Sycamore Row by John Grisham is the author's only novel to deal largely with race relations in the South since his first published work, A Time To Kill.
That early novel recounted the racially-charged trial of a black man who killed two white men after they had raped his daughter. The story was tense with racial prejudice, a cross burning, and a murder plot by violent Klansmen.
The defense lawyer in A Time To Kill, Jake Brigance, returns in Sycamore Row. But this time he's trying to execute the last will of a rich white man who inexplicably left his fortune to his black female housekeeper.
The black-white conflict in this case is now over money, not murder, which represents progress of a sort in the New South. But as the civil court trial unfolds, new revelations show that the ugly,violent secrets of the Old South can still come back to haunt the present.
As William Faulkner once wrote: "The past is never really dead. It's not even past."
Sycamore Row is set in the town of Clanton in Ford County, Mississippi, the site of much of Grisham's fiction. The novel brings back colorful local characters from past Grisham works, in particular The Summons, The Last Juror, and Ford County.
In Sycamore Row, the author continues his usual sardonic depiction of the seamier antics of the legal profession, as well as his wry commentary on the culture of his native South.
Sycamore Row is one of the best novels John Grisham has written during his long career.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Thursday, April 17, 2014
FARGO TV Series a Dark, Quirky Crime Drama
The movie Fargo, from Joel and Ethan Coen, is a Neo-Noir masterpiece with a stupid criminal plan gone wrong, deadpan black humor, and dumbly out-of-control violence.
That's a lot for the new TV series based on the movie to live up to. But based on the first season so far, the new series is off to a promising start.
Familiar plot elements from the movie are present: The snowy, white blank landscape of rural Minnesota; earnest, slow thinking small town cops; a hapless local businessman, Lester Nygard, who gets himself ensnared in a web of lies and criminal acts.
At the center of it all is a sinister figure -- a cold blooded contract killer named Loren Malvo, whose presence is like an amoral catalyst that triggers a chain of violent events wherever he travels.
The great theme of the Coen Brothers has always been their bleak, fatalistic view of humanity, and the misguided acts people undertake which lead inexorably to their own downfalls.
The Fargo TV series is faithful to that theme, offering a pitch black, quirky crime drama, and moments of wild, spontaneous violence that change all that follows.
Beach Rating: 4 Palm Trees
That's a lot for the new TV series based on the movie to live up to. But based on the first season so far, the new series is off to a promising start.
Familiar plot elements from the movie are present: The snowy, white blank landscape of rural Minnesota; earnest, slow thinking small town cops; a hapless local businessman, Lester Nygard, who gets himself ensnared in a web of lies and criminal acts.
At the center of it all is a sinister figure -- a cold blooded contract killer named Loren Malvo, whose presence is like an amoral catalyst that triggers a chain of violent events wherever he travels.
The great theme of the Coen Brothers has always been their bleak, fatalistic view of humanity, and the misguided acts people undertake which lead inexorably to their own downfalls.
The Fargo TV series is faithful to that theme, offering a pitch black, quirky crime drama, and moments of wild, spontaneous violence that change all that follows.
Beach Rating: 4 Palm Trees
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Inspector Rebus Returns in SAINTS OF THE SHADOW BIBLE
Saints of the Shadow Bible by Ian Rankin marks the return of the iconic character John Rebus of the Edinburgh, Scotland police in a dark new mystery.
Rebus was formerly retired, but couldn't stay away from police work for long. He's back working an investigation of a suspicious car crash, along with his long-time partner, Siobhan Clarke. The crash details don't add up and Rebus senses a cover-up of something crucial. His dogged pursuit leads him into conflict with powerful people, a scuffle the testy Rebus clearly relishes.
At the same time, a police Internal Affairs unit, led by Rebus nemesis, Malcolm Fox, is digging into a cold case from decades earlier. It's an open murder case in which a close-knit group of Rebus police pals may be involved, and Rebus may find his own loyalties tested.
The plot is intriguing and John Rebus is at his entertaining best with his trademark blunt rudeness and deep cynicism. Saints of the Shadow Bible is a first rate read and will certainly be on the list of the best mystery novels of this year.
Rebus was formerly retired, but couldn't stay away from police work for long. He's back working an investigation of a suspicious car crash, along with his long-time partner, Siobhan Clarke. The crash details don't add up and Rebus senses a cover-up of something crucial. His dogged pursuit leads him into conflict with powerful people, a scuffle the testy Rebus clearly relishes.
At the same time, a police Internal Affairs unit, led by Rebus nemesis, Malcolm Fox, is digging into a cold case from decades earlier. It's an open murder case in which a close-knit group of Rebus police pals may be involved, and Rebus may find his own loyalties tested.
The plot is intriguing and John Rebus is at his entertaining best with his trademark blunt rudeness and deep cynicism. Saints of the Shadow Bible is a first rate read and will certainly be on the list of the best mystery novels of this year.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
New Horror Anthology Explores Human Fears
INCLUDES EPIC AWARD NOMINATED STORY "The Lot"
Stories That Bite You by William Wilde - A short story collection that explores the most disturbing human fears:
19 chilling stories of Horror and Suspense that sink their teeth into you and don't let go. A murderous vending machine ... A marathon race that never ends ... Junk mail that kills ... A gigantic parking lot with no exit. These stories leave their marks long after you finish reading them.
"These 19 stories will leave you feeling haunted and sufficiently frightened by the most ordinary of things." - Nights and Weekends.com
"FOUR STARS! Highly Recommended!" - Huntress Reviews
Now Available at Amazon Kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GCEEJYG
Also Available at: Barnes and Noble Nook
Smashwords
Stories That Bite You by William Wilde - A short story collection that explores the most disturbing human fears:
19 chilling stories of Horror and Suspense that sink their teeth into you and don't let go. A murderous vending machine ... A marathon race that never ends ... Junk mail that kills ... A gigantic parking lot with no exit. These stories leave their marks long after you finish reading them.
"These 19 stories will leave you feeling haunted and sufficiently frightened by the most ordinary of things." - Nights and Weekends.com
"FOUR STARS! Highly Recommended!" - Huntress Reviews
Now Available at Amazon Kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GCEEJYG
Also Available at: Barnes and Noble Nook
Smashwords
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Best Mystery and Crime Novels of 2013
The past year was a good one for new Mystery and Crime novels. Here are the best ones reviewed by this Blog, including two titles by the same author:
Police by Jo Nesbo - Latest in the series to feature Oslo police detective Harry Hole. A serial killer is targeting cops in grisly murders. Harry and his team hunt the killer, but there's a shocker in store as a key character is cut down. A top notch crime thriller by the best writer in the genre.
The Bat by Jo Nesbo - First novel in the Harry Hole series, first published in the U.S. this year. Here we see a younger Harry early in his career as he is sent to Australia to assist in a murder case. We also learn that Harry's last name is pronounced "Hoo-leh" in Norwegian. Nice to have that cleared up. The novel is a can't-miss treat for fans of this outstanding crime series.
Light of the World by James Lee Burke - This one has Louisiana cop Dave Robicheaux on a trip to Montana and facing a volatile mix of dangerous characters. This toxic brew inevitably explodes into an almost Biblical battle and serves as a meditation about ultimate evil within the human character. The novel is one the author's strongest in this fine, long running series.
Standing in Another Man's Grave by Ian Rankin - The author brings back his formerly retired iconic character, Inspector John Rebus of the Edinburgh, Scotland police. Here Rebus looks into the disappearances of a series of women along the same stretch of empty country highway. The cranky Rebus is back with his trademark cynicism and rude demeanor. A dark, gripping crime read.
The Double by George Pelecanos - Spero Lucas returns as a tough Iraq War veteran working as a recovery specialist in Washington D.C. He recovers lost or stolen property for clients. He's hired to get back a stolen painting, but comes up against a vicious sociopath in his way. Hard boiled crime fiction written in tight, stripped down style.
Police by Jo Nesbo - Latest in the series to feature Oslo police detective Harry Hole. A serial killer is targeting cops in grisly murders. Harry and his team hunt the killer, but there's a shocker in store as a key character is cut down. A top notch crime thriller by the best writer in the genre.
The Bat by Jo Nesbo - First novel in the Harry Hole series, first published in the U.S. this year. Here we see a younger Harry early in his career as he is sent to Australia to assist in a murder case. We also learn that Harry's last name is pronounced "Hoo-leh" in Norwegian. Nice to have that cleared up. The novel is a can't-miss treat for fans of this outstanding crime series.
Light of the World by James Lee Burke - This one has Louisiana cop Dave Robicheaux on a trip to Montana and facing a volatile mix of dangerous characters. This toxic brew inevitably explodes into an almost Biblical battle and serves as a meditation about ultimate evil within the human character. The novel is one the author's strongest in this fine, long running series.
Standing in Another Man's Grave by Ian Rankin - The author brings back his formerly retired iconic character, Inspector John Rebus of the Edinburgh, Scotland police. Here Rebus looks into the disappearances of a series of women along the same stretch of empty country highway. The cranky Rebus is back with his trademark cynicism and rude demeanor. A dark, gripping crime read.
The Double by George Pelecanos - Spero Lucas returns as a tough Iraq War veteran working as a recovery specialist in Washington D.C. He recovers lost or stolen property for clients. He's hired to get back a stolen painting, but comes up against a vicious sociopath in his way. Hard boiled crime fiction written in tight, stripped down style.
Friday, November 22, 2013
POLICE by Jo Nesbo Another Top Notch Crime Thriller
Police by Jo Nesbo is the latest in the outstanding crime novel series that features Oslo police detective Harry Hole.
This time, Harry is no longer active on the police force after being seriously wounded in a prior case. He now works as an expert criminology instructor at the police academy.
Meanwhile, a series of police officers are being murdered in gruesome fashion at former crime scenes that they worked. A diabolical serial killer is behind the string of deaths.
A team of Harry's police colleagues pursues the killer in Harry's absence. The character cast is familiar from earlier novels in the series. Forensic expert Beate Lonn. Detectives Katrine Bratt and Bjorn Holm. Criminal psychologist Stale Aune.
But in a shocking plot twist, one of the team members becomes a target of the vicious killer. That event brings Harry Hole himself into the hunt for the cold blooded butcher of policemen.
Police is another great read for fans of the Harry Hole series and reaffirms Jo Nesbo's place as one of the best crime novelists in the genre.
This time, Harry is no longer active on the police force after being seriously wounded in a prior case. He now works as an expert criminology instructor at the police academy.
Meanwhile, a series of police officers are being murdered in gruesome fashion at former crime scenes that they worked. A diabolical serial killer is behind the string of deaths.
A team of Harry's police colleagues pursues the killer in Harry's absence. The character cast is familiar from earlier novels in the series. Forensic expert Beate Lonn. Detectives Katrine Bratt and Bjorn Holm. Criminal psychologist Stale Aune.
But in a shocking plot twist, one of the team members becomes a target of the vicious killer. That event brings Harry Hole himself into the hunt for the cold blooded butcher of policemen.
Police is another great read for fans of the Harry Hole series and reaffirms Jo Nesbo's place as one of the best crime novelists in the genre.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Best Horror Novels of 2013
This year saw the release of two outstanding Horror novels, one by a long famous name in the genre and the other by a younger writer who may be the famous author's heir, in more ways than one.
NOS4A2 by Joe Hill - An epic struggle of Good vs. Evil, filled with dark, disturbing imagery and original characters who stay in your mind. Nosferatu is the German word for vampire. The vampire here is the inhuman fiend Charlie Manx, who abducts children, then feeds off their lives in order to keep himself young.
The hideous alternate world called Christmasland where Manx takes the captive children is a unique horror creation. Equally grotesque is the ancient Rolls Royce model called The Wraith, a car with its own malevolent powers, which is used to trap the trusting children inside it.
Beyond its scary story, the novel is also a profound metaphor for the real life crimes of abducted. abused, or exploited children worldwide.
NOS4A2 is a remarkable and unforgettable read for Horror fiction fans.
Doctor Sleep by Stephen King - A semi-sequel to The Shining, one of King's early and most popular supernatural Horror classics. Here the boy Danny Torrance is now an adult man, but he still possesses the paranormal psychic sense called the Shining.
Dan comes to the aid of a young girl named Abra, who has an even more powerful shining ability. Abra is the target of the True Knot, a ramshackle crew of psychic vampires, who feed off the vital essence of human psychics as they are tortured to death.
Stephen King has always excelled at the depiction of the existence of pure evil. His creation of the grisly, business-like malevolence of the True Knot is as chilling as any he has produced in his writing work.
Doctor Sleep is a compelling read and a new portrayal of a long time King interest in paranormal abilities. It also marks the author's return to the mainstream Horror genre, which his fans should be well pleased with.
NOS4A2 by Joe Hill - An epic struggle of Good vs. Evil, filled with dark, disturbing imagery and original characters who stay in your mind. Nosferatu is the German word for vampire. The vampire here is the inhuman fiend Charlie Manx, who abducts children, then feeds off their lives in order to keep himself young.
The hideous alternate world called Christmasland where Manx takes the captive children is a unique horror creation. Equally grotesque is the ancient Rolls Royce model called The Wraith, a car with its own malevolent powers, which is used to trap the trusting children inside it.
Beyond its scary story, the novel is also a profound metaphor for the real life crimes of abducted. abused, or exploited children worldwide.
NOS4A2 is a remarkable and unforgettable read for Horror fiction fans.
Doctor Sleep by Stephen King - A semi-sequel to The Shining, one of King's early and most popular supernatural Horror classics. Here the boy Danny Torrance is now an adult man, but he still possesses the paranormal psychic sense called the Shining.
Dan comes to the aid of a young girl named Abra, who has an even more powerful shining ability. Abra is the target of the True Knot, a ramshackle crew of psychic vampires, who feed off the vital essence of human psychics as they are tortured to death.
Stephen King has always excelled at the depiction of the existence of pure evil. His creation of the grisly, business-like malevolence of the True Knot is as chilling as any he has produced in his writing work.
Doctor Sleep is a compelling read and a new portrayal of a long time King interest in paranormal abilities. It also marks the author's return to the mainstream Horror genre, which his fans should be well pleased with.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
