Book Review: Prior Bad Acts (Kovac and Liska #3) by Tami Hoag
At times even though you like murder mysteries and have read a lot, the description of a murder raises your hackle. Prior Bad Acts was one of those books (I had not yet read many Elizabeth George) and it was better than the other two previous books of this Kovac and Liska series by Tami Hoag.
Murderer can be anyone and where least he/she can be expected. The wise-crack interactions between the two detectives Kovac and Liska was less and I missed those even though separately they were good enough in exploring out the solutions. The book amply shows how a crime affects so many people around, hardens them and changes them for bad, in most cases. The name of the book Prior Bad Acts made me start thinking on a tangential line, that what was the bad act the judge did. But then, hey a book’s name is not supposed to be correlated to every character of the book.
So, go ahead pick this book and tell me how many murderers did you think this book could have had once you were half way through – 1, 2 or 3?
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| Book Blurb: New York Times bestselling author Tami Hoag returns with a thriller that begins with a shocking crime scene you’ll never forget and follows two relentless detectives on a manhunt that ends in a chilling confrontation with the essence of human evil. |
| About the author: Tami Hoag is the #1 international bestselling author of more than thirty books published in more than thirty languages worldwide, including her latest thrillers—The Bitter Season, Cold Cold Heart, and The 9th Girl. Hoag first hit the New York Times Bestseller List with Night Sins, and each of her books since has been a bestseller. Website: tamihoag.com |
| Rating: 9/10 |
| Genre: | Mystery Thriller |
| Book Name: | Prior Bad Acts (Kovac and Liska #3) |
| Author: | Tami Hoag |
| Pages: | 525 |
| Publication Year: | 2006 |
Book Review: Dust to Dust (Kovac and Liska #2) by Tami Hoag
I am reading the book blurb now and trying to recall what this book was all about. Oh yes, this is the book where Kovac and Liska interactions finally came to the forefront in good doses. I like them and their banter. That is how any relationship should be like, umm, not the love angle, friendship/ working relationship/ anything else because why make life sad! A few other characters were loud, but what the hell, a mix of characters bring up a better story-line in a murder mystery. Only if the pages were less, I would have been happier.
Overall a decent book for murder mystery.
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| Book Blurb: The death of internal affairs investigator Andy Paxton is a potential political bomb for the Minneapolis Police Department… Andy Paxton was gay and he was investigating a possible cop connection in the brutal murder of another gay officer. But Andy’s death looks like suicide, or an unfortunate and embarrassing accident, and the pressure is on from the top brass to close the case as soon as possible. But the investigation’s lead detective Sam Kovac is not convinced the case is as straightforward as it appears. As he digs deeper, it is looking very much like Paxton discovered something that got him killed. And he might not be the final victim…. |
| About the author: Tami Hoag is the #1 international bestselling author of more than thirty books published in more than thirty languages worldwide, including her latest thrillers—The Bitter Season, Cold Cold Heart, and The 9th Girl. Hoag first hit the New York Times Bestseller List with Night Sins, and each of her books since has been a bestseller. Website: tamihoag.com |
| Rating: 7/10 |
| Genre: | Mystery Thriller |
| Book Name: | Dust to Dust ( Kovac and Liska #2) |
| Author: | Tami Hoag |
| Pages: | 480 |
| Publication Year: | 2000 |
Book Review: Ashes to Ashes (Kovac and Liska #1) by Tami Hoag
How tough is it can you imagine when a book you have read was months back and you only found time to write a review now. Okay, it was more like I was being lazy. But still reading a series makes it easy for me to pick up next books. (Is the same applicable for you too?) Though the series is named as Kovac and Liska, the characters are very much in the background and the first book in this series is more about introducing them and getting them accustomed to reader’s palate.
The book is written well, but as happens with thicker books, could have been edited and cut short to make the other parts of the stories crisp. But well, I would not have wanted any interaction between Kovac and Liska reduced. I will rate this series a notch less than the Inspector Lynley series by Elizabeth George but still good to go. So, start off with this book and tell me if you were able to guess the Cremator (murderer) because sometimes the murderer is closer to home than you can imagine. Haha, no, that is not a spoiler….Enjoy
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| Book Blurb: He performs his profane ceremony in a wooded Minneapolis park, anointing his victims, then setting the bodies ablaze. He has already claimed three lives, and he won’t stop there. Only this time there is a witness. But she isn’t talking. |
| About the author: Tami Hoag is the #1 international bestselling author of more than thirty books published in more than thirty languages worldwide, including her latest thrillers—The Bitter Season, Cold Cold Heart, and The 9th Girl. Hoag first hit the New York Times Bestseller List with Night Sins, and each of her books since has been a bestseller. Website: tamihoag.com |
| Rating: 7/10 |
| Genre: | Mystery Thriller |
| Book Name: | Ashes to Ashes ( Kovac and Liska #1) |
| Author: | Tami Hoag |
| Pages: | 566 |
| Publication Year: | 1999 |
Book Review: Missing Joseph (Inspector Lynley series #6) by Elizabeth George
Even when I was reading Missing Joseph after For the Sake of Elena (which was a bit of a dampener for me), I was still let down. No Havers to speak of, okay there were a few scenes but just a few scenes and thus, no chemistry between both the detectives, Lynley and her. And if that was not enough, the other interactions between characters and the way the murder was solved was too much far-fetched.
I mean this is one of those books in which almost everything under the sun is explored, teenage drama, love and hate, witchcraft, rape, and what not! I really hated this book while I read it and it dragged for almost a month when finally I heaved a sigh of relief the time it ended. In conclusion, I will say skip this book and go to next one in the series for I am half-way through the seventh book Playing for the Ashes and it is really interesting.
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| Book Blurb: Deborah and Simon St. James have taken a holiday in the winter landscape of Lancashire, hoping to heal the growing rift in their marriage. But in the barren countryside awaits bleak news: the vicar of Winslough, the man they had come to see, is dead – a victim of accidental poisoning. Unsatisfied with the inquest ruling and unsettled by the close association between the investigating constable and the woman who served the deadly meal, Simon calls in his old friend Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley. Together they uncover dark, complex relationships in this rural village, relationships that bring men and women together with passion, with grief, or with the intention to kill. |
| About the author: Elizabeth George is the New York Times and internationally best selling author of twenty British crime novels featuring Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and his unconventional partner Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers. Her crime novels have been translated into 30 languages and featured on television by the BBC. She is also the author of a young adult series set on the island where she lives in the state of Washington. A longtime instructor of creative writing, she has taught at colleges, universities, writers’ retreats, and conferences internationally. She is the recipient of the Anthony Award, the Agatha Award, France’s Grand Prix di Literatture Policiere, and Germany’s MIMI. She has twice been nominated for an Edgar Award, and she is the recipient of an honorary doctorate of humane letters from California State University Fullerton, and an honorary MFA from Northwest Institute of Language Arts (Whidbey Island MFA Program). Website: elizabethgeorgeonline.com |
| Rating: 5/10 |
| Genre: | Mystery Thriller |
| Book Name: | Missing Joseph (Inspector Lynley #6) |
| Author: | Elizabeth George |
| Pages: | 576 |
| Publication Year: | 1992 |
Book Review: For the Sake of Elena (Inspector Lynley series #5) by Elizabeth George
When there can be so many potential murderers, it gets confusing on which part to exactly focus on, especially with just too many parallel things happening and far too many side characters thrown in, with not much value added. This is what my reaction was after reading For the Sake of Elena. No, I am not giving away spoilers, but it was just too much for me to like this murder mystery, even when the author is Elizabeth George!
Coming to the good parts of the book, the story of both Inspector Lynley and Sergeant Havers moves on seamlessly with both coming to terms with what is best for them and for their loved ones. Next, the focus on how one’s life changes after having kids that it is important to not lose one’s self motivation by one way or the other. Another positive point – the focal point of this murder was about the art being considered very close to heart and the point where it was mentioned being ‘deaf’ considered not exactly a disability when ‘Deaf’ people embrace their deafness and don’t try to hide it and consider it as world of their own than others who can hear. So, overall, I can say it is an okay-okay book, in conclusion.
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| Book Blurb: Elena Weaver was a surprise to anyone meeting her for the first time. In her clingy dresses and dangling earrings she exuded a sexuality at odds with the innocence projected by the unicorn posters on her walls. While her embittered mother fretted about her welfare from her home in London, in Cambridge—where Elena was a student at St. Stephen’s College—her father and his second wife each had their own very different image of the girl. As for Elena, she lived a life of casual and intense physical and emotional relationships, with scores to settle and goals to achieve–until someone, lying in wait along the route she ran every morning, bludgeoned her to death. |
| About the author: Elizabeth George is the New York Times and internationally best selling author of twenty British crime novels featuring Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and his unconventional partner Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers. Her crime novels have been translated into 30 languages and featured on television by the BBC. She is also the author of a young adult series set on the island where she lives in the state of Washington. A longtime instructor of creative writing, she has taught at colleges, universities, writers’ retreats, and conferences internationally. She is the recipient of the Anthony Award, the Agatha Award, France’s Grand Prix di Literatture Policiere, and Germany’s MIMI. She has twice been nominated for an Edgar Award, and she is the recipient of an honorary doctorate of humane letters from California State University Fullerton, and an honorary MFA from Northwest Institute of Language Arts (Whidbey Island MFA Program). Website: elizabethgeorgeonline.com |
| Rating: 6/10 |
| Genre: | Mystery Thriller |
| Book Name: | For the Sake of Elena (Inspector Lynley #5) |
| Author: | Elizabeth George |
| Pages: | 388 |
| Publication Year: | 1992 |
Book Review: Well-Schooled in Murder (Inspector Lynley series #3) by Elizabeth George
Elizabeth George brings us another gruesome murder mystery but this time from a school campus making us question whether kids can be so evil. The description of murder victim, a school boy found nude in a well secluded church with tortuous marks on his body hits you and makes you scared of what this world has come to.
By the way, have you read the first two books by Elizabeth George – A Great Deliverance and Payment in Blood? You are up for a thrilling ride because this book is much much better than those two. Well thought of and put together is the main story-line and the perfect closure. Even the back story between detectives better. “As Lynley watched her, he thought how ironic it was that he had come to depend upon having Havers as his partner. Initially he had believed that no one could possibly be less likely to suit him. She was prickly, argumentative, easily given to anger, and bitterly aware of the enormous gap that existed between them, an impassable chasm created by birth, by class, by money, by experience“. I loved this book for everything (and I guess I have become immune to reading anything now).
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Book blurb: |
| About the author: Elizabeth George is the New York Times and internationally best selling author of twenty British crime novels featuring Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and his unconventional partner Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers. Her crime novels have been translated into 30 languages and featured on television by the BBC. She is also the author of a young adult series set on the island where she lives in the state of Washington. A longtime instructor of creative writing, she has taught at colleges, universities, writers’ retreats, and conferences internationally. She is the recipient of the Anthony Award, the Agatha Award, France’s Grand Prix di Literatture Policiere, and Germany’s MIMI. She has twice been nominated for an Edgar Award, and she is the recipient of an honorary doctorate of humane letters from California State University Fullerton, and an honorary MFA from Northwest Institute of Language Arts (Whidbey Island MFA Program). Website: elizabethgeorgeonline.com |
| Rating: 10/10 |
| Genre: | Mystery Thriller |
| Book Name: | Well-Schooled in Murder (Inspector Lynley #3) |
| Author: | Elizabeth George |
| Pages: | 432 |
| Publication Year: | 1989 |
Book Review: Payment in Blood (Inspector Lynley series #2) by Elizabeth George
It is so easy to pick books when you have zeroed down on an author. Though it took time for me to get accustomed to Elizabeth George, for she writes on human relationship like no other with such distorted relationships brought to forefront that may make you question humanity. And this is the reason it took me time even after glowing reviews from my friend Addy, but yes, I did persist in start liking Elizabeth’s writings.
Payment in Blood, the second book in Lynley series (the first one being A Great Deliverance) brings with it yet another twisted reasons to murder a person. The time I read a scene with the description of murder so brutal of a very young man (16 year old, a boy still, right?) murdered with a knife from back and pushed into hot boiling water pipe in a way that the boy could feel burning water flowing between his skin and clothes and when at last, he was taken out, he was still alive with his skin and clothes all moulded into one though he died soon after. Gruesome, no? The description in the book was even more so. And that is what the reaction was of my husband when I told this part to him and he questioned me why do I read such books in the first place. I think I am growing more immune to anything that happens around me, except of course that which concerns my little boy Aaru.
Coming back to the book, it is a typical Elizabeth George with emotions and relationships at play of the murder victims and the murdered and separate stories of the detectives Lynley and Havers and the other side characters. This is yet another must-pick-up book if you have read her first book, but please please read these books in chronological order because there is so much more back story about the detectives in these books.
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Book blurb: |
| About the author: Elizabeth George is the New York Times and internationally best selling author of twenty British crime novels featuring Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and his unconventional partner Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers. Her crime novels have been translated into 30 languages and featured on television by the BBC. She is also the author of a young adult series set on the island where she lives in the state of Washington. A longtime instructor of creative writing, she has taught at colleges, universities, writers’ retreats, and conferences internationally. She is the recipient of the Anthony Award, the Agatha Award, France’s Grand Prix di Literatture Policiere, and Germany’s MIMI. She has twice been nominated for an Edgar Award, and she is the recipient of an honorary doctorate of humane letters from California State University Fullerton, and an honorary MFA from Northwest Institute of Language Arts (Whidbey Island MFA Program). Website: elizabethgeorgeonline.com |
| Rating: 9/10 |
| Genre: | Mystery Thriller |
| Book Name: | Payment in Blood (Inspector Lynley #2) |
| Author: | Elizabeth George |
| Pages: | 432 |
| Publication Year: | 1990 |
Book Review: Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough
Writing a review after 5 months of reading a book is tough, but when the story was as gripping as this (ignoring the typical book start), you are very clear on what you have to write. With this book Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough, I am breaking my fast of more than 5 months of having not written a single word about any book. Not that I was not reading books behind the scenes, but when it came down to putting my thoughts into words, it just took so much effort of sitting down which I could have very well utilized either in sleeping or yes, reading another book 😀
Is there something wrong with Adele (one of the three protagonists of this book) that she behaves such? And if yes, how wrong? That is what keeps coming up all through the book and we keep wondering and wondering. Or something is seriously wrong with Louise or David? This psychothriller book finally progresses into … shh… just a hint… sci-fi… The ending is perfect. Only if the book had been more crisp with not much going round round and round, it would have deserved 10-on-10, but hey that is my thought. So what were your thoughts when you read this? Oh, you have not read yet? Then sure, go pick it up!
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Book blurb: Louise is a single mom, a secretary, stuck in a modern-day rut. On a rare night out, she meets a man in a bar and sparks fly. Though he leaves after they kiss, she’s thrilled she finally connected with someone. When Louise arrives at work on Monday, she meets her new boss, David. The man from the bar. The very married man from the bar…who says the kiss was a terrible mistake but who still can’t keep his eyes off Louise. And then Louise bumps into Adele, who’s new to town and in need of a friend, but she also just happens to be married to David. David and Adele look like the picture-perfect husband and wife, but then why is David so controlling, and why is Adele so scared of him? As Louise is drawn into David and Adele’s orbit, she uncovers more puzzling questions than answers. The only thing that is crystal clear is that something in this marriage is very, very wrong, but Louise can’t guess how wrong―and how far a person might go to protect their marriage’s secrets. |
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About the author: Website: sarahpinborough.com |
| Rating: 7/10 |
| Genre: | Mystery Thriller |
| Book Name: | Behind Her Eyes |
| Author: | Sarah Pinborough |
| Pages: | 307 |
| Publication Year: | 2017 |
Book Review: The Next to Die by Sophie Hannah
I got to know about Sophie Hannah after someone mentioned that the new books that are coming in the name of Agatha Christie are written by her. And since I am a big time fan of Agatha (you can guess through the highest number of reviews of her books done in this blog and that too, highest by a huge huge margin – click here to see those book names).
Let me just tell you, Sophie has not written a who-dunnit but a why-dunnit in her book The Next to Die (or The Narrow Bed, same book but two names). And the side stories are ummm not good enough (euphemism for bad). The stories seemed to drag, the main plot line too and the conclusion was so far-fetched. Only the (smart and funny) way of writing book by Kim was the silver lining for me. Also, reading the book, I felt like people are really really crazy and can do anything for stupid reasons. Oh, am I being judgmental? Who knows, perhaps I am one of these people too!! *grin
This is not recommended for reading unless you are a huge Sophie Hannah fan. You ask me why I picked this book in particular, because this was the only book of Sophie available in my e-book library. So, what do you think? Should I pick up another book of hers or give her a skip altogether for some time?
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Book blurb: What if having a best friend could put you in the crosshairs of a killer? A psychopath the police have dubbed “Billy Dead Mates” is targeting pairs of best friends, and killing them one by one. Before they die, each victim is given a small white book. For months, detectives have failed to catch Billy, or figure out what the white books symbolize and why the killer leaves them behind. The police are on edge; the public in a panic. Then a woman, scared by what she’s seen on the news, comes forward. What she reveals shocks the investigators and adds another troubling layer to an already complex case. Stand-up comedian Kim Tribbeck has one of Billy’s peculiar little books. A stranger gave it to her at a gig she did last year. Was the stranger Billy, and is he targeting her—or is it something more nefarious? Kim has no friends and trusts no one, so how—and why—could Billy Dead Mates want to target her? If it’s not her, then who will be the next to die? Sophie Hannah raises the stakes with each successive page in this haunting and twisting thriller that reaffirms her place as one of today’s most talented suspense writers. |
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About the author: In 2013, Sophie’s novel The Carrier won the Crime Thriller of the Year Award at the Specsavers National Book Awards. She has also published two short story collections and five collections of poetry – the fifth of which, Pessimism for Beginners, was shortlisted for the T S Eliot Award. Her poetry is studied at GCSE, A Level and degree level across the UK. Most recently, she has published a self-help book called How to Hold a Grudge: From Resentment to Contentment – The Power of Grudges to Transform Your Life. Sophie has recently helped to create a Master’s Degree in Crime and Thriller Writing at the University of Cambridge, for which she is the main teacher and Course Director. She is also the founder of the Dream Author coaching programme for writers. She lives with her husband, children and dog in Cambridge, where she is an Honorary Fellow of Lucy Cavendish College. Website: sophiehannah.com |
| Rating: 6/10 |
| Genre: | Mystery Thriller |
| Book Name: | The Next to Die |
| Author: | Sophie Hannah |
| Pages: | 416 |
| Publication Year: | 2016 |
Book Review: Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine
And that was when she had one single, awful realization. It’s not a doll. And against all her best intentions, she began to scream and couldn’t stop.
You start reading the book and come across the above line and immediately realize how chilly the story is going to be, if it is written well. Stillhouse Lake was recommended by my reading group when I told them I was only looking forward to reading psycho-thrillers. Yes, I am too much crazy, if you have not yet figured out that yourself by my choice of books I have read (oh, did you not know, I write reviews of all books I read).
And I am glad I picked it up – in addition to murders, the book just traced the right extent a mother is afraid for the safety of her kids and how far she will go and change herself, and is that not how motherly instinct is referred.
Scary, creepy
As the scenes unfold
Who is friend
Who is foe
No one knows
When someone close betrays
Who will you believe
Life is a struggle
And that’s why you should fight
Fight, fight and keep on fighting
Oops, I mentioned it like this is a motivational book. But nope, it is a murder mystery, a psycho-thriller, and a hard one at that. I am going to read the next part in this series now; what about you?
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Book blurb: With her ex now in prison, Gwen has finally found refuge in a new home on remote Stillhouse Lake. Though still the target of stalkers and Internet trolls who think she had something to do with her husband’s crimes, Gwen dares to think her kids can finally grow up in peace. But just when she’s starting to feel at ease in her new identity, a body turns up in the lake—and threatening letters start arriving from an all-too-familiar address. Gwen Proctor must keep friends close and enemies at bay to avoid being exposed—or watch her kids fall victim to a killer who takes pleasure in tormenting her. One thing is certain: she’s learned how to fight evil. And she’ll never stop. |
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About the author: Website: rachelcaine.com |
| Rating: 8/10 |
| Genre: | Mystery Thriller |
| Book Name: | Stillhouse Lake |
| Author: | Rachel Caine |
| Pages: | 302 |
| Publication Year: | 2017 |
