Review of "Death Angel: An Alexandra Cooper Mystery" by Linda Fairstein

In this 15th book in the 'Alexandra Cooper' series, Assistant District Attorney Cooper and her colleagues, Detectives Chapman and Wallace, investigate the murder of a homeless girl. The book can be read as a standalone.

*****

A young homeless girl, dubbed "Angel", is found dead in Central Park and the trio of Assistant District Attorney Alex Cooper,



Detective Mike Chapman,



and Detective Mercer Wallace investigate.



The three professionals are friends as well as colleagues and enjoy joking, dining, and playing "Final Jeopardy." In addtion - being free of other romantic entanglements - Alex and Mike allow their long-simmering, low-key attraction to take a tiny step forward. Though the familiar characters in the series are fun to visit, the book is not a success.

Linda Fairstein's crime novels always involve murder at iconic locations in New York City. Thus the reader is treated to a healthy dose of the architecture and history of the site(s) along with an interesting investigation, good detective work, and a satisfactory resolution. Not so in this book. It seems like about 90% of the book is devoted to discussing the geography, history, structure, fountain, and uses of Central Park....



and about 10% to a disjointed, sprawling, almost incomprehensible mystery novel.

As the story proceeds Angel's death somehow leads investigators to the Dakota, a super-ritzy apartment building next to Central Park.



In the past, the wealthy Dalton family bought up the 8th floor of the Dakota for themselves and housed their servants on the 9th floor. The family also experienced a terrible tragedy, the disappearance of a 3-year-old Dalton child.



Meanwhile - in the present - as Angel's killer is being sought a rapist with the words "Kill Coop" tattooed on his hand is attacking women and another death occurs. 




Are these events all connected somehow?

To top it all off, Mike Chapman has gotten himself into hot water by having an affair with - and dumping - a disturbed lady judge who's out for revenge.



This causes trouble all around. Other characters in the story include an elderly Dalton, Dalton family servants, homeless people, mental patients, and more.



Eventually, Angel's killer is uncovered in a resolution that seems almost disconnected from the rest of the story. Moreover, some plot points seem to go unresolved - but by the end I didn't care. If this book was billed as a story about Central Park it would be a success. If you're looking for a good mystery, skip this book.

Rating: 2 stars

Review of "Sacrilege: A Giordano Bruno Mystery" by S.J. Parris

In this third book in the 'Giordano Bruno' series, Bruno tries to track down a killer in Canterbury while he exposes Catholic plots against Queen Elizabeth. The novel can be read as a standalone.

*****

It's 1584 and antagonism rages between Protestant England and Catholic countries of Europe. Many people, even in England, would like nothing better than to depose (or kill) Queen Elizabeth and install a Catholic monarch on the English throne. Thus the Queen's adviser, Sir Francis Walshingham, has an extensive network of spies working to sniff out Catholic sympathizers. One of the spies is the Italian ex-monk Giordano Bruno, currently living in the French Embassy in London.



As the story begins, Bruno is hurrying through London when he's surreptitiously approached by Sophia Underhill, an old (sort of) flame he still loves.



Sophia has come from Canterbury to seek Bruno's help. Sophia tells Bruno that she was forced to marry Sir Edward Kingsley, an abusive older man who made her life a misery.



Sir Edward was recently bludgeoned to death in Canterbury Cathedral and Sophia is accused of the crime. Fearing she'd be hung Sophia escaped to find Bruno, who she thinks can expose the real murderer. She's sure the killer is Sir Edward's son Nicholas - a lout interested only in women and gambling.

Bruno asks his employers' permission to go to Canterbury, which is a suspected haven for Catholic sympathizers. Catholic Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170, after which he was declared a saint. Many people believe saints' bones can perform miracles, but Sir Thomas's bones have presumably been lost or destroyed.



Bruno goes to Canterbury where he has two tasks: find the real killer of Sir Edward and search for Catholic plots against Queen Elizabeth. Sophia, disguised as a boy, accompanies him. In Canterbury Bruno stays with his elderly friend Dr. Harry Robinson, a Protestant official and spy for Sir Francis Walsingham while Sophia stays with protective Huguenot friends.

As Bruno pursues his investigations he learns that something sinister seems to be going on in Canterbury and that several young boys are missing or murdered. Bruno's inquiries incur hostility from various people, including his host's manservant, the local physician, and the church treasurer. Then, when a local shopkeeper is killed, Bruno himself is accused of murder. This is followed by more murders, and it seems clear that one or more Canterbury residents are covering their tracks about something.



I'm not a history buff and don't read a lot of historical fiction but the depiction of Canterbury's streets, houses, people, and ambiance feels authentic. So does old England's rather hasty (and probably unfair) dispensation of 'justice' at the time. Seems you could be accused of murder (a crime for which you were not allowed a lawyer), tried, and hung all in the space of a week or two!



The book's plot is engaging and the characters are sufficiently well-rounded and believable. There's even a courtroom scene, where Bruno (and others) are tried for their crimes. The book has some twists that surprised me and an almost satisfying ending. Could be some unfinished business is addressed in subsequent books in the series.

Over all I'd say this is a good historical mystery that fans of the genre would enjoy.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review of "The Wanted: An Elvis Cole and Joe Pike Novel" by Robert Crais

In this addition to the 'Elvis Cole - Joe Pike' series, the Los Angeles private detectives try to help a trio of over-privileged teenage thieves. The book can be read as a standalone.

*****

Devon Connor is worried about her 17-year-old son Tyson. The troubled boy was booted out of two high schools, making it necessary to enroll him in an expensive 'alternative school' - and now Tyson's room contains wads of cash and big-ticket items he can't afford, like designer clothes from Barneys; electronics; and a Rolex watch that costs at least $40,000.



Concerned that Tyson is doing something illegal, Devon hires Los Angeles private investigator Elvis Cole - the self-styled 'World's Greatest Detective' - to find out what's going on with her son.



Using the serial numbers on the Rolex, Cole learns that it was stolen from Dr. Richard Slausen. Cole's visit to the physician's house brings him to the attention of two LAPD detectives - Cassett and Rivera.



Cassett and Rivera are investigating a string of 18 home burglaries in the area, including the heist at Slausen's place.



The detectives reveal that three people were seen on CCTV, breaking into the looted homes, but the burglars always hid their faces.....until one boy accidently glanced up at the camera.



This was Tyson, but the cops haven't identified him yet, and have no idea who his accomplices are.

Cassett and Rivera want Cole to reveal what he knows, but the PI keeps mum - hoping he can arrange for Tyson to get a lawyer, turn himself in, and make a deal. This deal isn't going to happen though because Tyson robs homes with two other teens, Amber and Alec, and he'd never rat them out. Especially not Amber, who has Tyson wrapped around her little finger.



So, instead of surrendering, Tyson goes on the run.

Unfortunately for the larcenous teens, they stole a laptop from someone who's desperate to get it back. The laptop owner hired a couple of shrewd toughs, named Harvey and Stemms, who have a spy in the police department AND know how to track people down.



When the thugs - who pretend to be LAPD detectives - find people with information about the teens, they 'interview' them.....then kill them.

Meanwhile, Elvis Cole is also hunting for Tyson and his friends, to keep them alive. Needing assistance, Cole calls on his partner in the detective agency, Joe Pike - a formidable former mercenary who uses few words, has red arrows tattooed on his biceps, and wears sunglasses 24/7.



With people getting killed left and right, you'd think the teenage crooks would be frightened - but Amber seems to think the whole business is a hoot....and that a Hollywood movie will be made about the gang's exploits.



Other interesting characters in the book include Tyson's former schoolmate Carl - a computer nerd who wears suits to his 'office' in the shed; and Amber's mother - who's annoyed when she has to abandon her skiing vacation to assist her daughter. Furthermore, Harvey and Stemms are more than just thugs for hire. When they're not killing people, the men discuss guitar riffs; changing a ringtone from the stabbing scene music in 'Psycho' to The Association's 'Windy'; and their personal lives.

There's plenty of action and excitement in this page turner, which ends in a dramatic climax.

I'm a big fan of Cole and Pike, two smart, capable guys who get the job done. I enjoyed the book and recommend it to thriller fans. 

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review of "Bono: The Amazing Story of a Rescue Cat Who Inspired a Community" by Helen Brown

Helen Brown is a wife, mother, journalist, blogger, author, and cat lover. Over the years Helen has written several books about her adopted felines - Cleo and Jonah - who helped her family heal after the tragic death of a child and Helen's bout with breast cancer. This book is about yet another kitty, Bono, whose resilience and joie de vivre helped Helen navigate her 'two-thirds life crisis.'


Helen Brown

In 2015 Helen was restless and bored in her Australian home, feeling like her relationship with her husband Philip was going stale. Helen writes "We’d been married 22 years, the kids had all left home and....I felt this terrible need to go away and find out who I really was."

Helen opted to go to New York, thinking, "What better place to be alone than in a city full of millions and millions of people?" In addition, New York was the home of Helen's editor, Michaela Hamilton. Michaela - a fellow cat enthusiast - was thrilled about Helen's visit and suggested the author foster a 'cat-in-need' during her visit. Helen (very reluctantly) agreed.

The author acquired a one-month Airbnb rental for a tiny studio apartment near the United Nations, and headed for the Big Apple with her daughter Lydia - who agreed to go along for a couple of weeks. The two women spent a few days sight-seeing; partying with Michaela; shopping at high-end department stores; and purchasing cat supplies before they met their foster cat, Bono, at Manhattan's Bideawee Shelter. Because Bono's fur had been severely matted he was shaved, and looked like a tiny black lion....complete with a mane and a pom-pom on the end of his tail.



Bono's solicitous caregiver at Bideawee, Jon Delillo, explained that the cat - who had been orphaned by Hurricane Sandy - had kidney disease and required extensive care and costly medication. Thus the little guy had almost no chance of finding a forever home. After Jon chatted with Helen and Lydia about Bono's 'vacation', he showed them how to administer the cat's pills, placed him in a carrier, and - grinning broadly- stated, "This is the best thing that's ever happened to Bono."😁

Helen didn't agree. Soon after Bono entered the studio apartment he climbed up the dirty chimney, got stuck, and knocked down years of accumulated grime. Afterwards, Bono hid under the bed, refused to take his medicine, ate sporadically, and wouldn't poop. In spite of it all, Lydia fell in love with Bono, while Helen (not so secretly) couldn't wait to take the cat back to Bideawee.

Lydia wouldn't have it though, and - before returning to Australia - made her mother promise to keep Bono for her entire stay in New York. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

Helen's feelings for Bono changed when he showed himself to be a wonderful companion who was happy just to be alive. After Bono adjusted to his new circumstances, he greeted every day with happy exuberance and - like many pets - knew when Helen needed comfort - like after the horrific bombings at the Boston Marathon. Bono liked to play with a sock; arch his back leg in a graceful arabesque; have his forehead and neck stroked; sleep on Helen's pillow; wake Helen by patting her eyes; purr contentedly; and so on.

As Bono recovered his zest for life, so did Helen - partly from Bono's companionship, and partly from the fun she was having in New York: hobnobbing with interesting people; eating breakfast in the neighborhood diner; observing street vendors selling knock-offs; dining in fine restaurants; visiting fabulous museums; going dancing; shopping in elegant stores; strolling through diverse neighborhoods; befriending fellow cat lovers; and so on. I love New York too, so I completely understand this.

Helen's husband Philip was an absolute prince through all this. He completely supported Helen's 'sabbatical'; skyped with her regularly; always said 'I love you'; and took good care of their cat Jonah while Helen was away.

Bono's situation was still precarious, however, and - at Michaela's suggestion - Helen started a blog about the feline, to try to find him a permanent home. The blog attracted thousands of responses from people all over the world, with personal anecdotes about their cats.....and words of praise for Helen and Bono.

Did Bono find a forever family? Yes! But you'll have to read the book to find out how.

In the end, Bono helped Helen overcome her restlessness; grow closer to her daughter Lydia; gain a new appreciation for her husband; enhance her enjoyment of her children and grandchildren; agree to Philip's dream of buying a holiday cottage and a boat; and more. Quite a cat! And very beautiful when Helen visited him on a subsequent visit to New York, after his hair had grown back.



I enjoyed the book, but was sometimes put off by (what seemed like) Helen's self-centered behavior. More than once Helen spoke about staying in New York permanently, while the rest of her family remained in either Australia or New Zealand. Then I thought, maybe Helen's 'two-thirds life crisis' was connected to the tragedies in her life, including the life-endangering breast cancer. Anyway, who am I to judge? Given the option of fleeing to Hawaii (or Australia), maybe I'd do it. 😎 👙 💙 So, what Helen does is her own business (IMO).

All in all this is a good book about an endearing cat and the people who love him. Recommended to cat lovers everywhere.

I understand that part of the earnings from this book go to Bideawee Animal Shelter and Hospital.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author (Helen Brown), and the publisher (Citadel) for a copy of the book.

Rating: 4 stars

Review of "The Last Precinct: A Kay Scarpetta Novel" by Patricia Cornwell

In this 11th book in the 'Kay Scarpetta' series, the medical examiner is dealing with a lot of personal problems while investigating several murders. The series is best read in order to avoid spoilers, but the book can be read as a standalone. ***** As the book opens Dr. Kay Scarpetta, Virginia's Chief Medical Examiner, has maimed the deformed serial killer Jean-Baptiste Chandonne ('the werewolf') in self-defense. Kay believes Chandonne killed the corrupt former police chief Diane Bray but - in a   In this 11th book in the 'Kay Scarpetta' series, the medical examiner is dealing with a lot of personal problems while investigating several murders. The series is best read in order to avoid spoilers, but the book can be read as a standalone. ***** As the book opens Dr. Kay Scarpetta, Virginia's Chief Medical Examiner, has maimed the deformed serial killer Jean-Baptiste Chandonne ('the werewolf') in self-defense. Kay believes Chandonne killed the corrupt former police chief Diane Bray but - in a twist - Kay herself is being investigated for Bray's death. As usual in the Scarpetta novels Kay is the target of various malevolent individuals who wish her harm. (In Cornwell's books being a medical examiner is a very high risk job). Kay is more depressed and fed-up than usual for a number of reasons: she's still in deep mourning after the murder (in a previous book) of her boyfriend FBI profiler Benton Wesley; She's upset about her niece, Lucy, being suspended from her job at ATF; Her 'sidekick', detective Pete Marino, is being more obnoxious than usual; and she's thinking of quitting her job as Chief Medical Examiner. Part of the book is devoted to Kay examining her life in talks with her psychiatrist/friend Anna Zenner and much of this self-examination comes off as whiny and complaining. The book's best parts revolve around the investigation of a couple of bizarre torture murders that are labeled hate crimes and, towards the end, a young boy's suicide. As usual the scenes of autopsies conducted in the morgue are graphic and the forensic analyses of evidence is interesting. The book is okay but not one of the best in the series. Rating: 3 stars