gun.

Reluctantly, Dowdall sets up a meeting in a restaurant between Watt, Manuel, and himself. Dowdall warns Watt NOT TO PAY Manuel, as this would undermine any evidence he has. Moreover, Dowdall plans to hang around to make sure no cash changes hands. However, Watt and Manuel soon get rid of Dowdall, and set off on a night of drinking and carousing, during which each man tries to get something from the other. 



The book alternates between the night of December 2, 1957 - when Watt and Manuel go on their pub crawl; and May, 1958 - when Manuel is on trial for killing eight people. 


Composite of Peter Manuel's victims

During the night of December 1957 Watt tries to wheedle out the location of the gun (for the police), but Manuel makes it clear he won't talk without compensation. So Watt agrees to pay Manuel, but doesn't want the criminal to see where he hides his loot - which complicates the situation. 

And Manuel has a big dilemma as well. Crime boss Dandy McKay - who's as tough as they come - wants to see Manuel ASAP.....to tell him exactly what he's going to say and do. Manuel and Watt try to avoid McKay, but the criminal leader sends out his goons to round up the duo. 



As things turn out, Manuel is soon arrested - and put on trial - for committing a series of murders. He's accused of killing Watt's wife Marion (45), daughter Vivienne (17), and sister-in-law Margaret Brown (41). 


Marion and Vivienne Watt and Margaret Brown

Manuel is also charged with murdering a teenager named Isabelle Cooke (17) and a family called the Smarts - father Peter (45), mother Doris (42), and son Michael (10). Manuel apparently re-visited the Smart house several times (before the bodies were discovered) - to eat food, steal cash, take the car, and (oddly enough) feed the cat. 





In actual fact, Manuel probably killed at least fifteen people, but was tried for only eight murders.

Manuel seems a bit dim-witted during his drunken revelry with Watt. However, partway through his trial Manuel takes over his own defense, and demonstrates that he can be clever and strategic. 



There are some surprises in the book, which are probably Denise Mina's 'author's licence.' 

I thought the story was interesting, but the sections about the pub crawl were a bit slow and repetitive - and I got a little bored with all the drinking, drunken staggering, and drunk driving. The chapters about the trial, though, were riveting - and it was interesting to see psychopathic Manuel get too clever for his own good.

I'd recommend the book to fans of murder mysteries and true crime stories.

Rating: 3 stars

Review of "These Things Hidden: A Novel of Suspense" by Heather Gudenkauf

In her high school in Linden Falls, Iowa, tall blonde 16-year-old Allison Glenn was a five-sport athlete and a straight A student.

Thus Allison expected to get a college scholarship, go to law school, and have a stellar career far from Linden Falls. Instead, teenage Allison was arrested for an unthinkable crime and - advised by her lawyer to plead guilty - sentenced to ten years in prison.

Paroled after five years for good behavior, now 21-year-old Allison is released to a Linden Falls halfway facility called Gertrude House, which counsels women and helps them get jobs.



Allison hopes for a welcome from her family, but her parents and sister Brynn....



.....who were shunned and harassed because of Allison's crime, want nothing to do with her.

With assistance from her Gertrude House sponsor, Allison gets a job in a local bookstore owned by Claire Kelby.



Claire and her husband Jonathan are a warm-hearted couple who - unable to conceive - volunteered to be foster parents.



Several years ago the Kelbys took in an infant left at a fire station under the auspices of the 'Safe Haven Law.'



The couple soon adopted the boy, named Joshua, who's now a sweet 5-year-old that loves to hang out at the bookstore with his mom.



Joshua is popular with customers, especially nursing student Charm Tullia, who often drops by to peruse books and say hello.



Charm needs the distraction because her stepfather Gus - who let her stay with him when her cheating mother left - is dying from cancer. Charm helps to look after Gus, and is heartbroken about his imminent passing.

The book is narrated in the rotating voices of Allison, Brynn, Claire and Charm, and we learn the backstories of the characters as well as what's going on in their lives now.

⦿ Allison: Allison mother, who viewed Allison as her golden child, pushed her to excel at everything. This led Allison to experience unbearable anxiety and stress, and almost inevitably led to her troubles.

⦿ Brynn: Allison's sister Brynn, who's one year younger than her sibling, was overlooked as Allison shone. The benign neglect led to Brynn's problems being ignored. This eventually led Brynn to move in with her grandmother, several hours away from Linden Falls.

⦿ Claire: Claire struggled to conceive and felt despair about her childlessness. She and her husband Jonathan were thrilled to be able to adopt Joshua, and are solicitous caring parents.

⦿ Charm: Charm's mother Reanne was a grasping philanderer who used men and tossed them away. Reanne cared about her children, but had no maternal instincts and could not raise them properly. Reanne is still around, and likes to create drama when she gets the chance.

As the four women relate their tales, secrets are revealed, some of which readers may suspect in advance.



In addition to being a suspense novel, the book contrasts good mothers and bad mothers, though real life parents are unlikely to be as extreme as the characters in the book.

Overall this is a poignant, touching novel, one that both teens and adults can relate to.

Rating: 3 stars