BOOK REVIEW: Death On A High Floor by Charles Rosenberg

Death On A High Floor:  A Legal Thriller is a Legal Mystery Thriller.

Simon Rafer, senior partner in the law firm, Marbury Marfan, has been murdered.  Simon was a "cleaner" and he didn't care who he cut from his team, if you weren't pulling your wait,  you were fired.  Simon didn't hold any bars when it came to success and believed he had game.

Robert Tarza, another senior partner and co-worker of Simon's, was the first upon the scene and has become a suspect.  Robert doesn't believe he has anything to worry about as he doesn't have a motive so he feels safe in his assumptions that Simon deserved what happened to him.

Jenna James is Robert's friend and colleague and she is quick to point out the reasons why Robert may have a motive and it all surrounds an ancient coin that Simon accused Robert of forging and trying to sell.  In an email, Simon threatens to expose Robert for the fraud he is.  Robert is beginning to see that some things he may have done do not look favourably for him.

Detective Spritz believes Robert killed Simon and will do whatever it takes to uncover the truth.  He doesn't trust Robert and finds his stories aloof and off-handed, like he has something to hide.  All Detective Spritz needs are the pieces to put everyone in their places the night Simon was murdered.

As the group work to find out who killed Simon; Robert can feel the noose tightening around his neck.  Jenna and he rush to play detectives themselves, but will they be in time or will Robert face trial for a crime he may not have done?

I thought for a debut novel this was fantastic, I had to keep reminding myself that the author is a green and not a seasoned veteran of the trade.  I thought the primary and secondary characters all worked well with the plot and brought life to the story.

I enjoyed Robert and his pragmatic attention to his life.  I thought Jenna and he made a great friendship even though I found Jenna to be a bit on the abrupt side.  I thought their sleuthing was often comical and the antics of the two brought a nice pace to the story.

I often got frustrated with Detective Spritz, sometimes his apparent refusal to believe the truth made you want to scream.  I thought he was a great antagonist to the story.

The court rooms scenes were believable and worthy of reading.  The plot twists and turns are wonderful and the final outcome of the story and the culprits is a wee bit of a shocker, though the reader does begin to draw the conclusion well before the final scene, it is a nice twist.

I would give Death On A High Floor a three and a half out of five stars.  I thought the court room scenes read great, however, sometimes the dialogue wasn't just and felt forced.  The build up to the end was great, but I felt the ending somewhat fizzled.  The outcome wasn't described as good as I had hoped and I felt it was over before it had begun.  However, for a debut novel it was great and author Charles Rosenberg is definitely going to be a around for a while.

SYNOPSIS:
When the much-despised Marbury Marfan senior partner Simon Rafer turns up dead, with an ornate dagger buried between his shoulder blades, it comes as a surprise to no one. Simon was an abusive boss and had recently been on the warpath, clearing the "dead wood" from the legal firm he treated as his personal fiefdom. Nearly a thousand attorneys and associates, scattered across four continents, had good reason to want Rafer dead, but homicide Detective Spritz has his eye trained on Marbury Marfan partner Robert Tarza, in particular. Tarza and his friend and colleague---and maybe a bit more---Jenna are soon forced to play detective themselves, in a race to find the real killer or killers before Spritz finishes assembling a collection of evidence that will make a very credible case against Tarza.

 

 ** Disclosure: I did not accept any compensation from the sponsors other than review copies, my views are my own, reviewed by me..as I see it~!! **

BOOK REVIEW: Alex by Dianne Hartsock

Alex is a Paranormal Suspense Fiction.

Alex Elson is a twenty year old orphan, his mother died in a house fire after she fell asleep with a cigarette in her hand.  Alex didn't have a happy home life, he was extremely abused both mentally and physically; his body is rife with the scarred tissue to proof it.  Alex's mother loved to do sadistic things to her young son, from burning him with irons, cigarettes to beating him beyond recognition at times.  His only escape is the day his mother dies.

On that fateful day he is removed from his burned out house where he was tied up in the basement and finds renewed life with Jane and her father.  They help to nurture him and bring Alex out of his shell, and if it weren't for the severe migraines and the horrific visions he sees, life might appear to be idyllic.

Jane is a 27 year old artist and is in love with Alex, she has been since the first day she seen him smile.  She would do anything for Alex and helps him to lead his life as normal as possible.

Alex is seeing things, sometimes they are premonitions of things to come and sometimes they are events that have passed but the things he sees and hears frightens him.  He doesn't understand why the voices of the terrified people continue to harass him but whenever the feelings get strong, Alex has no control as he is lead to wherever his visions take him.

Alex saves a little boy from drowning and puts his life and those of his loved ones in danger as the boy's parents try to take revenge on him.  They kidnap Alex and begin to torture him but Alex escapes and the man hunt begins for the Jack and Pat Gibson.

Alex has many visions and some lives he saves, others he fails; he is suspected by the police of knowing more than  he is letting on and the pressure is building to find the Gibson's and put an end to this madness.

I thought this was a gripping read, you couldn't help but want to finish the story and find out the outcome.  I thought Alex's back story was written in a haunting nature that left your skin crawling with revulsion.  The atrocities that Alex had to go through as a child makes ones heart cringe and ache.

I enjoyed how the primary characters interacted with each other and gave Alex a softer more humane side.  Alex's visions and the auras he sees are not easy for some to comprehend, however, his friends support him in all he does and help him to uncover the truth.

The abusive scenes are written with clarity, the reader is under no delusions as to what is occurring to Alex at the hands of his mother.  The torture and torment that Alex fights with everyday in order to lead a normal life doesn't always come easy and it is shared in a balanced nature, giving the reader insight into Alex's character and background.

I was really getting into the story but about three quarters of the way through the book I started to feel rushed and characters were being attached to events that had occurred and it didn't always play well.  There were a few questions not properly disclosed, like the explanation for why the Gibson's did what they did, the reader read the outcome in a flippant, almost off-handed manner and I thought that it left the outcome lacking.

I would give Alex a three and a half stars out of five.  I thought the writing was excellent but the outcome of the story was a disappointment, it failed to answer some important issues for me and the love story between Alex and Jane wasn't impressive.  She was several years older than he and for almost a decade, thought of themselves as adoptive siblings.   I see this scared, scarred and withdrawn twelve year comes into Jane's house and she feels like he is her soul mate when she has already graduated college and is about to begin her career, it just didn't play well with me.  Which brings me to Dr. Beckett, I am unsure his role in the novel, other than to help the antagonists perpuate their plans but I feel this could been delivered in a better way.

Now, do not get me wrong, this was a great read and I would recommend it to anyone who likes paranormal thrillers.  The abuse scenes are well delivered, Alex is a likeable character and the book does keep you reading until the end.  I would definitely read more by Dianne Hartsock.

Dianne Hartsock ~ Write What Brings You Joy

SYNOPSIS:
Alex is twenty and confused. He always is. The world presses on him with its horrors and pain, with scintillating auras that pierce his eyes and drive the migraines deeper. He hears the cries of children, the screaming women. He sees the brutal images of the tortured victims. He feels out of control and his mind slips... Severely abused as a child, he is left with horrible scars on his body and even worse scars within his mind. Even though it puts him in danger, he’s compelled to help those who call to him. He’s driven, motivated by his visions to rescue them and uncover the killer. When he can, he helps the police; yet some detectives suspect he’s the cause of the problem, not the solution. Often, Alex finds himself alone and afraid in a world he doesn’t always comprehend.

 ** Disclosure: I did not accept any compensation from the sponsors other than review copies, my views are my own, reviewed by me..as I see it~!! **

SPOTLIGHT - Dianne Hartsock author of Alex

Join Dianne Hartsock, author of the paranormal/ suspense novel, Alex (Solstice Publishing, July 2011), as she virtually tours the blogosphere from December 5 - 16, 2011 on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book!

About the Author...
Dianne Hartsock lives in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon with her incredibly patient husband, who puts up with the endless hours she spends hunched over the keyboard letting her characters play.

She says Oregon’s raindrops are the perfect setting in which to write her tales. There’s something about being cooped up in the house while it pours rain outside and a fire crackles on the hearth inside that kindles her imagination.
The intricate and fragile nature of the mind is always fascinating.  Having worked with the public through various careers, Dianne has come to respect the resilience and strength of the human spirit. She’s always trying to capture that spirit in her writing.

Currently, Dianne works as a floral designer in a locally-owned gift shop, which she says is the perfect job for her. When not writing, she can express herself through the rich colors and textures of flowers and foliage.

Dianne’s books include Trials of a Lonely Specter and Alex.

You can visit Dianne Hartsock at:  

http://diannehartsocksalex.wordpress.com/

About the Book...
Alex is twenty and confused.  He always is.  The world presses on him with its horrors and pain, with scintillating auras that pierce his eyes and drive the migraines deeper. He hears the cries of children, the screaming women. He sees the brutal images of the tortured victims. He feels out of control and his mind slips…

 Severely abused as a child, he is left with horrible scars on his body and even worse scars within his mind. Even though it puts him in danger, he’s compelled to help those who call to him. He’s driven, motivated by his visions to rescue them and uncover the killer. When he can, he helps the police; yet some detectives suspect he’s the cause of the problem, not the solution. Often, Alex finds himself alone and afraid in a world he doesn’t understand.

Read the Excerpt...
Her skin was soft under his fingertips. Her bare shoulders, the curve of muscle in her arms, her slim fingers; all so soft. Her breath caressed his cheek as he stared at her lips. He wanted to kiss her. It was a risk, he knew, but he ached for someone to break the loneliness. He bent his head and ran his tongue tentatively over the sweet fullness of her mouth. Her tongue met his but he was unprepared for the fire that tore through him. She pressed against him to deepen the kiss and a wild madness surged through his blood.
Something was wrong. She cried out as she struggled in his arms. Her nails raked across his neck. He let her go and watched in bewilderment as she scrambled away, her breath coming in sharp gasps. He reached out a tentative hand, wanting to explain—apologize, but she stepped hastily away from him.
“Freak!” she spat and quickly fled.
He jerked as the word struck him, his arm dropping to his side. The pain of her rejection flooded him. He touched his mouth and wondered desperately what she’d seen as he’d kissed her.
She stopped at the end of the bridge and looked over her shoulder. He couldn’t make out her expression, but he hoped to God it wasn’t pity. He took a hesitant step toward her but she tore her eyes away and rushed off.
He watched her follow the road back to town, hurrying as the sun sank. The far side of the road was already lost in darkness. His shoulders slumped in defeat when she disappeared into the gloom.
Dejected, he sat on the edge of the bridge and dangled his feet over the swift current. The sound of the rushing water echoed under him, filling his ears. It dulled the edge of his pain, making him forget his humiliation as he listened. He could almost make out a voice in the resonance.

* * * *

BOOK REVIEW: Code Of Darkness by Chris Lindberg

Code Of Darkness is a Suspense Thriller.

The story surrounds three men, Rage, a wanderer and a drifter who saves the life of a cop, Larry Parker and a innocent bystander, Mira Givens, when a bank robbery goes awry.  He does an incredible feat and Larry is unable to put his cop instincts aside and is intrigued with the mysterious stranger.

Elias Todd, a hired assassin with numerous kills under his belt.  He has the ability to be discreet and loves to live life extravagantly.  He is unaware that there are people who have a special interest in his abilities.

Colonel Nolan Hayes, Executive Special Agent to NSA and the head of Project Safeguard.  Colonel Hayes is very interested in attaining assests number one and two so that he can further investigate scientific findings surrounding the genetic makeup of the two men.  Colonel Hayes will stop at nothing to capture these two men and he has every resource at his disposal.

When Elias is captured, he is unaware of the circumstances around his incarceration.  He is taken to a secluded, underground laboratory where unspeakable acts of science are performed upon him.  Loretta Barnes, a scientist working on the project has come to the conclusion that things aren't as they appear and she begins her own investigation and the results she uncovers are beyond her scope of imagining.

Rage has befriended Mira and the two come to realize that their lives are in danger as the NSA has ordered Mira to be brainwashed and Rage to be captured.  Along the way, Larry is caught up in the intrigue and his life has been forfeited for knowing too much.  After his family is kidnapped, Larry and Mira team up to bring the truth to light while dodging special ops, the police and their own demons.

I thought this was a great read and was soon caught up in the mystery found within the pages.  I liked the characters and found they all worked well together to bring the story alive.  I liked Rage and found his inner thoughts to be a great addition to the story.  I would've liked to have seen more from Elias and had a better knowledge of his inner machinations.

I was captivated by the plot, I had to know what was going on and found myself perusing the pages to get to the end.  I found some of the storylines weren't tied up as good as I had hoped.  I still do not know why any of them had the special abilities that they did and I was waiting for the climax and the answers to all my questions, however, it fell flat and I was left with only more to ponder.

I thought that Hayes was a decent enough antagonist but his motivation often eluded me, I know why he wanted them but not for what he wanted them for exactly.  I have my own opinion but I felt that the author didn't convey the message clear enough.

I would give Code Of Darkness a three and a half stars out of five.  I found it slow to pick up and a bit cliched in the beginning but then the story finds its own and you are soon caught up in the mystery surrounding the characters.  I wish the reasons had been clearer as I was left with an impression that the author wasn't sure what the reason was himself or it was being set up for another installation and perhaps a series.  I am unsure but I would read another book by Chris Lindberg, he has a great writing style that captivates the reader to continue to read more of his work.

Code Of Darkness

SYNOPSIS:
When a routine bank robbery takes an unexpected turn, veteran Chicago Police officer Larry Parker witnesses a heroic act by a mysterious intervener. But seconds later the Samaritan disappears, leaving Larry only with unanswered questions.

Suddenly, vigilante activity begins popping up all over the city -- including several murders. Larry begins to gather the missing pieces of the puzzle, and finds evidence the Samaritan might be tied to them. When he learns the man's identity -- a loner known only by the name Rage -- he prepares to move in for the arrest.

But there is much more to Rage than meets the eye: the case has also drawn the attention of a covert Black Ops division within the Pentagon. Their mission: find Rage, while keeping their operation out of the public eye. Seen as knowing too much, Larry suddenly finds himself in the crosshairs as well. When Rage is captured in a deadly standoff, Larry is forced into hiding, and must search for answers while on the run.

The deadly chase leads cross-country to a top-secret military facility in Virginia, where Rage and Larry uncover the greatest danger of all -- and only they can stop the unthinkable from happening.

 ** Disclosure: I did not accept any compensation from the sponsors other than review copies, my views are my own, reviewed by me..as I see it~!! **

Anaszi Intrigue by Linda Weaver Clarke

Anasazi Intrigue:  The Adventures of John and Julia Evans is a romantic suspense mystery.

Julia Evans is a reporter who comes across some dead fish after a terrible flood has ripped through her county.  Bagging them up she takes them to family friend, Matthew, who concludes that the fish had died from arsenic poisoning.

Julia must convince her boss that she is the right person to cover this story and not her smug co-worker, Ted.  As Julia works to uncover more leads in order to continue following the story, Julia's husband, John, has uncovered a mystery of his own.

It seems someone is stealing priceless artifacts from ancient Anasazi burial kivas and selling them on the black market to the highest bidder.  John is afraid that if Julia hears about this, he'll have more to worry about then a couple of dead fish.

As the two of the work to uncover the mysteries set before them, they run into dangerous men who wish them to drop the story or suffer the consequences.  Julia is a stubborn women and will stop at nothing to uncover the truth, even at the cost of her own life.

This was an easy read that have a decent flow and narrative.  The plot is a great one and I enjoyed hearing about the history of the Anasazi and the artifacts that were mentioned.  I enjoyed the bad guys and thought they were well written, Devollyn, the main antagonist, was very enjoyable to read and brought depth to the book.

I wish there had been more history pertaining to the Anasazi, I am an ancient history buff and was truly looking forward to learning more as well, I believe, it would have given the plot more clarity.  I believe that if I didn't know what I do about that particular race of people, I might not have known what the author was explaining.  I would've liked to have seen more of the dream that Julia was racked with, it wasn't mentioned often enough to grasp the meaning behind the revelation at the end of the story and the event is left with a flat feeling for me.

I would give this a three out of five stars.  I thought John was a great character and was written in an enjoyable way but for some reason, Julia wasn't endearing to me.  She came across as whiny and spoiled more often than the courageous, go-for-all woman that she was sometimes portrayed as.  Also, there was a couple of places in the beginning chapters that had Julia listed as Julia Roberts and it confused me, I think it was mentioned two or three times and at first, I thought it may have her byline name at the newspaper but it was never mentioned again and I'm still not sure.

All in all, if you like a good mystery with a little bit of history thrown in the mix, then you will be sure to enjoy Anasazi Intrigue.

Linda Weaver Clarke - Author

** Disclosure: I did not accept any compensation from the sponsors other than review copies, my views are my own, reviewed by me..as I see it~!! **