Review of "Dalton Kane and the Greens: A Sci-Fi Adventure" by J.S. Bailey

This is a goofy sci-fi novel about a human colony on a distant planet called Molorthia Six. (Warning: It's a humorous story, but there IS violence, death, and destruction.)

*****

When humans arrived on Molorthia Six 100 years ago, to establish a colony, they chose to settle in the planet's northern forests. Unfortunately, the woodlands were already home to a native species of tree-like creatures called the 'Greens.'



The Greens drove the humans into the hot dry deserts. Now, Molorthia Six has a population of 100,000 humans spread through nine desert towns.



One of the human cities, called Richmond, has a mayor named Carolyn Kaur......



......and a sheriff named Dalton Kane. Sheriff Kane is a florist by profession, but took the sheriff's job because he thought 'nothing ever happens around Richmond', and he'd have plenty of time to do his crossword puzzles.



Sheriff Dalton was sadly mistaken though, and he shudders when he thinks back to what occurred five years ago when "People rented out [an] oasis for a big family reunion. They had games, campfires, barbecues, you name it. Everyone was having a grand time until the Greens showed up." The Greens attacked, with dire consequences.



Out of forty-eight people, forty-six perished (including Dalton's wife and two children), and Dalton had his arm ripped off and eaten by a Green right before his eyes. (Dalton's arm was since regrown.)



Greens still invade human settlements on occasion, and people fight them off with flamethrowers and weed killer. This has been happening more frequently lately, since fires broke out in the northern forests.



Sheriff Kane needs a deputy to help safeguard Richmond, and he gets one when a salesman called Chumley Fanshaw shows up in Richmond.



The town has a 'No Solicitation Ordinance' and after Chumley is arrested, Kane makes him a deputy, much to Chumley's dismay. Deputy Fanshaw can't shoot straight and knows nothing about law enforcement, but he's gutsy.....and has some BIG secrets.



At one point, Mayor Kaur dispatches Kane and Fanshaw to the northern forests, to see what's causing the fires and to check out what's going on up there. The sheriff and the deputy run into trouble, after which they get embroiled in a dangerous adventure.....and then an epic battle in Richmond.



Sheriff Kane has to become a military leader (of sorts) and most of Richmond's population joins the fray.

The novel has an array of interesting characters, including:

Cadu Mão de Ferro - the very capable emergency operator at the Sheriff's Department;



Errin Inglewood - Mayor Kaur's androgynous personal assistant;



Durmeet Singh - who plays the guitar; and Lennon McTavish - who plays the bagpipes. These fellows step up in a pinch.





Summer Kane - the sheriff's widowed sister-in-law, who owns a motor home. She lost her family when the Greens attacked.



Gwendolyn Goldbarb - a gray-haired woman who has prescient 'daydreams' after getting lost in the desert;



Mysterious beings in white hooded robes, who seem to appear and disappear; and more.



I enjoyed this entertaining story, which is being promoted as the first book in a series; I'd be curious to see what happens next.

Thanks to Netgalley and J.S. Bailey for a copy of the book.

Rating: 3 stars

Review of "The Lie Maker: A Novel of Suspense" by Linwood Barclay

Novelist Jack Givins published two successful books but his agent, Harry Breedlove, says he can't place Jack's third book. Harry has another offer, though. SOMEONE wants to speak to Jack, and this person gave Harry a burner phone to pass on. Jack is to expect a call.

All this mystery intrigues the writer, so when a U.S. Marshall named Gwen phones, Jack agrees to meet her.



Gwen offers Jack a job writing 'fake backgrounds' for people in the witness protection program (called WITSEC). Jack's first assignment is to pen a history for a man called 'Bill.'



Jack insists on meeting Bill so he can write a believable background. With blindfolds and great secrecy, Jack is driven to a safe house to meet the witness. Once Jack gets a feel for Bill's interests and abilities, he does his best to create a credible biography.



All this is very hush hush, and Jack is forbidden to tell ANYONE about this writing job, even his girlfriend, journalist Lana Wilshire.



After penning Bill's false history, Jack confides to U.S. Marshall Gwen that his own father, Michael Donohue, was taken into the WITSEC program twenty-five years ago.



Michael Donohue was the muscle for a shady character named Galen Frohm, who owned a string of cheap motels. Frohm insisted on BIG kickbacks from linen suppliers and other vendors who serviced the motels, and if they protested, Frohm sent Michael to beat them up......or kill them if necessary. Thus Michael was a murderer who had ruined many lives.



When Galen Frohm's scheme came to light, Michael testified against the extortionist, after which Michael entered the WITSEC program. Jack's mother refused to accompany her criminal husband, and she and Jack - who was a heartbroken nine-year-old at the time - severed ties with Michael.



Now Jack would like to see his dad, and he asks Gwen if she can set it up. Gwen says she'll try, and then reports that - shockingly - Michael has disappeared. The WITSEC program has lost track of him. This is bad news all around, because - though Frohm died in prison - some of his people are still around, looking to kill Michael.



Meanwhile, Jack's journalist girlfriend Lana is pursuing two news stories. A judge who was walking his dog suddenly disappeared, as did a doctor on her way home from the hospital. Lana is very interested in both incidents, and she means to find out what happened.



Jack sets out to find his missing father; Lana sets out to investigate what happened to the judge and doctor; and after much intrigue, skullduggery, and danger, all the story threads come together.





Jack is too naïve, and some parts of the book stretch credulity. Still, the story kept my interest, and I'd recommend it to fans of thrillers.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review of "Please Write: A Novel in Letters" by J. Wynn Rousuck

In this charming epistolary novel, set in the early 1990s, Winslow (a Boston Terrier), and Zippy (a West Highland/Jack Russell Terrier Mix) - who live in Maryland, have a long-running correspondence with Grandma Vivienne - who lives in Ohio.



For a long while, Boston Terrier Winslow was perfectly happy being the only pooch living with Pamela (a theatre critic) and Frank (a landscape architect).







Then Frank brought home an abandoned 7-month-old Westie/JackRussell, who - being a rambunctious little gal - was named Zippy.



Dismayed by this addition to the family, Winslow types a letter to Grandma Vivienne, and complains that, "The selfish, scruffy pup has already eaten my dinner, stolen two biscuits, and decimated my favorite tennis ball."



Grandma Vivienne pens a return letter to Zippy, applauding the pup's love of toys but advising her to respect Winslow's belongings. Grandma Vivienne goes on to explain that her late husband (Pamela's father) judged dogs in competitions called 'dog shows', and Pamela has been working way too hard and needs Zippy to make her life calmer (ha ha ha). Grandma Vivienne also sends Zippy a dog tag and some Milk-Bone puppy treats.







Zippy's return note to Grandma Vivienne, reading "TREAT! TREAT! TREAT! TREAT! TREAT!" is transcribed by Winslow, who then takes it upon himself to teach Zippy how to type. This is the start of a long-running correspondence between Zippy and Grandma Vivienne. Winslow - a mature, observant canine - writes the occasional letter as well, in which he laments Zippy's transgressions, and sometimes mentions things like Frank being gone for days and coming home smelling like rum cake, and Pamela's resulting distress.

Grandma Vivienne finds most of Zippy's antics amusing, but chides the little pooch for chewing up Pamela's rare first edition book; stealing Winslow's food; digging up the bulbs Frank planted in the yard; being an escape artist; eating a box of Valentine chocolates; etc.



Little Zippy is sent to Puppy Kindergarten, from which she eventually gets a 'social promotion', and Zippy exhibits her boisterous, fun-loving personality everywhere she goes, like dog camp; a family trip; a plane ride; agility school (where Zippy won't come out of the tunnel); and more. Zippy reports back to Grandma Vivienne along the way, and Grandma Vivienne responds.



Grandma Vivienne is mourning the loss of her husband and suffers from health problems, but her interactions with the dogs are generally entertaining, loving, and upbeat. Grandma Vivienne is (mostly) amused by Zippy's shenanigans and adores both grandpuppies. She lavishes praise on the pooches; sends recipes for dog goodies; purchases playthings like pull-toys and plush Hanukkah dreidels; knits doggie sweaters and scarves; and when necessary, addresses more serious topics, some of which come up in Winslow's reports.





The book occasionally mentions deeper topics like addiction; the war in Iraq; Pamela and Frank's dislike of President Bush; Clinton and Gore winning though Bush said 'My dog Millie knows more about foreign affairs than these two bozos'; and other such things. However, the narrative is much more fun than political.

My favorite parts of the book are the scenes that made me laugh out loud. I'll give a few examples.

In a letter to Zippy, Grandma Vivienne mentions that Pamela's dad (the dog show judge) would get a kick out of Zippy.

Zippy reacts as follows:

Dog judge would kick Zippy????
Zippy is not guilty!!
Zippy is a good dog!!!!
Zippy watches Law and Order.
Zippy wants a lawyer.
Will not take a plea.
Did not do it.
Do what??? What is the charge??
Zippy will not go to jail!
Grandma Vivienne must be character witness.
Zippy is innocent!!!



*****

After seeing a news clip about President Bush's visit to Japan, Zippy writes:

President Bush threw up in Japan!
Zippy loves watching this on TV. It is on TV over and over.
President Bush hates broccoli.
Zippy hates broccoli.
Frank put some in Zippy's dish once.
YUCK!
President Bush has a dog named Millie who wrote a book.
Zippy likes Millie.



*****

Later, Grandma Vivienne is writing a cookbook with recipes for dog treats, and Zippy provides the following advice.

Zippy thinks you should name a recipe for Grandma Vivienne. Something sweet.
Zippy also thinks you should name a recipe for Pamela.....Maybe cookies that look like tennis balls.
Zippy even thinks you should name a recipe for Winslow. Something Zippy doesn't like. Something with broccoli.



****

In the course of the story, the family experiences ups and downs, and the dogs celebrate the good times and empathize during the difficult times.

The narrative is both very entertaining and a nice tribute to the dogs that enhance our lives.

The following recipes for dogs are included:

Winslow's Frozen Yogurt Treats


Holiday Dog Biscuits




Zippy's Birthday Cake


Chunky Peanut Butter Wheat Germ Treats


Meatloaf For Dogs


I had a text copy as well as the audiobook, and the narrator, Nancy Dhulipaly, does an excellent job.

Thanks to Netgalley, J. Wynn Rousuck, and Bancroft Press for a copy of the book.

Rating: 4 stars