Briar Patch Books

Category: Thriller/Suspense

  • 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…

  • The deepest mystery of all

    Bob Moyer takes a look at a new stand-alone novel by the author of one of his favorite series, and he likes what he sees. Reviewed by Robert P. Moyer THE MURDERER’S DAUGHTER. By Jonathan Kellerman. Ballantine Books. 364 pages. $28. Early in this one-off, stand-alone book, the new kid, The Murderer’s Daughter, meets with…

  • Another romp with Fox and O’Hare

    Reviewed by Linda C. Brinson Some books are perfect for listening while driving on long interstate stretches or crammed into an airplane seat. Janet Evanovich’s various series fit this category well. They’re highly entertaining, and they don’t require deep thinking. Stephanie Plum, Evanovich’s intrepid bounty hunter and endearing klutz, is by far my favorite, but…

  • Sleuthing for the Nazis

    Bob Moyer has a wide range of reading favorites that includes mystery/thrillers and books about the Holocaust. Philip Kerr’s Bernie Gunther series deftly combines these two interests. Reviewed by Robert P. Moyer THE LADY FROM ZAGREB. By Philip Kerr. Putnam. 421 pages. $26.95. It’s 1942, the beginning of the end, the Soviet Union has not…

  • Who will be the next prey?

    Reviewed by Linda C. Brinson. GATHERING PREY. By John Sandford. Read by Richard Ferrone. Penguin Audio. 9 CDs, 11 hours. $40. Also available in hardcover from G. P. Putnam’s Sons. When a novelist has a long-running successful series, as John Sandford certainly does with his ‘Prey” thrillers starring Lucas Davenport, fans know what to expect.…

  • Saving “runners”

    Here’s an intriguing review by Bob Moyer. The book is the latest in an interesting-sounding mystery series that I have somehow missed. What a treat to discover not just a new book that sounds good, but a whole series. Reviewed by Robert P. Moyer A STRING OF BEADS. By Thomas Perry. Mysterious Press. 388 pages.…