I read a lot of books as I review books for an indie bookstore in SLC, Utah. I'm also a writer. The Mary Mac trilogy is out now.
The Nikki Doyle trilogy (Rollover, Thunderball and Ms. Scarlett) can also be found at your local indie. Excalibur - the Nikki/Mary crossover was just published.
N.B My blurbs give you just a taste of the plot. Reviews are a pretty subjective matter but the books you'll find here are books I have read and loved.
Jul 27, 2010
The Anti Gene Hunt
Jul 24, 2010
Thoughts on Packing for Mars
As usual she dives head-first into her subjects which run from the evolution of NASA's 'food' to experiencing weightlessness (I'm jealous I've always wanted to do a zero g flight) to why sex in space wouldn't work (gravity is your friend people) It is - as she points out - possible to visit space without ever leaving the ground, but only in simulation.
Packing for Mars is whitty, packed with facts and laced with Roach's trademark humour. PFM will be out soon.
The drought is over!!
Weird little story attached to that one, it never stays in one place you'd think the thing had legs. It's out in August so I'd better get my skates on. So this afternoon I will be reading Packing for Mars out on the deck with my feet immersed in a paddling pool full of ice. Ahhhhhh!
Jul 23, 2010
Speaking for the Dead for a worthy cause
Levine’s first Jake Lassiter novel 'To Speak for the Dead' – first published 20 years ago - is now out in e form and if you’ve never read him before this is a good way to get caught up before his new Lassiter novel comes out next year. Plus every penny goes to The Four Diamonds Fund – Levine's pet cancer charity.
You can tell a lot about a character by their dialogue and Paul had the novel idea of interviewing his creation - here’s an excerpt
Paul: Then let’s talk about you. Have you changed much in the 20 years since “To Speak for the Dead” was published?
Jake: You tell me. I don’t carry a Blackberry, an I-Phone, Pre, or a purse. You won’t find my mug on My Space or Facebook. I don’t have a life coach, an aroma therapist, or a yoga instructor, and I don’t do Pilates.
Paul: So you’re not exactly trendy?
Jake: I’m a carnivore among vegans, a brew and burger guy in a Chardonnay and paté world. I open the door for women and walk next to the street in case a horse and buggy jump the curb.
Paul: Do you have a philosophy of life?
Jake: I try to do the least damage possible. I never park in the handicapped space or toss gum wrappers on the sidewalk. I help little old ladies cross the street, and sometimes, tall young ones, too.
Having read the full interview I went straight to the site and bought my copy – as a pdf – heaven knows I’ve read enough manuscripts on-line since I’ve been on authonomy.
If you want to discover a series that some say is better than Grisham and do your good deed for the day then head over to
http://www.paul-levine.com/content/jake-lassiter.asp
Thanks to Nicole for pointing me at yet another good legal series.
Jul 21, 2010
Beautiful Malice, Rebecca James
Rainy days and Wednesdays
Jul 20, 2010
Thoughts on 'Where Good Ideas Come From'
Before work this afternoon I'm going to the online water cooler to join a chat with Tana French about Faithful Place.
Update 13.07pm - the chat was 1.30 Eastern Standard oops! but here is the link to the replay
http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/publishersoffice/subcontent/watercooler.html
Jul 16, 2010
The triple threat
PI Charlie Parker has just got his license back. Hired by Bennett Patchett to investigate the suicide of Patchett's son Damien. Parker discovers a pattern of suicides all leading back to the Stryker C unit, a looted museum in Iraq and an artifact from the cradle of civilization that could make Pandora's box look like a picnic hamper. Parker's looking for answers, the Collector and a man called Herod seek the artifact or could it be a prison.
Not only is this a first class thriller, it has some interesting things to say about how returning soldiers are treated especially when the injury isn't visible to the naked eye.
Jul 13, 2010
Re-reads #1
Fury - Colin Forbes - A spy thriller, one of his best because he wove in the real life death of his wife.
Good Omens - Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett - Comedy version of the Omen - still makes me laugh out loud.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson - no explanation necessary.
Death of An Expert Witness - PD James - my first PD James, read so many times the binding has come adrift.
Silverstone - Bob Judd - A formula one racing thriller.
Thunderball - Ian Fleming - like your Bond more Daniel Craig than Roger Moore - this one's for you.
Notes from a Small Island - Bill Bryson - Bryson's book on his time in England.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K Rowling - I'm re-reading the lot.
Trading with the Enemy - Charles Higham - difficult to get hold of and not an easy read.
Eating Up Italy - Charles Fort - food writer takes Vespa to Italy.
arcs with everything?
Jul 8, 2010
Sad News
Jul 6, 2010
All Quiet on the Wasatch Front
In other news one of my galley grab requests arrived - The Whisperers by John Connolly which I can't wait to read.
7/8 Update on The Watchers, I'm split down the middle on this one. I understand the need for more data to track terrorists but the misuse of that data or even the numerous false positives such a system can generate mean that it needs to be carefully regulated and that removes the teeth from the watchdog. I also have a new acronym for the mode US politicians - doesn't matter if they have an R or a D next to their name - use and it's not SUABC (Stand Up And Be Counted) Instead they use CYOA or FE (Cover Your Own Ass or Forget Everything)
Jul 1, 2010
Faithful Place - Tana French
All this time Frank’s been thinking of Rosie, living in England probably married with kids, wanting nothing to do with a loser like him. I mean who’d want to get involved with the Mackeys?
Then one day Faithful Place pulls him back, a suitcase belonging to the Daley’s is found stuffed up the chimney and Frank has to get his head around the fact that Rose may never have left Faithful Place at all.