#greatreads – Page 20 – Rosepoint Publishing

The Wrong Side of Goodbye by Michael Connelly – #AudiobookReview – #ReadingIrelandMonth24

Harry Bosch Book 19

Book Blurb:

Harry Bosch is California’s newest private investigator. He doesn’t advertise, he doesn’t have an office, and he’s picky about who he works for, but it doesn’t matter. His chops from 30 years with the LAPD speak for themselves.

Soon one of Southern California’s biggest moguls comes calling. The reclusive billionaire has less than six months to live and a lifetime of regrets. He hires Bosch to find out whether he has an heir. Using all of his cold-case skills, Bosch pieces together a 65-year-old mystery and finds out that the case is not as simple – or as cold – as he thought.

My Review:

Harry Bosch is working as a volunteer reserve officer (working free) to keep himself in the system somewhere investigating a cold case for the San Fernando PD. He’s also moonlighting as a PI. In that capacity, he was hired by a billionaire to find an heir he may have produced when he was a college student and still very much under the thumb of family. Now he is very ill and believes he doesn’t have much time and, of course, his company would prefer no heirs be found.

The cold case may be just as tough, that of a serial rapist. Fortunately, with his hand still legimately capable of research within the department—some according to the book—some a serious no-no, he has resources and the time he can tap that will get him info not readily available at the time.

Both cases run concurrently and are simultaneously immersive.

I love the way the author manages to bring in a little backstory to explain the history of the persons in the foreground. The support characters are always lively and well developed, but it’s that voice of Bosch that provides that rich storytelling experience we’ve come to expect in a Connelly crime thriller.

This installment also includes Bosch’s half-brother Mickey Haller, the Lincoln Lawyer, a legal thriller spin-off made even more popular as a series on Netflix. It’s fun to dip into the legal side of his case and the necessary police procedures it will take to get the case to court.

I also appreciate his references to the freeway system allowing cross-town travel at snail speeds and the history of the different neighborhoods. It makes the city come alive in the imagination.

The double plot is done very well providing lots of twists and turns and both manage to converge successfully to conclusion.

I always think, “Alright, that has to be his best.” Then I read another and think the same. This one is engaging, provides tension and suspense with both stories having you root for a satisfying outcome. I don’t know how he manages it, but it always does.

Enjoying a couple of his other series as well, also listening to both Renée Ballard and The Lincoln Lawyer.

I downloaded a copy of this audiobook from my local well-stocked library. These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Police Procedural Mysteries, Crime Fiction, Police Procedurals
Publisher: Hachette Audio
ASIN: B01K3EKBXS
Listening Length: 10 hrs 21 mins
Narrator: Titus Welliver
Publication Date: November 1, 2016
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Link: The Wrong Side of Goodbye [Amazon]

The Author: Michael Connelly is the bestselling author of more than thirty novels and one work of nonfiction. With over eighty million copies of his books sold worldwide and translated into forty-five foreign languages, he is one of the most successful writers working today. A former newspaper reporter who worked the crime beat at the Los Angeles Times and the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, Connelly has won numerous awards for his journalism and his fiction. His very first novel, The Black Echo, won the prestigious Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award for Best First Novel in 1992. In 2002, Clint Eastwood directed and starred in the movie adaptation of Connelly’s 1998 novel, Blood Work. In March 2011, the movie adaptation of his #1 bestselling novel, The Lincoln Lawyer, hit theaters worldwide starring Matthew McConaughey as Mickey Haller. His most recent New York Times bestsellers include Desert Star (2022), The Dark Hours (2021), The Law Of Innocence (2020), Fair Warning (2020), and The Night Fire (2019). Michael is the executive producer of Bosch and Bosch: Legacy, Amazon Studios original drama series based on his bestselling character Harry Bosch, starring Titus Welliver and streaming on Amazon Prime/Amazon Freevee. He is the executive producer of The Lincoln Lawyer, streaming on Netflix, starring Manuel Garcia-Rulfo. He is also the executive producer of the documentary films, “Sound Of Redemption: The Frank Morgan Story’ and ‘Tales Of the American.’ He spends his time in California and Florida.

Titus Welliver - actor, narrator — Titus Welliver–Compliments of Wikipedia–thank you!

The Narrator: Titus B. Welliver is an American actor. He is best known for his portrayals of the Man in Black in Lost, Silas Adams in Deadwood, Jimmy O’Phelan in Sons of Anarchy, and the title role in the television series Bosch. Wikipedia Born: March 12, 1962, New Haven, CT.

Cheers

Obey All Laws by Cindy Goyette – #BookReview – #TuesdayBookBlog

A Probation Case Files Mystery

Book Blurb:

When Phoenix probation officer Casey Carson goes to work, she expects naked people to answer doors, meth-addicted clients to hit on her, and angry judges to chew her out in court. After a routine home visit with a client, a Diablo gang member, goes horribly wrong, she knows she must watch her back. Even she must admit that a one-eyed, bad-ass, angry gangster and his crew gunning for her is a bit more than she was trained to handle.

Casey has even more reason to fear Diablo when her cousin Hope goes missing, and it looks like their handiwork. With women vanishing at an alarming rate in the area, police treat Hope’s disappearance as a priority. Still, Casey can’t sit on the sidelines, even with her ex-husband leading the investigation. After she receives information that proves her suspicions about Diablo right, the gang will do anything to keep her from sharing it with police, even if that means taking her on a one-way trip to the desert.

My Review:

Well, here is a new and fresh take on a crime thriller coming from the unique perspective of a probation officer. Casey Carson is a seasoned, savvy PO officer. She is also a main character you can identify with. She’s smart when it comes to her job—well—not always as every main character I’ve ever known tends to go off by themselves without backup. As a reader, you can yell at them all you want. They won’t hear you.

Still, the author has packed some very likable characters behind her engaging main character, including an ex-husband, Barry Betz, that you keep asking why the “ex”?

“Detective Barry Betz that is, got out and walked toward me, shaking his head.

He looked good.

Damn it.”

From the opening action-packed chapter through the sub-plot with Casey’s cousin, the fast-paced narrative doesn’t lag or resort to constant repeats. It doesn’t help when Hope’s sister Joy arrives to help find her sister—only to heap on additional problems.

I love the dry sense of humor from the first person POV and the twists and turns, but no, didn’t need a new heat-inducing sexy neighbor clouding the issue with the ex. I liked the ex. But the new neighbor adds tension, suspicion, and a little fun.

So, really, this is a debut novel? I love the unique aspect and info coming from that side of the law. Since we lived for a short time just outside of Phoenix, I was fairly familiar with the area—and the heat—and descriptions give it an atmospheric and comfortably recognizable quality.

A great start for a new series and one I’m looking forward to.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author and publisher through @NetGalley that in no way influenced this review. These are my own thoughts.

Rosepoint Rating: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Police Procedurals, Women Sleuths, CrimeThrillers
Publisher: Level Best Books
ISBN-10: ‎1685125344
ISBN-13: ‎978-1685125349
ASIN: B0CQ17GQ8V
Print Length: 310 pages
Publication Date: January 9, 2024
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Cindy Goyette is a former probation officer who had a front row seat to the criminal justice system. Her experiences helped her create fiction that mirrors real life situations. Her mystery, OBEY ALL LAWS, is part of a series published in January of 2024 by Level Best Books. Cindy lives in Washington state with her husband and two Cocker Spaniels.

One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day – #BookReview – #DomesticThriller

Book Blurb:

Could this reunion be the death of them?

The Precipice is a legendary, family-owned hotel on the rocky coast of Maine. With the recent passing of their father, the Bishop sisters–Iris, Vicki, and Faith–have come for the weekend to claim it. But with a hurricane looming and each of the Bishop sisters harboring dangerous secrets, there’s murder in the air– and not everyone who checks into the Precipice will be checking out.

Each sister wants what is rightfully hers, and in the mix is the Precipe’s nineteen-year-old chambermaid Charley Kelley: smart, resilient, older than her years, and in desperate straits.

The arrival of the Bishop sisters could spell disaster for Charley. Will they close the hotel? Fire her? Discover her habit of pilfering from guests? Or even worse, learn that she’s using a guest room to hide a woman on the run.

With razor-sharp wit, heart, thrills, and twists, Jamie Day’s ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY delivers a unique brand of summertime suspense.

His Review:

The Maine coast can be one of the most dynamic areas in America. Gulls float effortlessly over the water looking for a quick meal. The Precipice is a remote hotel on the coastline with unmatched views. Papa ruled with an iron thumb and each of his children were beyond spoiled and entitled. They grew up working at the hotel with various chores. Father was determined not to allow his offspring to be spoiled.

Sadly, Papa has passed and the family congregates at the hotel for a reading of the will. Faith is recently out of prison and Brea, Vicki and Iris are all thinking of how their lives will change when they sell the relic! The oldest sister, Vicki, has decided that she will take over and run the place and the others will receive a monthly stipend from the rents.

The family is fighting and trying to liquidate the property and Vicki will hear none of it. People start dying or disappearing. A hurricane slams into the Maine coastline and the hotel is on the track of the storm. Are the deaths accidents or is someone trying to eliminate the potential heirs?

This read made me very happy that I was not raised with this family. No love is lost between these siblings and accidents seem to be around every corner. The storm worsens and the property is boarded up to protect from blowing debris. Who will remain after the storm to take over the property? If the property is still there. 4.5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. These opinions are my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Domestic Thrillers, Murder
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
ASIN: B0CGS1QT8G
Print Length: 384 pages
Publication Date: July 16, 2024
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: No bio listed

Flight of Dreams by Ariel Lawhon – #AudiobookReview – #ThrowbackThursday

Book Blurb:

With everyone onboard harboring dark secrets and at least one person determined to make sure the airship doesn’t make the return trip, Flight of Dreams gives an utterly suspenseful, heart-wrenching explanation for one of the most enduring mysteries of the 20th century.

On the evening of May 3, 1937, Emilie Imhof boards the Hindenburg. As the only female crew member, Emilie has access to the entire airship, from the lavish dining rooms and passenger suites to the gritty engine cars and control room. She hears everything, but with rumors circulating about bomb threats, Emilie’s focus is on maintaining a professional air…and keeping her own plans under wraps.

What Emilie can’t see is that everyone – from the dynamic vaudeville acrobat to the high-standing German officer – seems to be hiding something.

Giving free rein to countless theories of sabotage, charade, and mishap, Flight of Dreams takes us on the thrilling three-day transatlantic flight through the alternating perspectives of Emilie; Max, the ship’s navigator, who is sweet on her; Gertrud, a bold female journalist who’s been blacklisted in her native Germany; Werner, a 13-year-old cabin boy with a bad habit of sneaking up on people; and a brash American who’s never without a drink in his hand. Everyone knows more than they initially let on, and as the novel moves inexorably toward its tragic climax, the question of which of the passengers will survive the trip infuses every scene with a deliciously unbearable tension.

With enthralling atmospheric details that immediately transport and spellbinding plotting that would make Agatha Christie proud, Flight of Dreams will keep you guessing till the last minute. And, as The New York Times Book Review said of her last novel, “This book is more meticulously choreographed than a chorus line. It all pays off”.

My Review:

The best part of this audiobook was the authenticity of characters the author brought to her fiction account of what might have actually happened to set off the Hindenburg in a fiery explosion that crashed to the ground within thirty seconds. Of the ninety-seven persons aboard, there were sixty-two survivors, among whom were two boys named Werner, eight years (a passenger) and fourteen years (the cabin boy). The two dogs did not survive.

With the possible exception of today’s school children, is there anyone not familiar with the story of this amazing 1937 German sixteen-story hydrogen blimp that burned into a molten heap in a field in New Jersey?

The real reason for the explosion was never determined, however, theorizing a possible leaking gas cell.

That’s okay, as this riveting narrative captures people from the original passengers and crew and creates a possible scenario and a fascinating read. Atmospheric—of course. It cruised at an altitude of 650 feet but could reach about 1500 feet if needed and the descriptions of the interior, not just passenger areas, but crew quarters and engine compartments are detailed.

The author used passenger and crew names and if they survived in real life, they survived in her book.

Interesting to have the POVs of the main characters, their reason for being on the ship, hopes, and dreams. The cabin boy is especially engaging, as is a young woman attendant (the first on a dirigible). Not all are sympathetic and the suspicions, tensions ramp up with each chapter and each new POV.

The storyline as it progresses into the climax takes on a frenetic pace, particularly after the initial explosion. Heart in throat, it’s hoped one of your favorite characters (or person in real life) survives.

And it’s amazing any did. Sixty-two (twenty-three passengers, thirty-nine crewmen).

Hindenburg disaster - photo courtesy Wikipedia — Photo courtesy Wikipedia

I applaud the research that went into the book and loved the epilogue that explained many more details and specific reasons for the way she spun the novel. Whether you’re a fan of historical fiction or not, this is a gripping book, the examination of a zeppelin airship, its attempt to land following a local thunderstorm, and the reason why it was filled with highly flammable hydrogen. The Hindenburg disaster “marked the abrupt end of the airship era.”*

My second audiobook by this author, as good as the first The Frozen River. You can’t go wrong with either. I downloaded a copy of this audiobook from my local well-stocked library. These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Historical Thrillers, Literary Fiction
Publisher: Random House Audio
ASIN: B01AO8KUPM
Listening Length: 12 hrs 40 mins
Narrator: John Lee
Publication Date: February 23, 2016
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Link: Flight of Dreams [Amazon]

The Author: Ariel Lawhon is a critically acclaimed, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. She is the author of THE WIFE THE MAID AND THE MISTRESS, FLIGHT OF DREAMS, I WAS ANASTASIA and CODE NAME HELENE. Her books have been translated into numerous languages and have been Good Morning America, Library Reads, Indie Next, One Book One County, Amazon Spotlight, Costco, and Book of the Month Club selections. She lives in the rolling hills outside Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and four sons. She splits her time between the grocery store and the baseball field.

#ThhrowbackThursday

*Courtesy Wikipedia

The Millionaire by Keenan Powell – #BookReview – #TuesdayBookBlog

A Maureen Gould Legal Thriller

Book Blurb:

Is Truth for Sale?

“The Millionaire” is in jail on a murder charge.
Violent inmates beat him savagely, trying to extort money.
To save his life, Maureen Gould must find the truth and free her client.

When Maureen Gould’s former client, Tony Paredes, known as “The Millionaire,” is accused of killing his abuser, she believes he’s innocent. But the authorities don’t care. They throw him into jail with violent criminals who almost beat him to death to extort money he doesn’t have.

As he recovers in the hospital, Maureen must find the evidence that will convince a jury to acquit him. If he goes back, the next beating will surely kill him.

My Review:

My turn for a Keenan Powell novel. The CE read both Implied Consent and The Sorrowful Girl, the latter of which should have been saved for March and Reading Ireland Month. He loved both of them. It’s definitely my turn.

I love a good legal thriller and Book 2 in the Maureen Gould Series is just that.

Gould is defending Tony Paredes accused of murdering the coach who raped him when Paredes was involved in the chess club of a private school. While those closely connected with the original lawsuit that Paredes eventually lost against Oscar Wenderholm believe he murdered Wenderholm, Gould believes her client is innocent. The evidence appears to be mainly circumstantial—he’s an easy, obvious perp.

It’s a multi-layered plot, one that involves Gould’s own secreted experience as well as Paredes’s story. The author has packed authentic support characters around her, including a prosecutor hubby and a daughter who wants to follow in her mother’s footsteps. There is also a very intelligent kitty named Germaine Greer that at times I forgot was a cat.

As Gould picks away at what few leads she’s gotten, her client has been badly beaten in jail and is now in the hospital. If he’s sent back—he won’t make it out alive. In order to win his freedom, however, she’ll have to explode the case wide open, against a prosecutor who has never lost a case and it’ll cost the loss of her own secret in the doing.

It’s a multi-layered plot using Gould’s own secret and Paredes’ backstory that includes a court case he lost to jury tampering. While some of the evidence of the murder appears contrived, there seems to be a credible witness with the victim’s wife. But a gun planted in Paredes’ trunk? Come on…Every step forward leads to another twist and the biggest of all in the conclusion. Good storyline, great characters, and I love it when I get surprised.

I’ll be looking forward to her next installment—this one can be read as a standalone, but hubby really enjoyed Implied Consent—you may wish to begin with Book 1. (Books 1 and 2 are available as audiobooks.)

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author and publisher through @NetGalley that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Rating: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Legal thrillers, Murder, Murder Thrillers
Publisher: Three Hooligans Press LLC
ISBN: ‎B0CS9R5BFS
ASIN: B0CK677XCP
Print Length: 285 pages
Publication Date: January 26, 2024
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon | Kobo

The Author: Keenan Powell is the Agatha, Lefty, and Silver Falchion nominated author of the Maeve Malloy Mystery series.
Despite being one of original Dungeons and Dragons illustrators, art seemed an impractical pursuit – not an heiress, wouldn’t marry well, hated teaching – so she went to law school. The day after graduation, she moved to Alaska.
She is the author of the Maureen Gould Legal Thrillers, the Maeve Malloy Mysteries and numerous short stories.

The Lost Pope by Glenn Cooper – #BookReview – #Suspense

Rosepoint Publishing: Five Stars

Book Blurb:

In this action-packed thriller, a Harvard theology professor uncovers religious and papal history—and plenty of conspiracy.

Cal Donovan, a theology professor at Harvard, receives an urgent message from a former graduate student, Samia Tedros. Now a museum conservator in Cairo, Samia has discovered a miraculous fragment of papyrus with three unknown lines from the Gospel of Mary Magdalene so explosive that a wealthy man is willing to kill to ensure no one ever sees it.

At the Vatican, another drama is developing. The new Pope has defied centuries of tradition and appointed a nun, Sister Elisabetta Celestino, as his secretary of state. Powerful insiders are outraged that a woman now sits as the second most influential person at the Vatican, and they plot to destroy her.

When Samia shows up at Cal’s doorstep in the dead of night, he is drawn into a deadly competition to possess a papyrus with the power to rescue Sister Elisabetta and change the course of Christianity.

His Review:

There have been a number of gospels not accepted by the church as part of the canon of the church. The Gospel of Mary is one such example. Depending on which book you read, Mary Magdalene was either a harlot or a casual follower of Christ. Some books maintain she was a consort of his.

This book maintains that she was the wife and ardent follower of Simon Peter and ardent follower of Jesus the Christ. She was very instrumental in preaching the gospel and message of Christ. She was possibly a disciple similar to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Another early proponent of the faith was the Apostle Paul. He was struck with his faith on his way to persecute and bring to trial early Christians preaching the teachings of a Rabii who was tried and crucified on a cross.

The Nicene Council in 324 was more interested in keeping the teachings of Paul and the four primary gospels. Mary was shuffled to the side and her teachings considered heretical. However, an old funerary mask discovered contains a snippet of the Gospel according to Mary, which would point her out as being the second pope after Simon Peter. Neither the church nor any of the current hierarchy within the church will recognize her teaching as being legitimate.

The piece of her teachings found in the mask historically alters the Nicene Council’s edicts and infuriates some current day Catholics. Those interested in maintaining the status quo want to disavow the piece of papyrus by radiocarbon dating and historical analysis. Remarkably some of those historians and scholars working on the project wind up dead! This entire book is mesmerizing! I suggest reading this book and making up your own mind. 5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. These are my own opinions.

Book Details:

Genre: Suspense, Suspense Thrillers, Literature & Fiction
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
ISBN:1538721260
ASIN: B0BHHGPNZQ
Print Length: 385 pages
Publication Date: June 6, 2023
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Glenn Cooper is an internationally bestselling thriller writer. His books have been translated into 31 languages and have sold over 6 million copies. To date Cooper has written seven novels all of which have become top-ten international bestsellers.

His Library of the Dead trilogy, is currently being adapted as a TV series by Pioneer Pictures.

Cooper’s novels are suspenseful intellectual, conspiratorial thrillers characterized by multiple interlacing time shifts which are often rooted in real historical events. In addition each of his books spotlights a large philosophical theme: fate and predestination, the nature of evil, conceptions of the afterlife, resurrection, and the interface between science and faith.

Cooper graduated from Harvard University, Magna Cum Laude, with a B.A. in Archeology. He attended Tufts University School of Medicine then practiced internal medicine and infectious diseases in hospitals, clinics, and refugee camps in conflict zones before joining the biotechnology industry where he was the CEO of several publicly traded companies. He is currently the chairman of Lascaux Media, a diversified media company which produces thrillers and horror films.

Rosepoint Recommended-5 Stars

The Longmire Defense by Craig Johnson – #AudiobookReview – #NativeAmericanLiterature

Walt Longmire #19

in Native American Literature

Book Blurb:

Walt Longmire faces one of his most challenging crime scenes as he tries to reckon with the revelations of his last case where he confronted the ghosts of his past and questioned the very nature of justice and mercy in the hard country of the West.

Deep in the heart of the Wyoming countryside, Sheriff of Absaroka County Walt Longmire is called to a crime scene like few others that he has seen. This crime brings up issues that go back to Walt’s grandfather’s time in Wyoming, as the revelations he learns about his grandfather come back to offer clues and motives for Walt’s investigation. Filled with back-country action, and with the great cast of characters that listeners have come to love with the Longmire series, this new book will be sure to satisfy both long-time listeners and those new to the series.

My Review:

Boy howdy, do I love getting back to that Longmire we’ve come to know and love along with all his cronies—all admittedly getting older (aren’t we all)—crustier around the edges but finally (in Longmire’s case) ready to admit he might need to slow down a bit.

The nineteenth installment of this successful series finds Longmire still recovering a bit from the sustained injuries received in Book 18, Hell and Back. Gees, he’s how old now? Actually, considering retirement? But first, he must take Dog and search for a woman whose GPS left her stranded and lost in the mountains with a storm coming on. He and Dog find her, but Dog also finds an interesting artifact stuck in the crags that will start a deep dive into an old, cold case. And it appears one that his grandfather might have been involved in.

Longmire is seldom on a simple case. No. This one is the same—the deeper the dive, the stickier the wicket. The reader is treated to most of the favorites, from Henry Standing Bear of the Red Pony to Vic, his deputy. In a moment of quiet reflection with Vic, he manages to make hash of what should have been a well-thought-out and tender, emotional moment. She disappears—pretty much the rest of the novel.

The reader is also treated to that wonderful narrator’s voice of George Guidall who sells the concept and the character of Longmire so well, it’d be impossible not to become engaged with both him and Absaroka County.

The investigation, as we’ve come to expect in a Longmire narrative, gets real complex real quick. There are flashbacks that fill in scenes from his grandfather’s life in the forties and the situation that appears to lead to monumental money chicanery that might involve billions. That’s B—billions of dollars—and an excellent reason to convince Longmire to knock off with the investigation already!

You know he won’t.

Love the mystery, love the well-plotted and paced storyline, the Western good ole boy but don’t take me for a fool, conversations. Yes, prose among the subtle conversations and developments with the characters (think Vic). Always another story in there and they don’t get old. This one is back on track after a couple slightly tilt, but can’t say I didn’t enjoy them as well.

Love the Longmire series! I downloaded a copy of this audiobook from my local well-stocked library. These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Native American Literature, Western Fiction
Publisher: Recorded Books
ASIN: B0C5NZ1P9S
Listening Length: 9 hrs 43 mins
Narrator: George Guidall
Publication Date: September 5, 2023
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Link: The Longmire Defense [Amazon]
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

The Author: Craig Johnson is the New York Times bestselling author of the Longmire mysteries, the basis for the hit Netflix original series Longmire. He is the recipient of the Western Writers of America Spur Award for fiction, the Mountains and Plains Booksellers Award for fiction, the Nouvel Observateur Prix du Roman Noir, and the Prix SNCF du Polar. His novella Spirit of Steamboat was the first One Book Wyoming selection. He lives in Ucross, Wyoming, population 25.
http://www.craigallenjohnson.com/

The Narrator: George Guidall is a prolific audiobook narrator and theatre actor. As of November 2014, he had recorded over 1,270 audiobooks, which was believed to be the record at the time. Wikipedia

Happy (Audiobook) Thursday

The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger – #AudiobookReview – #HistoricalFiction

Best Books of the Year 2023

Nominee for Best Mystery & Thriller (2023)

Book Blurb:

On Memorial Day in Jewel, Minnesota, the body of wealthy landowner Jimmy Quinn is found floating in the Alabaster River, dead from a shotgun blast. The investigation falls to Sheriff Brody Dern, a highly decorated war hero who still carries the physical and emotional scars from his military service. Even before Dern has the results of the autopsy, vicious rumors begin to circulate that the killer must be Noah Bluestone, a Native American WWII veteran who has recently returned to Jewel with a Japanese wife. As suspicions and accusations mount and the town teeters on the edge of more violence, Dern struggles not only to find the truth of Quinn’s murder but also put to rest the demons from his own past.

Caught up in the torrent of anger that sweeps through Jewel are a war widow and her adolescent son, the intrepid publisher of the local newspaper, an aging deputy, and a crusading female lawyer, all of whom struggle with their own tragic histories and harbor secrets that Quinn’s death threatens to expose.

My Review:

Oh my goodness. It’s a heavy one, this novel.

Memorial Day in the 50s in Jewel, Minnesota was several lifetimes ago. Men who returned from WWII and the recent Korean conflict are still working through their PTSD difficulties, assimilation back into society. It was a decade of violent memories, intolerance, and prejudices, and in this little community, as most, those who exploit and reap the spoils.

Main character Sheriff Brody Dern is one of the local decorated war heroes. Noah Bluestone, a Native American WWII veteran another but he returned with a Japanese wife who was recently fired by the Quinns before her employer, wealthy landowner Jimmy Quinn is found floating in the river. While there is not a lot of loss felt by the residents, they immediately suspect Bluestone.

Many support characters among the well-developed main characters create a multi-layered picture of the townspeople, struggles, and dynamics. From bold, colorful depictions of the area to the emotions, tempers, and prejudices of the people, the storyline captures the suspense and tension of the investigation.

Certainly there are themes of discrimination and intolerance as well as the foil in the young boys subplot to throw the reader off. More than one twist here but all roads lead to a satisfactory conclusion and in the meantime, a study of human nature in the prose provides thoughtful reflection.

The author penned an immersive story with engaging characters—but you may have to hang in there long enough to enjoy it.

I downloaded a copy of this audiobook from my local well-stocked library. These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Historical Fiction, Mysteries
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
ISBN-10: ‎ 198217921X
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1982179212
ASIN: B0BW1YTM96
Listening Length: 13 hrs 33 mins
Narrator: CJ Wilson
Publication Date: September 5, 2023
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Links: The River We Remember [Amazon]
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

The Author: Raised in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon, William Kent Krueger briefly attended Stanford University—before being kicked out for radical activities. After that, he logged timber, worked construction, tried his hand at freelance journalism, and eventually ended up researching child development at the University of Minnesota. He currently makes his living as a full-time author. He’s been married for over 40 years to a marvelous woman who is a retired attorney. He makes his home in St. Paul, a city he dearly loves.

Krueger writes a mystery series set in the north woods of Minnesota. His protagonist is Cork O’Connor, the former sheriff of Tamarack County and a man of mixed heritage—part Irish and part Ojibwe. His work has received a number of awards, including the Minnesota Book Award, the Loft-McKnight Fiction Award, the Anthony Award, the Barry Award, the Dilys Award, and the Friends of American Writers Prize. His last five novels were all New York Times bestsellers.

“Ordinary Grace,” his stand-alone novel published in 2013, received the Edgar Award, given by the Mystery Writers of America in recognition for the best novel published in that year. “Manitou Canyon,” number fifteen in his Cork O’Connor series, was released in September 2016. Visit his website at http://www.williamkentkrueger.com.

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