5 comments about God's Brothel: The Extortion of Sex for Salvation in Contemporary Mormon and Christian Fundamentalist Polygamy and the Stories of 18 Women Who Escaped.

1. Having read many books on the problem of polygomy this was a great overview of all the different groups practicing this lifestyle and stories of women who had escaped from this way of life.



2. 
   The book arrived in only a few days and was in good condition.
   Would do business with this seller again!



3. While not many would argue that abuses happen in SOME polygamous families, most would also readily agree that the same alleged abuses occur in "normal" families (whether one parent or two). It seems that the writer has an agenda, and lets this color every sentence contained in this book. Unfortunately, she begins with an unconvincing legal analysis which can be likened to the decades of arguments supporting slavery, prohibitions on interracial marriage, and those forbidding same-sex marriage. Like it or not, some people may CHOOSE to live lives we don't all agree with. Fortunately, most of us take a live and let live attitude, and respect the right of the individual to be self-determinative - this is the essence of being an American. This is not true of Ms. Moore-Emmett who apparently knows best how each of us should live, after all she tells us throughout this book how things SHOULD be, and how we should and shouldn't be allowed to live - she's not exactly capable of an unbiased look at the subject. Furthermore, I was offended by the fact that she wrote about the experiences of the women as she interpreted them (complete with unnecessary commentary), rather than allowing these women to have and use their own voices. I would have enjoined hearing the storytellers' voices rather than the author's interpretation of what their stories meant as she heard them. This is particularly true because Ms. Moore-Emmett is NOT a great writer.
   In addition to the poor writing, the muffling of the womens' voices, and the extraordinary bias, are the errors. For example, early in the book she tells us that Joel LeBaron continues as the prophet of the LeBaron group, but approximately half way through the book she quite correctly tells us Joel was executed at the command of one of his brothers. On pages 102-103 she tells a story of one man losing his job for stealing arms from a military base to prepare the Utah group for Armageddon, then on the very next page, she tells us they were stolen the arms to sell to Iran. Well which is it? Does the compound need to defend against the imminent Armageddon, or is the man aligned with terrorists? It seems the author will stretch the truth of the story to make it more interesting. This point brings to mind the confusing nature of the writing - several times I reread portions in an attempt to understand who had performed certain acts, or who was involved in certain transactions, and even with several reads it was sometimes impossible to be certain.
   Overall, this book is a simplistic, conclusory, and biased look at a complex issue. There are many much better books on the market that allow the women of polygamy to speak for themselves, and these tend to represent a much more balanced look at the subject. While I have no interest in living polygamy or polygyny, I cannot confidently say we should have the right to interfere with the choices individuals make, except to the extent that they ask us to support it through various forms of public assistance. Perhaps the answer is not prosecuting polygamy since we have seen this fail several times, but to place restrictions or conditions on aid. I'm sure this action would also be met with arguments of privacy violations, but at the end of the day, I think most taxpayers would agree that some sacrifice for a handout that can be refused is fair.



4. God's Brothel is a fascinating look at polygamy in the United States within the fundamentalist Mormon religion. According to Joseph Smith, the founder and first prophet of the Church of Latter Day Saints, he received a revelation that the "principle" of polygamy was to be followed, and they did. Years later, as the LDS church eventually settled in Utah territory, the big issue with attaining statehood was that they practiced polygamy. The reigning prophet of that time received a new revelation; polygamy was no longer to be practiced and the LDS Church threatened to excommunicate anyone who did so. Well, there were many followers who didn't accept this and saw this not as a true revelation but one that was "received" just to satify the United States government; they were unwilling to recognize this new revelation and
   went on to form offshoots of the LDS Church.
   
   God's Brothel is not a bad book but it's not a great one either. It attempts to give some background on some of the fundamentalist churches, the psychology of why these women stay and also includes a few personal stories of women who have left their respective churches. My biggest problem with the book is that it feels like the author was trying to fill up space with big print and many wasted pages with forwards and introductions and not enough content. There was so much more to say and the personal stories and background infomration could have had a little more depth.
   
   There are much better books out there that give a personal viewpoint of what it's like to live (and leave) polygamy such as "Escape" by Carolyn Jessup who really explains why women just don't leave. Another good one is "His Favorite Wife" by Susan Ray. Again, this is not a bad book but kind of like a Reader's Digest version of the subject matter. It's not worth the money.



5. Moore-Emmett is a real journalist, five time recipient of Utah Excellence in Journalism award. She is also President of the Utah Chapter of NOW. She interviewed 18 women who had quite different stories to tell of their experiences with fundamentalist polygamy. The specific group that dominated them, the husbands and "sister-wives," their children, their parents, are all quite different, and offer breadth to this horrible story.
   
   She also provides a "Reading Group Guide" at the back of the book, suggesting she had in mind that the book would be used as a teaching tool. The Author's involvement with a group known as Tapestry Against Polygamy (TAP) could indicate that she expects that organization to use it in reading groups. TAP is an aid program modeled on safe houses for victims of domestic violence. Indeed, that's essentially what it is, although of a specialized nature, since polygamous husbands (and their religious leaders) routinely use quite forceful methods to "discipline" a wife into submission. Child abuse is also rampant, and incest is sufficiently common that those two groups of victims overlap a good deal.
   
   These men are either quite insane or quite evil, or perhaps both. They claim "revelations" from God which govern their decisions, and many contend that certain sins can only be washed away with "blood atonement." In the bluntly worded Glossary, this is defined as "The death of the sinner or enemy of the church to pay for his or her sins." They're not kidding, either, although the deaths are attributed to accident or suicide. Since the local police in several of these communities are polygamists themselves, it only gets a woman or child in more trouble to report abuse to "authorities."
   
   Even those who escape are scarred, physically, mentally, emotionally and economically. They typically escape with little more than the clothes on their backs. They have very limited educations, often no more than a grade school education, and that in a very limited school that teaches religion and a few practical skills. They know nothing, or almost entirely nothing, about the world outside the polygamist group, and have been taught to fear that world as demon-driven. They are also raised in the most extreme forms of racial and religious and sexist prejudice. Women can only get into heaven with the assistance of their "priest-head" (husband in most cases), who can reject them on a whim. The husband's power is very nearly absolute over his wife's life, with only the power-mad "prophet" over him.
   
   Still, courageous women who conclude the risk is no worse than remaining where they are have escaped, helped each other to cope with the world outside, and even won a few battles in the courts of law. Some of their children get past the traumas of their childhood (where sexual abuse is almost common, and the children are condemned as "disobedient" if they protest), and some fall into depression, alcoholism, drug abuse and suicide.
   
   Not a pleasant book to read, but an important one.

5 comments about The Little Sleep: A Novel.

1. The Little Sleep was such a fresh experience. Although I don't typically read in the noir genre, this is a whole new twist on the Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammet base. A narcoleptic, hallucinating, private eye who can't drive and can barely take care of himself and Southie (Boston) as a bonus? It sounds so gimmicky, but it doesn't read that way. I'm not sure why, but it works! Sometimes I laughed, but I also found myself crying out "Oh No!" a couple of times while racing through the pages.
   
   Mark would be a perfect replacement for Monk on the network that advertises "characters welcome." I can't wait to read more in the series to see how he copes. Great fun. Thanks Paul Tremblay.



2. This is the first book I've read by Paul Tremblay, and I must say that I was blown away. Tremblay's writing is smooth and easy to read, and his wittiness shines through each page. In this book we are introduced to Private Investigator Mark Genevich. He has one major problem that hinders his job performance: he has narcolepsy. While I must admit that when I first read the premise of this book it sounded quite far-fetched, I was not disappointed. Genevich is one of the most original characters I have ever come across, and this book will have you laughing, scratching your head, and disturbed at some points. Excellent read!



3. *The Little Sleep* is an interesting thriller (mystery?) with a gimmick - the narrator is a private investigator who is a narcoleptic (as a result of a head injury) and he frequently falls asleep, or partially asleep, and is prone to hypnagogic dreams and hallucinations. In other words - people can't always tell he is asleep, and he is unable to differentiate between dreams and reality.
   
   Brilliant, eh?
   
   This is a clever and intriguing concept for a novel, and to a certain extent it works. The flawed narrator's humorous, descriptive wisecracks add humor to the story.
   
   Regrettably, like a lot of bestseller type fiction (mysteries, thrillers), the book becomes overly concerned with plot elements that become the essence of the story. What could have been an amazing examination of reality and dreams becomes another stepwise, plot driven whodunit.
   
   For example: The main character is searching for a certain clue (some film), and we have a lengthy description of his searching the entire house, the basement, the backyard, the shed, yada yada yada - and surprise! He finds it! Then he needs to find a projector, then a stepwise description of threading the film through the projector . . . C'mon! Finally, half an eternity later, we find out what is on the film, and there is little suspense or joy because we knew we would discover what was on the film the first time we learned there *was* a film.
   
   So in some respects this book failed to meet its potential; however, I have read there is a sequel in the works. Hopefully there will be more exploration of the nature of narcolepsy, dreams, etc., and less plot driven filler.



4. This book was an excellent read. Not your average PI story with plenty of great quips! I hope the author keeps it up!



5. The idea of a narcoleptic PI sounded very cutesy to me and I almost skipped the book because of it. If I had I would've missed one of the freshest, most original and funnest PI novels to come around in years. With PI Mark Genevich, Paul Tremblay creates one of the most vulnerable PIs the genre has seen, but Tremblay never condescends to the reader, and instead keeps Genevich very real and a character we care about. The plot owes more than a nod to Chandler's The Big Sleep, and is very cleverly done as layers of Genevich's past are pealed away throughout the course of the book to eventually provide a solution to the case he's working on. I highly recommend this book and hope there are many more Mark Genevich PI novels to come.

5 comments about The Justice Game.

1. It's a page turner and really hard to put down. Since it's based on a real story, I'm being presented with real information, so I feel like I'm learning about the 2nd Amendment as I read along. I've really enjoyed the book. Mr. Singer has an easy to read style. If you enjoy legal thrillers, especially ones that are relevant to current times, you will really enjoy this book. It's an easy to read Christian fiction book. He's the Christian fiction's answer to John Grisham!



2. The Justice Game
   
   
   I set out to read this book and simply review and blog about it. However, when I started reading it the intensity grabbed my attention straightaway. I was immediately engulfed into the life of Jason Noble, our protagonist, and what made him tick. I could not put this book down until I got 3/4 of the way through the book. I know that this is based on a true case that Mr. Singer tried a few years back and that a lot of these things written about are true to some extent but I just could not get all the way into this book. I made myself finish it and although it resolves well I still think that it is a far cry from Grisham and hesitate to even compare the two. I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars for its creativity and its story line. I applaud Mr. Singer for writing this novel for those of us who need to ease into more suspenseful thrillers. I will be interested to see what the author has in store for us in the future. Although I did not find this as thrilling as some of this books predecessors, I did think that the author used what he knew well to write about what he knows. God Bless and Tweet ya later!



3. Sometimes the truth won't be exposed in the courtroom, but behind it. "The Justice Game" tells the story of Kelly Starling and Jason Noble, the persecutor and defense attorney for a majorly sensationalized firearms case, centering around a murder on live television. But what Starling and Noble soon learn, that despite being on opposite sides of the courtroom, that neither of their sides seem to be in the right, as there are more sinister forces behind it all. A fine courtroom thriller of finding justice, "The Justice Game" is quite the page turner.



4. The Justice Game opens with TV reporter Rachel Crawford gunned down in front of the television viewing audience. As a reader you then expect to see the gunman on trial but Singer takes another view of the tragedy. He brings Rachel's husband front and center with a lawsuit against the manufacturer of the gun.
   
   This could be a boring legal battle between two sides, but Singer makes it so much more with the personal turmoil and ambition that drive the two attorneys in the case. Enough to make a fine book, you say? Sure, but Singer ups the interest one more level by letting his readers choose the ending of the book. Before Singer completed The Justice Game he ran a video on his website presenting the closing arguments and the readers were then able to cast their vote. I for one loved the fact that I had a say in how this book ended.
   
   
   I am an admitted Randy Singer fan. I love the authenticity of his legal expertise, the legal aspects about the book that never overshadow the story, and most importantly his characters who are very multidimensional. In this particular book, he masterfully presents both sides of the gun control issue, allowing the reader to make up their own mind on what they believe on the issue. And though this book is about a big issue, the novel never feels like Singer has an agenda.



5. Great book and really appreciate that he not only used God's name to call it a Christian Thriller, but actually had some religion in it.

5 comments about Dirty Martini (Jacqueline).

1. It can be hit or miss finding a new author after you've read everything by someone you enjoy. Fortunately, with J. A. Konrath, you can sit down and order a drink and enjoy reading it.
   After reading Dirty Martini I am going to have another and then one for the road.
   I won't tell you who done it...well, OK, it was the Chemist but you knew that from the first few pages. The picture that Konrath paints of the evil plot being hatched by the Chemist will scare your last drink out of you. It is brilliantly graphic without being tastelessly gory.
   Our heroine, Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels is tasked with finding the Chemist and stopping his terror spree. Throughout the entire cat and mouse chase Konrath serves excitement straight up and humor on the rocks like few authors can. The brilliant dialogue serves as a great garnish making even the less important characters come vibrantly alive.
   The realism added by Konrath's obvious research let's you enjoy the ride without your brain having to do mental gymnastics to accept the story line as plausible.
   I say buy it and drink it in. Right now though, I have to head out to the bar...er bookstore and grab a Whisky Sour.



2. Like a long gulp of the titular drink, this fourth Jack Daniels thriller goes down smoothly but kicking. Chicago insomniac homicide cop Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels is up to her ears in family trouble again when a madman dubbed "the Chemist" goes on a poisoning rampage intending to bring the city to its knees. Saddled with an eccentric mom, a father she didn't know she had, a killer house cat, a loyal but suddenly reticent partner, and a marriage proposal, you might think Jack doesn't have time to mess with crazed mass murderers, but you'd be wrong. The Chemist soon develops a bizarre relationship with Jack, toying with her in "Dirty Harry" style even as he targets cops all around her with his deadly traps. Narrating in a deadpan comic pseudo-noir first person that alternates with the Chemist's creepy point of view, Konrath will keep you in stitches even as the killer parades around the city, dosing random innocents with rare toxins and diseases. Of course, he has a grand finale in mind, but will Jack catch on before it's too late? Konrath's thrillers are sometimes shockingly dark, yet breezy and fun - all action and humor, perfectly laid out for the screenwriter. If you like the taste of this Dirty Martini, stock the bar and mix up a Whiskey Sour, Bloody Mary, and Rusty Nail, too. Your funny bone may never be the same. And you may never look at a salad bar the same way again, either.



3. Once again Konrath wrote an excellent Jack book. The only problem I have with these books is once I finish one I have to wait for the next one and I hate waiting!



4. My 1st story from JA Konrath; I was interested in his writings because I'm a fellow Chicagoan who enjoys thrillers. Lots of exciting craziness as well as nonstop action. Jack, the protagonist, is a very likable character who made me laugh out loud! At the same time, there were a few scenes that made the hair on my neck stand on-end. I "read" it via audiobook -- which helped to go from a regular read to a "HD-quality" read! JA Konrath's writing style flowed very well on CD. Next stop --> the rest of the series!



5. Good Stuff:
   
   JA Konrath has done it again! Just an awesome novel with terrific suspense.
   
   This series is a great example of the police procedural/detective genre. Unlike many of these types of books, the mysteries are well-thought out, executed with precision, and the main detective doesn't magically jump to a conclusion that leads her to the bad guy.
   
   Also, unlike many in this genre, the reader actually has a chance to figure the mystery out before the main character. Why is that a good thing? Well, because if the reader can do it, then obviously, there is enough material for the 'good guy' to do it without divine intervention. Sure, the reader gets to see the 'bad guy's' perspective at times, but Konrath ensure that we are given just enough, but not too much.
   
   Bad Stuff:
   
   The only downside was regarding Jack's personal life. I just felt that her attraction to another man at a certain point in time was unrealistic. I can't explain why the timing was an issue because I don't want to give a spoiler.
   
   However, this didn't 'spoil' the book for me at all.
   
   Will appeal to:
   
   Readers of the Stephanie Plum Series and people who enjoy police procedurals.
   
   Unlike the previous books in this series, this one did not have a lot of graphic blood and guts.

No comments about Capital Mysteries #6: Fireworks at the FBI (A Stepping Stone Book(TM)).

5 comments about The First Family: Terror, Extortion, Revenge, Murder, and the Birth of the American Mafia.

1. One major aspect of this book is how it bleeds with research. It's clear tons of effort went into getting the details and stories correct. This book is the result of painstaking investigations and painstaking research, and that makes for a lot of gruesome accounts of crimes.
   
   The other major aspect of this book is that it was written beautifully. Yes... beautifully. For the topic, that's hard to believe, but this book is as enjoyable to read as a thrilling novel. You want to know what happened next in this almost inspiring rags to ... ashes account.
   
   What's the book really about? A man comes to our society, like many, wanting to make something by working hard. He pioneers a system of crimes that is lucrative and relatively stable. A basic plan that is used to great affect after it kills the first faction... leading to the ultimate conclusion about the fascinating mafia.
   
   If you or someone you love is interested in crime or the mafia, this book deserves my unqualified recommendation. However, it's painstaking detail about a horrible thing. That is not for everyone. This, to me, is American History (I love the country... not a ding on her whatsoever, but this is part of the history!)



2. I really enjoyed learning about the early days of Italian-American organized crime in this well-researched book, but I can't say I found it as thrilling an experience as many reviewers. Facts were piled upon facts, dates and names flew by, but few of the characters really came to life and I found the writing to be plodding. A good book in many ways, just not a great, five-star book. A solid three.



3. Here for the first time is a complete narrative history of the Morello Crime Family, the earliest documented Mafia organization in New York City. It is a unique combination of thrilling storytelling and authoritative history. Building on four years of research into U.S. Secret Service archives, court transcripts, prison files and other sources, Dash tracks the history of the Giuseppe Morello's clan from its origins in Sicily, through early adventures in Louisiana and Texas, to the establishment of a Mafia empire based in New York City. The author also examines the sensational counterfeiting trial that brought an end to Morello's reign over the Mafia.
   
   There is good reason to quarrel with Dash's choice of title and with his repeated discussion of that choice within the book. The Morello crime family came to life decades after earlier documented Mafia organizations in New Orleans. Dash's insistence that the Morello group was the earliest American Mafia organization to "survive" also seems indefensible, as there is little direct evidence for the group's existence beyond about 1915. Dash, himself, seems uncertain whether the Morello group evolved into the Lucchese crime family or the Genovese crime family.
   
   While other small factual and logical problems spring up from time to time, The First Family is well constructed on a sturdy foundation of scholarly research. Those interested in Mafia nonfiction will find it difficult to put down.



4. Another reviewer who also gave three stars really epitomized what I was thinking when I finished this book; Dash is an excellent writer but it was difficult to connect with the characters. I have read other Mike Dash books and think he is an excellent author - his research is unrivaled, his prose is compelling, and his weaving of a tale is top notch. I think this book suffered from not enough material on the main characters, too many characters, and lack of one focused character. In other Dash works one character is the center of the piece and we get to know them well. Get inside their heads and as a result get to know and become invested in the other characters. That didn't happen for me in this book. I never felt compelled by the main character and certainly didn't feel as if I truly understood what motivated him, beyond just greed, to start the mafia - how it got started - how the interactions of the people were. However, despite these drawbacks it remains an interesting read and I wouldn't suggest anyone not read it but if you're expecting to connect with the characters in the same way you might have with other Dash novels you might be left a bit disappointed.



5. I am delighted to have this book. Even as a long-time student of Mafia history, and as a native New Yorker, I learned a great deal that I didn't know from this book. It reflects oustanding scholarship and splendid quality writing, oddly, about the grotesque sociopaths who have populated the Mafia. This is a major addition to the literature about this subject, and I heartily recommend it.
   
   If I could have had one more feature in this book, it would be coverage of Carlo Gambino, who grew up in Sicily, entered the U.S., and was an important Mafioso in New York during the time frame of the book. Considering that Gambino went on to become the most powerful Don in the American Mafia's history, I think he should have been covered too.
   
   I would encourage the author to create follow-on works. Three possibilities: a continuation of his excellent work picking up in the time frame in which this current work leaves off, and ending at the death of Carlo Gambino in 1976, arguably the end of an era; or, a history of the Brooklyn Mafia, which has been exceedingly rich but doesn't receive as much depth as does the Manhattan branches in the book; or, a biography of Carlo Gambino; or all three.

5 comments about The Forgery of Venus: A Novel.

1. An accomplished writer / avid reader in my book club highly recommended this book for our group, and I was so happy she did. Gruber wraps it all up in this book - intellect, drama, humor, history, and outstanding writing technique. I don't do "time travel" well (says my husband) but Gruber successfully wove a tale that could traverse centuries seamlessly. Outstanding!



2. It's been suggested that there's a fine line between brilliance and madness and it is exactly this edge becomes the centerpiece of exploration for "The Forgery of Venus."
   
   This brilliantly written, fascinating story focuses on the life of Chaz Wilmot, an artist of exceptional talent who has had to make a hard living from commercial work.
   
   Chaz Wilmont has led a less than normal life (doing drugs) and despite his superior talent, he finds himself desperate for money to help support his sick child who needs expensive medical treatment. To make ends meet, Chaz first agrees to participate in a drug study on creativity.
   
   He also receives an even more lucrative offer he finds he cannot refuse. His best friend, gallery owner Mark Slade, tells him about a ceiling in Venice that needs a secret restoration. He is worried it is more of a forgery but desparate for money he agrees.
   
   Fast pace and intreging. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the arts.



3. I'm enjoying the story very much, but the narration on the CD version is wretched. The acting is terrible, there is no vocal distinction between the characters so you can't tell who is saying what. There is barely any inflection and there are foreign characters, but no attempt at developing accents. I hope I don't have to listen to this narrator again--very poor, though the story is very enjoyable and is drawing me along very effectively.



4. Admittedly, I am a Michael Gruber fan - but this is perhaps his best book yet. We get what we have come to expect from this writer - snappy dialogue, sophistication, humor. A master of the change-up, Gruber has a way of juxtaposing within a single sentence erudition and idiom that keeps the reader on their toes. A finely drawn (npi) central character with more depth than we've seen before in Gruber's previous novels. Not surprisingly, there is a supernatural angle in the book - but this time it takes us into a realm of psychology and introspection and leads us to important questions that just might be relevant in our own lives. The nature of reality, in a world where many things become more and more virtual. The obligations that come with talent - you gotta wonder if Gruber's own personal history, using his own considerable talent to ghost for another for so long, isn't reflected in Chaz Wilmot's life story.
   
   I loved the Gruber books in the Karp series; I liked the Jimmy Paz novels. I read the Book of Air and Shadows and enjoyed it - but I can't remember it now. This one is different, and better. Kudos, Mr. Gruber - I can hardly wait for your next.



5. I love a story that's centered in art history, and the Forgery of Venus is one of the best I've read yet. Have the internet ready, because you're going to want to view every single painting Michael Gruber describes within this fast paced thriller. I was constantly going back and forth between the book and wikipedia, but that enhanced my reading experience tremendously. And unless you're an art history major, I highly recommend you do the same. After the final page, I really felt I had taken a fascinating course in Europeon classical art of the old masters. I've visited the Prado in Madrid, and saw Velazquez's Las Meninas, but I sure wish I had read this book first! As for the plot, I was extremely impressed with the author's seamless "time travel" transitioning between the 21st and 17th centuries. Sometimes in mid-sentence even! My suggestion is to pay close attention to the intricate plotline. After finishing, I had to review several key sections for everything to jell. The author leaves the protagonist in a somewhat ambiguous state, which makes this one a good choice for discussion.

5 comments about Guilty.

1. The best thing going for this novel was how fast paced the story was, even though it was a highly predictable tale! The book had a very promising start but quickly fell into an easily foreseeable story. Definitely an EASY read. I rarely give up on a book so I read the whole thing, but besides being so predictable it was just plain disappointing!



2. In California a defendant can plead no contest which is the same as a guilty verdict but, the no contest verdict can not be used in civil court. Confusing? well this is how I viewed this book. Kate's character or lack there of was confusing and an insult to single mothers every where. She was suppose to be tough and intelligent. Please quote/show where she was either. Her son seemed to show more character and insight into his relationship with his mother and his problems at school.
   Kate's relationship with Tom had no spark. Was Kate's "spunk" her ability to lie and just worsen any situation she found herself in? Don't buy, don't borrow, don't read. Ms Robard has many good and excellent books this is not one.



3. This novel was way too wordy. It was either pages upon pages of inner dialogue or it was pages upon pages of unimportant descriptions. The plot was totally unrealistic. No way would anyone with half a brain get involved with this jail-house scheme. The author adds insult to injury with the ending. Several hundred pages of nonsensical angst raps up neatly in about five pages...the bad guy completely confesses the entie plan thus enabling the required happy ending. The only thing that kept me from giving this book the lowest rating was the hot cop. He could protect me ANYTIME!



4. No spoilers......
   
   I really enjoyed this book. Held my attention and kept me up reading till early dawn.



5. This was my first book by this author and while I'll probably give her another chance, I didn't think this book was anything great.
   
   My biggest issue was with the character Kate. Every time she got worried, nervous or scared, we got a full paragraph of descriptions...Her insides twisted. Her heart hammered in her chest. Her hands grew sweaty. Her eyes teared up. Her stomach dropped. Her legs went weak. The problem is that throughout the entire book she was either worried, nervous or scared, so it seemed like about 3/4 of the book consisted of these repetitive descriptions that did nothing but fill a word count and add pages upon pages to the book.
   
   I also didn't understand what on earth would draw Tom to this woman, who lied and hid things from him right from the start. I also don't buy into any author's plot device of taking a good honest cop and having them go "rogue" simply because they develop the hots for a suspect. There are better, more believable ways to put two characters together.
   
   Hoping the next book of hers I try is better.

5 comments about The Quiet Game.

1. As a big fan of this writer, I have come expect alot in reading one his books. This is the finest book in his Natchez series and is the first book with Penn Cage, who appeared in Turning Angel and will appear in The Devils Punchbowl in July. The strength of the writer lays in his ability to develop characters who have both depth and substance. Unlike many writers, he does not have the need to use gimmicks such as flashcks and intertwining stories to hold the interest of the reader. He writes a book that is taut as well as solid and is one where this reviewer found the book difficult to put down. The characterization of the South is a strength and this reader was drawn into the story. Perhaps the only flaw that was noted was that the wroter does cross the of plausibility in some instances, yet it is best to take this work for what it is. The reader will be greatly saisfied.



2. I read Greg Iles' "Blood Memory" first, then, throroughly hooked on this great writer's style, approach, themes and spellbinding presentation, I began reading his other works. "The Quiet Game" teaches, enthralls and spins twists and tales until you feel you are actually living in the story, to the point where realizing you have finished the book leaves a form of postpartum loss. So I moved on the the next one .... Greg Iles' books so far (four) all all great.



3. The greatest thing about Iles is his ability to excel in such a wide range of genres and subject matter. No one writing today pulls that off quite as well as he does. Even the greatest authors mess up when they weave too complex of a plot and get to a point where the reader has to suspend disbelief or they create absured coincidences pile up in order to weave the threads together. Iles remains in control throughout every page of the Quiet Games long and very complex plot. Long is the reason I give the novel four stars. I felt it could have been edited down a bit. Twists and turns abound. At one point Iles mentions Ellroy's underrated masterpiece "American Tabloid" and I can see why. I was reminded a bit of that novel in the way that J. Edgar Hoover is tied into a Natchez murder, and a lot of memories of Bobby Kennedy are evoked. Excellent read overall, highly recommended.



4. This novel has it all. Interesting characters, plot, mystery ,unexpected turns, good guys, bad guys, etc.
   Unqualified recommendation for escapist reading.



5. The book is long and will keep your interest...but is implausibly silly at times. It requires a suspension of belief that an experienced prosecutor would do such a pathetic job and be so unprepared....but it is entertaining.

5 comments about The Bricklayer: A Novel.

1. Welcome a new American hero in the character of Steve Vail, a former FBI agent who never accepted control from bureaucrats.
   Noah Boyd's debut novel, THE BRICK LAYER is non-stop action as Vail is rehired by the FBI to find a missing agent and recover the ransom money the agent was carrying when he disappeared.
   The agency is hampered by expose publicity, White House scrutiny, upper level managers who have been promoted above their level of competence, and a deadly killer who leaves no trace of his activities.
   Vail is a maverick who takes chances outside the norm and holds his cards close because his life depends on self-preservation. As he plunges deeper into the vicious cycle of delivery of extortion monies and death it seems as if the master-mind has inside information as to how the Bureau operates.
   Steve Vail is a larger-than-life folk hero who delights an audience with sharp insights into his fellow characters and draws the reader into their world.
   Noah Boyd is the pen name for a former FBI agent and he has given the reading public a hero they can understand and respect.
   A FBI procedural that is not to be missed.
   Nash Black, author of Indie finalists WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS and HAINTS.



2. Ex-FBI agent, serial-killer hunter and pseudonymous author Boyd introduces ex-FBI loner Steve Vail in this non-stop thriller. We meet Vail - now a Chicago bricklayer - in a bank where he takes down two armed, hostage-taking robbers and then fades away into the crowd before anyone can thank him.
   
   In the next scene a young FBI agent prepares to take ransom money to a killer in what the FBI hope will be a sting. The self-proclaimed Rubaco Pentad claims to have killed a Hollywood reporter who wrote an FBI exposé, and promises to continue killing prominent people who have in some way targeted the FBI until their demands for money are met.
   
   The site they have chosen for the money drop is a defunct naval prison on an island shipyard in Portsmouth NH. Delivering the money bag involves the agent in a nighttime scuba-swim across the cold Piscataqua River, and an obstacle course through the prison's dank stone innards that culminates in the young agent's death.
   
   Not until another agent disappears with $2 million, and a few more famous people are dead, does Deputy Assistant Director Kate Bannon persuade Vail to come in on the case.
   
   Sparks fly between Vail and Bannon, who supports Vail's ingenious and unorthodox methods against Bureau recalcitrance and rules. Vail's numerous escapes are wonderfully over-the-top and Boyd's FBI background authoritatively fleshes out the story's intricacies.
   
   Boyd's page-turning debut has the distinctive ring of authenticity.



3. The author tests my beliefs during some of the scenes. It just seems impossible for the perpetrator to ever get caught. The novel held my interest well enough to keep me in front of the wood stove for an entire day to finish. A very good read.



4. While there are certainly some very interesting twists and turns, and a few surprises, in this novel the main character Steve Vail is a bit overdone. The whole concept of a former FBI agent who's a bit of a rogue and doesn't play well with others and has found peace and solace as a brickmason is a good one. Bringing him back to help solve a major mystery is a bit of a stretch but not nearly as much as some of his almost superhuman feats once he's on the case. However, despite some flaws in the development of his protagonist, author Noah Boyd has constructed a mystery that will keep most readers interested enough to finish the novel.



5. I was attracted to this book after reading the initial reviews--and I wasn't disappointed. This is a very good thriller, packed with cleverly-planned danger, amusing dialogue, an impossibly effective and smart protagonist, an appealing romantic interest (if you know what I mean and I'm guessing you do), and a pretty good 'sense of place', wherever the story takes us (an important element for me). It was hard to put this down once I started; a scenario that happens too infrequently with most contemporary action/thrillers. For those familiar with the Lee Child Jack Reacher series, this is very similar in many ways. (Those who aren't familiar with the Jack Reacher series, why on Earth not?) I've seen some reviewers complain about the impossibility of the entire plot, but truthfully, has anyone read a really good action/thriller that didn't have a wildly implausible plot? If you like action, interesting characters, a healthy description of place --read this book.