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A young man’s death, and the price of corruption
Paul O’Connor, himself now the published author of a nonfiction book, takes a look at the latest offering from a recent book by someone he deems “a master of narrative nonfiction.” Reviewed by Paul T. O’Connor LONDON FALLING: A MYSTERIOUS DEATH IN A GILDED CITY AND A FAMILY’S SEARCH FOR TRUTH. By Patrick Radden Keefe.…
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One last, big case
Bob Moyer has followed Arkady Renko, a Moscow police detective, through 10 impressive mystery novels. Now he is ready to share his thoughts about what we are told is the last book in the series. Reviewed by Robert P. Moyer HOTEL UKRAINE: The Final Arkady Renko Novel. By Martin Cruz Smith. Simon & Schuster. 273…
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A cozy mystery, with extras
Reviewed by Linda C. Brinson THE PRIMROSE MURDER SOCIETY. By Stacy Hackney. William Morrow. 339 pages. $15.20, paperback. Until recently, Stacy Hackney has been a lawyer who also wrote two well-received books for children ages about 8-12. These days, she’s taken on more of a challenge, and those of us who love a good, light…
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When evil invades the bayous
James Lee Burke’s Dave Robicheaux crime/ Southern noir novels are one of Bob Moyer’s favorite series. Here’s his take on the latest. Reviewed by Robert P. Moyer THE HADACOL BOOGIE: A Dave Robicheaux Novel. By James Lee Burke. Atlantic Crime. 477 pages. $30, hardcover. This is a big book, but then it takes a big…
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An American journalist in Paris on the eve of its collapse
Paul O’Connor, soon to join the ranks of published authors of nonfiction books, reviews a recent nonfiction work that combines biography, journalism, history, crime, politics and more. He finds it well worth reading. Reviewed by Paul T. O’Connor THE TYPEWRITER AND THE GUILLOTINE: AN AMERICAN JOURNALIST, A GERMAN SERIAL KILLER, AND PARIS ON THE EVE…
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Unraveling the terrible, twisted truth
Reviewed by Linda C. Brinson IT’S NOT HER. By Mary Kubica. Park Row Books (HarperCollins). 352 pages. $30, hardcover. If you like mystery-crime stories that fall into the psychological and domestic thriller categories, Mary Kubica’s new novel would make a great book to read on your next vacation – but not if you’re going to…
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A road trip into an insightful novel
Bob Moyer reviews a new novel that he believes is an “instant classic.” Reviewed by Robert P. Moyer THE REST OF OUR LIVES. By Ben Markovits. Simon & Schuster. 240 pages. $28. John Steinbeck, Robert Pirsig, Jack Kerouac—and Ben Markovits, all authors of classic road trip books. The first three authors are well-known, of course,…
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Lincoln Lawyer vs. AI
Bob Moyer reviews the latest book in the Lincoln Lawyer series and finds that some things are different this time around. Reviewed by Robert P. Moyer THE PROVING GROUND. By Michael Connelly. Little, Brown. 384 pages, $32. What’s wrong with this picture? It certainly isn’t the writing. Michael Connelly has once again fashioned a spot-on…