5 comments about Devil's Peak: A Novel.

1. If someone had asked me if I wanted to read a "cop" story that takes place in South Africa, I may have "passed" on it. What a loss that would have been! This is one the best I've ever read.



2. First book I've read by this author and I will be reading them all. Action is fast paced and you have to put the book down and take a respite. Not for the faint of heart. When's the movie coming out will automatically be the question once you have finished this book. Principal character, Griesell, rivals Ian Rankin's Rebus. An alcoholic detective, an avenging former Stasi trained African freedom fighter taking out his wrath on pedophiles, a beautiful call girl, and a Colombian drug lord all come together in a very well crafted suspense yarn. Through the book you are aware or suspect that things are not as they seem and the author jumbles the present with the past and the future but there is no confusion, only clarity. Meyer keeps you guessing until the very end.



3. Three very flawed but sympathetic characters populate this novel. There is Thobela Mpayipheli, a Black South African who was trained as an assassin by the East German secret police. Then there is Benny Griessel, alcoholic detective. And lastly, Christine van Rooyen, a prostitute with a three-year-old daughter. Somehow, their lives intertwine in a gripping story which keeps the reader off-balance all the way.
   
   Initially, Thobela is introduced as a farmer who recently lost his wife, leaving him with a young boy who he loves very much. The boy is shot dead during an armed robbery, setting off a chain of events which leads Thobela to act as an avenging vigilante against abusers of children. Benny, once (and possibly even in his present continual alcoholic haze) a superior detective, is kicked out of his home by his long-suffering wife with the admonishment that he might be permitted to return if he stays sober for six months. Meanwhile, he is placed in charge of two important cases, including the serial killer of abused children. Christine's story alternates with the other two as she sits confessing to a priest. Her tale plays a pivotal role in the lives of the other two.
   
   This is the author's fourth novel, each superior reading. His complex stories and descriptions of South Africa are exceptional, his characters unusual and graphic, his works top-notch. Like his previous efforts, Devil's Peak is highly recommended.



4. Deon Meyer's novel, Devil's Peak, is a complex, yet exciting tale of African espionage. The author has created a cast of characters so diverse, you will have quite a time keeping up with each of them. Yet, I wanted to know more about them as my fingers turned page by page.
   
   There is the prostitute who visits a clergyman with a secret carton. Then a man, a modern-day vigilante, is seeking justice for the death of his adopted son. On his trail is an alcoholic detective inspector who risks his wife and children for the love of the bottle. That is just a few of the people who make the novel so compelling.
   
   Out of all of their stories, Thobela Mpayipheli's is the one that kept me reading the book from start to finish. Here was a man who married the woman he loved and adopted her son as his. When she dies, he is left to raise the child, which he does with joy and determination. Then a fateful stop at a filing station changes Thobela's life forever. It sends him on a mission to send every criminal he encounters to a brutal and traumatic end. He is on a search for two men in particular who he has to exact a revenge that only their deaths can satisfy. Yet, he then realizes that his journey entails more than that.
   
   There are AIDS-infected men who are raping children in an ill attempt to rid themselves of the disease. When the court refuses to condemn them to prison, Thobela decides to take matters into his own hands.
   
   The author designs his characters in a way that their lives are all somehow entwined. This means that you must stay on your toes in order to follow the storyline. Yet, I found Devil's Peak to be an interesting and exciting read. I realize that Thobela Mpayipheli is my new hero and the man of my dreams.
   
   Armchair Interviews says: Most interesting storyline.



5. I've read all this author's works published in this country, and found them to be consistently top notch. In this book, he carries three plot lines through it dealing with complicated people that you find sympathetic. The author uses them to deal with major issues such as prostitution, alcoholism, and unsympathetic bureaucracy, as well as looking at some social issues mentioned in previous reviews. When the plot lines are meshed, it's done in an understandable and logical fashion leading to a satisfactory ending. The book is an exciting read. The protagonists are imperfect people with their own demons with whom they struggle. It is recommended highly and especially to those who wish to explore this South African's very original novels.

5 comments about Sight Unseen.

1. Well, I am glad I didn't buy this book, but instead checked it out of the library. It is the last Robert Goddard book that I will read. Tediously detailed and highly improbable plot. Save your time and skip this one.



2. "Sight Unseen" needs a road map to explain the complicated geography. And a telephone book of the characters. And a chronological outline of the events. Maybe then, with those aids, the reader can try to figure out the ephemeral characters, the shadowy motives, and the arch enemy who never really appears except to provide the deus ex machina at the end. Reading this novel is analogous to working a jigsaw puzzle. The problem is, there's no pretty, complete, satisfying picture to reward you for the work you've done.



3. One of the better Robert Goddard books. Innovative and very well constructed plot that holds the reader's interest. Well written, atlhough sometimes a bit too detailed on some historical or geographical details. Worth your time if you're looking for some quality entertainment literature.



4. I'm with Mollymag. Unlikely scenario, boringly told.
   
   This is a 23 y/o cold case being rivived by a retired Chief Inspector.
   
   The Janius (18th century political critic/writer) connection doesn't gel.



5. interesting for its historical and factual details. but the plot was so hard to follow. throughout the whole book I felt like I was just on the verge of "understanding". So many twists and turns that I didn't ever feel like I knew enough to formulate a guess as to what had happenned or even understand what was happenning in the investigation. decent ending and epilogue.

No comments about Emmy and the Home for Troubled Girls.

5 comments about Burned Alive: A Shocking True Story of Betrayal, Kidnapping, and Murder (St. Martin's True Crime Library).

1. This book was very well written and clear. Crowley is an excellent story teller and very accurate on each account. I found the true crime novel easy to read and an all-nighter. This cautionary tale is about a young college student, Kimberly Antonakos, who was viciously torched with gasoline and fire by the very people she extended her home to. The motive: absolute and insane greed! This case was heartbreaking and sends off a new respect for detectives in general. The sad moral in this story is that no one is your friend and becareful whom you befriend.



2. I just finished reading this book this morning... in only 2 days! One of those books where you WANT to keep reading and see what happens...

   I am interested to know if either Nick or Josh won their appeals and what kind of a life Jay has forged for himself...

   It makes you wonder who needs enemies with friends like these.. and you have to feel sorry for Tommy...

   I have a library of true crime books and this was the quickest one I read...




3. You have to ask yourself as you read about the kidnappers in this book: what were they thinking? To take a girl and strap her to a steel post in the middle of a somewhat abandoned house, and then burn her due to thinking she was dead (when she was suffering from hypothermia). And these were friends of the girl! All for a little bit of money, that they did not get (that is why she was burned). Very well written by this author.



4. Too long and detailed. She fell in with the wrong crowd but yet she still did not do the "things" they did and went to school? Doesn't sound right to me? I actually stopped reading cause it was so tiedious to read.



5. I don't know about you but to kidnap and leave someone to die and come back and burn her while she was still alive is unhuman. These people got what they deserved but the poor girl who had to live it and die the way she did was not some thing you wish on anyone.

3 comments about Nuclear Winter Wonderland: A Wild Tale of Nuclear Terror, Kidnapping, Gangsters and Family Values.

1. Never have I fallen in love so quickly with a novel as I have with this one. I can safely say that it is in my Top 10. It is by far the wittiest book I have read. Corin has an uncanny ability to blend both reality and comedy into a fast paced thrill ride of a novel that never slows down. As a teacher, this is the kind of work I love to give to my students. Captivating and authentic - one that they talk about before, during, and after class.



2. I became attached to the characters and their adventures to the point of not wanting to read the last chapters because I knew it had to end. Corin's story line missed nothing! All age groups will be entertained with the fast moving excitement of this thriller. Josh give us more!



3. The thing I loved most about this book was that there was never a lull in the action. It was also intelligent. And funny. And suspenseful. Oh my! I fell in love with the characters without realizing it and as soon as I had finished reading I contemplating starting all over again. This book keeps you guessing right up to the last page and has an ending that leaves you wanting so much more, but you're still so satisfied. Corin is definitely an author I want to see more from.

5 comments about Three Days.

1. "Daddy, isn't Italy beautiful?" "Yes it is Jackie." What soon happens turns Italy into the darkest place ever imaginable. This book is about a twelve year old girl who is driving through Italy with her father when he suddenly collapses at the wheel. She tries to flag down passing traffic but no one stops to talk to the two men in there small car. Suddenly, they grab her and threw her in the back seat of their small car in a strange, unfamiliar place. If you want to know more, CHECK IT OUT!!!!!!



2. this book was very good highly recormended for kids over 10.
   warning:this book is suspenceful,sad,and happy.



3. 
   How would you feel if you were in Italy with your Dad and everything was going fine? Then all of a sudden, your dad loses control of the wheel and faints, right in front of you? Well, if you were like Jackie, you'd be scared out of your mind. When her Dad collapses, she gets out of the car frantically waving her arms screaming help, when sadly no one speaks English. Then out of nowhere these two guys come along and take her and all of her stuff while her dad is helplessly lying there. Although Jackie tries to escape many times, She fails and soon meets a friend, finds out the reason the two men have captured her, and to unlock a family secret.
   
   
   In Three Days, by Donna Jo Napoli, Is a very exciting, adventurous, and breath taking type of story. Donna Jo Napoli has won a Sydney Taylor book award for writing fictional books. Other books written by her are Changing Tunes, Jimmy, the pickpocket of the palace, and many more.
   
   
   I think this book is very good and I recommend it for anyone who likes a little bit of mystery, scarieness, and suspense in their books. So girl or boy, kid or adult anyone can read this book.



4. Without getting into the plot, this is one of the best books I have read lately. DiNapoli has also written Stones Over Water, which my entire family loved, from my 80 year old mom to my 12 year old granddaughter. This was an intriguing read that I could not put down. I think this epitomizes one of the worst fears any child or parents has. The girl's point of view seems quite realistic.



5. Usually when Jackie's father takes a business trip, he travels by himself. But this time his trip is three weeks long and since Jackie is eleven and mature enough to travel and since it is school vacation, she goes along with him. The trip is to Italy, and Jackie has a wonderful time while she is there, bonding with her father and having all sorts of new experiences. She doesn't learn to speak any Italian, but her father is right there to make sure things go smoothly.
   
   Then one night Jackie's father is driving the two of them back to their hotel. It is a long way from the restaurant where they had dinner. Somewhere in the middle of their drive, he starts making gagging sounds and collapses. Something in Jackie tells her that he is dead, although she won't admit that to herself. She jumps out of the car and frantically tries to wave down another car to help, but hours pass and no one stops for her.
   
   Finally, sometime after midnight, a car stops and picks Jackie up. The car has two men in it--an older man and a younger man she assumes is the older man's son. They don't speak any English. Jackie expects they will take her to the nearest town and is surprised, then angry and worried, when they continue driving. By the time they stop, they are in the middle of nowhere, at a little house where the two men live with a woman who is the younger man's sister.
   
   Jackie faces the fact that she is kidnapped, but is surprised at the kind treatment she receives, especially from the woman. Then, as she looks around at the child's bedroom in which she is staying and the photographs around the house, she thinks she understands.
   
   I liked the idea of a kidnapped child growing to like her kidnapper, and I could see how it would be possible in a situation like this. I also liked that the language barrier prevented Jackie from talking to the others--it was more interesting to see her try to figure things out on her own. I thought the woman's behavior at the end, and the way she put herself at risk, was unrealistic, though.

5 comments about Gone.

1. This is my first of Gardner's books featuring Quincy and Rainie, but enough background is given that I'm not left in the dark.
   I haven't finished the book yet, but I have one thing I find hard to swallow. How does a cloth blindfold get tied around one's head so tight it can't be pushed up or pulled down by your own hands bound in front of you? Try it I bet you can pull it from your eyes every time. Other than that the other complaints I have are minor.
   But it seems the old story of so many law enforcement swarming all over the place that no one can figure anything out. But then this is just day 1.



2. Enjoyable read but the plot is a bit contrived and messy. I'd still suggest it if you are a loyal Lisa Gardner fan.



3. It was an easy reading book, very light subjects. I prefer a more involved mystery but it was nice summer reading. Worth buying



4. This is my first Lisa Gardner book and I won't hesitate to pick up another one from her. I finished the book last night (or this morning at 1:00) as I couldn't put it down. I was so intent on seeing if I had correctly guessed whodunit (I was right) that I stayed up to finish it. I read some of the other reviews before posting mine and as I said this is my first book to read from Lisa so I wasn't able to compare to anything else.
   That said, this was a great and entertaining read. One other reviewer noted how strong the female characters were and I have to agree. Rainie may have been kidnapped but she didn't give up and hang her head (as other females are often written). The plot did contain one too many twists but that is okay because it almost made me change my suspect which is always interesting. I think this had enough suspense, mystery, and drama to keep the reader engaged. I can't wait to read another one of Lisa's books.



5. Another winner by Lisa Gardner. I was first introduced to the works of this author about 3 years ago. What a great imagination! I love her books and recently purchased her latest. If you love murder mysteries with a little romance, this is the series for you.

4 comments about An Albany Trio.

1. Read these books and learn about life, love, and loss. Everything you need to know about everything is written right here. Read Kennedy and become enlightened. This is the best literature has to offer.



2. I've read these three novels separately over the years and was happy to see them all neatly packaged in one volume. I couldn't resist the temptation. I hope a second volume which includes the next 3 novels will be out soon.

   Kennedy is the Faulkner of Albany. His wonderful set of characters, rich language and compelling story line will endear most anyone to this family saga of growing up in Depression-era Albany. Kennedy focuses on those little items that give the city its richness, and his characters have that sense of noble purpose which carries them through such hard times.




3. In the author's "Prelude in a Saloon," published as the preface of this trilogy, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist William Kennedy portrays himself as Daniel Quinn, nephew of Billy Phelan (of Billy Phelan's Greatest Game) and grandson of Francis Phelan (of Ironweed), as he begins an interview with an old gangster who worked closely with Jack "Legs" Diamond (of Legs). With tongue-in-cheek humor, Quinn/Kennedy reveals how his writing career began and how he came to know the main characters of this trio of books set in Depression-era Albany, New York.
   
   Legs, set in 1930 - 1931, is a fictional biography of Jack "Legs" Diamond, thief/bootlegger/murderer, a man who lived the high life and who double-crossed and cheated his way to success, controlling speakeasies, illegal alcohol, real estate, and gambling, a man who survived eleven bullets in three separate assassination attempts before finally being brought down. An uncomplicated but well-written and often violent novel, Legs sets the scene for Billy Phelan's Greatest Game and Ironweed, both set in 1938. (4 stars)
   
   Billy Phelan's Greatest Game is far more sophisticated, with more fully drawn characters, well-developed suspense, and themes dealing with fathers and sons and their values--intergenerational problems which reveal the changing morality of Depression-era Albany. Billy Phelan, part-time bookie and small-time card player and gambler is asked to monitor the activities of one of his fellow-card players, suspected of involvement in the kidnapping of Charlie MacCall, son and nephew of the two men running the political machine of Albany. Remaining true to his own values, Billy is surprised when his father Francis Phelan, who has just reappeared after abandoning the family twenty-two years before, suggests cooperating. (5 stars)
   
   Ironweed is the Pulitzer-Prize-winning culmination of the trio, the story of Francis Phelan, an emotionally gripping novel about down-and-out "bums" and the people with whom they come into contact, which tears at the heart without being sentimental. Hard-edged and sometimes violent, this novel is a fully developed, moving, and insightful look at those who live apart from society because their dreams have died. (5 BIG stars)
   
   Fully absorbing, whether you are just looking for good reading or are a student of writing, these three novels include many overlapping characters and a clear sense of time, place, and society. They are exciting and filled with important observations about life without being moralistic, and the dialogue and level of detail are often breath-taking. They are also an opportunity to see in successive novels, the development of one of the great writing talents of the twentieth century, with each novel more complex and fully developed than the previous one. Outstanding! n Mary Whipple



4. I first read these books shortly after they were published. Now, decades later, I've read them again. They are every bit as good as I remember. Maybe better. They roar and flash and crash along like cars in a rickety old roller coaster, the kind you ride on a dare and keep expecting to derail at any moment. The test of any novel is whether the characters seem to go on living when you shut the book. The characters in these novels are life-size technicolor 3D walking talking people, some of whom you wouldn't want to meet in a dark bar. But after you've read this book you'll find yourself looking for them when you go out at night.

3 comments about What Makes a Child Lucky: A Novel.

1. 
   
   From the timeless, unyielding soil of rural Sicily springs the tale of a young boy who learns the harsh lessons of the world in the brutal slaying of a dear friend, followed by a dangerous mission that delivers him into the lair of the very criminals who very likely murdered his friend. His fate manipulated by jealous older brothers, Joseph is called by the crooked mayor to perform an impossible task, a trek into the mountains where a ruthless band of robbers resides. Unsure of his role, Joseph obeys, sheltered by a taciturn old woman who cooks bountiful meals for the outlaws and dispenses terse advice to her young charge. His innocence soon relinquished to desperate circumstances, Joseph elects to remain with these men, exquisitely aware of the precariousness of his position, in "the grip of perpetual violence". Gathering wild basil and asparagus for the old woman, Joseph also hoards the advice she sagely dispenses.
   
   The putative "Lucky one", Joseph endures the most heinous conditions, side-stepping the inherent brutality of his captors while gradually comprehending the greater truths of his existence vis a vis the world, balancing between survival and the pure joy of nature's bounty ("March sits like a knife, bitter winter on one side, spring on the other."). Guided by the words of the old one, a metaphor for the ancient wisdom of a harsh, beautiful land and its inhabitants, Joseph remains uncowed in spite of the ugliness he faces; he finds serenity in moments, absorbing the strength and vitality of the country. Cast into a challenging place where a lesser soul would wither, Joseph prevails. Given the animosity of his captors, Joseph is unlikely to survive; yet it is in his nature not to submit regardless of overwhelming evidence that he shall ever return to his home.
   
   In this haunting retelling of an ancient fable, the old woman signifying the wisdom of the ancestors and those who pass the stories from one generation to another, the boy defines the beauty of the human spirit pitted against daunting odds, triumphing over his oppressors. Poverty often delivers the weak to their baser natures, but one indomitable spirit, a young boy grieving a lost friend, mines the depths of his own heart, blooming in barren soil. Luan Gaines/ 2008.



2. Gioia Timpanelli's book "What Makes a Child Lucky" combines the power of traditional folk tale with the freedom of form that fiction allows, and the result is a multi-layered story that gets better with each reading. In fact we need to read it several times to taste the many flavors of this seemingly simple yet very complex tale. We follow the young hero's journey through the classic stages - separation from family, betrayal and loss. He faces great evil and yet survives through his inner goodness and with the help of the mysterious "other" so often present in folk tales and life, if we are lucky. Gioia's use of a language both colloquial and erudite interwoven with great skill makes this simple tale into a feast. The story's primal theme of hunger is the continuous thread that unsettles us and yet enriches us as well. The central character endures poverty and violence, as so many children in the world do, and he reaches the level of myth through his simple nobility and trust. This book is truly soul food and like Gioia's last book "Sometimes the Soul" we will want to return to it again and again.



3. This novella is charmingly told in an old world style of storytelling which makes it seem almost like a fairy tale. But it's far rougher than that, dealing with death, crime, familial issues, poverty and hunger. It's a tale of learning love from mistreatment, gentleness from violence, honesty from crime, among other things. Well worth the afternoon to read it.

5 comments about Salty: A Novel.

1. More fun than a frozen margarita on the beach! Salty is hilarious, raunchy, and continuously entertaining! I read it all in one sitting, and couldn't put it down. Take a fun trip to Thailand with an aging rock star, oh and be careful of pirates and FBI agents along the way. Seriously, what could be more fun than that?



2. Could not put book down. Aging rock star implants himself in your heart. Evil kidnapper evolves into sensitive caring man thanks to powers of love. Sexy, spicy and constantly drawing you in. Read it on plane trip to Hawaii, and read it again on trip home to JFK, NYC. This guy Smith really knows how to write a tantalizing story!



3. Great setting, great on the details, and a great read. You'll be happy with the love angles and triangles, the premise and the plot. For some reason I'm reminded of "Sick Puppy" by Hiaasen, in the very best way.
   
   Light and satisfying. Enjoy!



4. I hadn't enjoyed a book this much in a really long time. It may sound trite, but I couldn't put it down. It was hilarious and as soon as I finished it I went online to see what other books by this author were available. Like others have mentioned, it reminded me of a Carl Hiaasen novel and maybe a little of Maarten Troost thrown in.



5. I didn't love this book, but I didn't hate it either. It was just an OK read. I hated the main character so that made it hard for me to really enjoy it.