Briar Patch Books

Category: Thriller/Suspense

  • From morning sickness to mortal danger

    We’re all blessed when Bob Moyer takes time out from his world travels, drama, poetry and petanque to review some books. Reviewed by Robert P. Moyer MOST WANTED. By Lisa Scottoline. Delacorte Press. 438 pages. $27.99 Chances are Raymond Chandler’s Phillip Marlowe never had a “best friend forever” who said “Ruh-ro” like Scooby Doo. Never did we…

  • Lifestyles of the rich and vapid

    Reviewed by Linda C. Brinson DISHONORABLE INTENTIONS. By Stuart Woods. Read by Tony Roberts. 7 CDs, 8 hours. Penguin Audio. $35. When a prolific author cranks out books in a series with astonishing rapidity, a reviewer is often left with little to say other than that those who like this series will probably like the…

  • Lifestyles of the rich and criminal

    Reviewed by Linda C. Brinson FAMILY JEWELS. By Stuart Woods. Penguin Audio. Read by Tony Roberts. 7 hours; 6 CDs. $35. Also available in hardback from G.P. Putnam’s Sons. Stuart Woods cranks his Stone Barrington thrillers out pretty quickly. This one is, if I count correctly, No 37. Family Jewels, with some interesting plot twists…

  • Rough winds and murderous seas

    My partner for this review is my younger son, a U.S. Navy officer who has served two deployments aboard Navy ships and is now an instructor in seamanship and navigation at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. Reviewed by Linda C. Brinson and Lt. Samuel F. Brinson THE ADEN EFFECT. By Claude Berube. Naval Institute…

  • Too close for comfort

    Reviewed by Linda C. Brinson DEEP BLUE. By Randy Wayne White. Penguin Audio. Read by George Guidall.  8 ½ hours; 7 CDs. $40. Also available in print from G.P. Putnam’s Sons. You’d think that, having written 22 crime novels starring Doc Ford, Randy Wayne White might be running out of plot ideas. After all, how…

  • Seeking redemption in a harsh land

    Reviewed by Linda C. Brinson MIDNIGHT SUN. By Jo Nesbo. Random House Audio. Read by Kim Gordon. 5 CDs; 6 hours. $30. Also available in print from Knopf. Jo Nesbo is best known for his series of crime novels starring the Norwegian detective Harry Hole, but he also has written several stand-alone novels. Midnight Sun,…

  • East side, west side, all around the town

    Reviewed by Linda C. Brinson BROOKLYN ON FIRE. By Lawrence H. Levy. Read by Cassandra Campbell. Books on Tape. 10 hours; 9 CDs. Mary Handley was the first woman to work as a detective with the Brooklyn Police Department. Her success there gained her quite a bit of fame, or maybe notoriety. She’s not giving…

  • Wealth, danger and scandal – what more could you want?

    Reviewed by Linda C. Brinson SCANDALOUS BEHAVIOR. By Stuart Woods. Penguin Audio. Read by Tony Roberts. Six CDs, seven hours. $35. Also available in print from G. P. Putnam’s Sons. Stone Barrington, having had many adventures, close calls and romantic encounters recently (as always), decides to get a little R&R visiting a friend (lady of…

  • A fresh perspective: Bold gambit

    Here’s another of our interesting and well-done reviews by students in the opinion-writing class at the University of North Carolina’s School of Media and Journalism. Reviewed by Nick Niedzwiadek DISCLAIMER. By Renée Knight. Harper. 336 pages. $25.99.  Starting a story by introducing a book-within-a-book — and having it be central to the plot— is a…

  • A fresh perspective: Grisham’s lawyer pushes the limits

    Here’s another review by a student in the opinion writing class at UNC Chapel Hill’s School of Media and Journalism. Reviewed by John Thomas ROGUE LAWYER.  By John Grisham. Doubleday. 344 pages. $28.95, hardcover. John Grisham’s latest legal thriller, Rogue Lawyer, follows the story of defense lawyer Sebastian Rudd, a self-described “lone gunman” who loves…