Darryle's bookshelf: all en-US Mon, 28 Apr 2025 13:16:55 -0700 60 Darryle's bookshelf: all 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg <![CDATA[Midnight Black (Gray Man, #14)]]> 213651068 With his lover imprisoned in a Siberian gulag, the Gray Man will stop at nothing to free her in this latest entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.

A winter sunrise over the great plains of Russia is no cause for celebration. The temperature barely rises above zero, and the guards at Penal Colony IK22 are determined to take their misery out on the prisoners--chief among them, one Zoya Zakharova. Once a master spy for Russian foreign intelligence, then the partner and lover of the Gray Man, she has information the Kremlin wants, and they don't care what they have to do to get it.

But if they think a thousand miles of frozen wasteland and the combined power of the Russian police state is enough to protect them, they don't know the Gray Man. He's coming, and no one's safe.]]> 518 Mark Greaney 0593548191 Darryle 0 currently-reading 4.68 2025 Midnight Black (Gray Man, #14)
author: Mark Greaney
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.68
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/28
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[All Is Not Forgiven (Detectives Kenda & Wilson, #1)]]> 123029184 When murder is your business, solving the case is personal �

The Homicide Hunter’s riveting debut novel proves that fiction really can be stranger than truth �

All Is Not Forgiven is the debut crime novel by television star Joe Kenda, a former homicide detective, whose hit series Homicide Hunter and Homicide Hunter: American Detective air on Investigation Discovery, the #1 true crime channel available in more than 80 million homes.

In this first novel, the rookie Det. Kenda investigates a 1975 case that begins with the murder of a beloved Colorado philanthropist and society figure whose husband, a gambler and womanizer, appears to have an air-tight alibi.

Mentored by his veteran partner Det. Lee Wilson, a former Nashville singer turned skilled investigator, Kenda’s case quickly attracts attention from the FBI, CIA, and Interpol, for its similarity to a string of killings involving wealthy married women. All the murders appear to have been committed by a hired professional whose trademark is the use of an unusual form of lethal ammunition that leaves no trace.

Detectives Kenda and Wilson travel across the country, following leads to Las Vegas and a mob “made man� pit boss who moonlights as a matchmaker for hit men. In this first extraordinary case, the detectives join a full law-enforcement blitz to track down a twisted killer who has made murder his business.]]> 238 Joe Kenda Darryle 4
The setting takes place in his early years as a detective and though the case is a work of fiction, it felt like an actual real life case that could've easily been from Homicide Hunter. Working with limited resources and technology of the day, this case is an example of how to collaborate with other agencies and break a case with good old fashioned police work.

With the amount of vast police knowledge Kenda has, I am sure he has enough to write a large volume of novels based on his past cases. I look forward to the next book. Highly recommended. ]]> 3.53 2023 All Is Not Forgiven (Detectives Kenda & Wilson, #1)
author: Joe Kenda
name: Darryle
average rating: 3.53
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/26
date added: 2025/04/28
shelves:
review:
This is my first novel from Detective Joe Kenda. I am a fan of his storytelling style from the Homicide Hunter TV series so I had to see how well his storytelling chops are in a full length novel. He delivered just as I expected. It was a fast read and had the right elements of intrigue, suspense and mystery that I came to expect from Detective Kenda.

The setting takes place in his early years as a detective and though the case is a work of fiction, it felt like an actual real life case that could've easily been from Homicide Hunter. Working with limited resources and technology of the day, this case is an example of how to collaborate with other agencies and break a case with good old fashioned police work.

With the amount of vast police knowledge Kenda has, I am sure he has enough to write a large volume of novels based on his past cases. I look forward to the next book. Highly recommended.
]]> <![CDATA[The Puppet Master (Major Crimes, #3)]]> 199618106
He watches your every move...
We’ve all experienced it. That creeping sensation of eyes on your back, the faint echo of footsteps following yours.

He controls you...
Across the country, a madman is carefully choosing his victims. Once he has you in his sights, he won’t let go.

He will make you pay...
You think you’re in control of your own life? Think again. Because The Puppet Master is coming for you, and he won’t stop until you’re dead…]]> 400 Sam Holland 000861508X Darryle 0 to-read 4.17 The Puppet Master (Major Crimes, #3)
author: Sam Holland
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.17
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Twenty (Major Crimes, #2) 61858067
When DCI Adam Bishop arrives at the crime scene in the dead of night, the sight of the body is bad enough—but what Adam notices next chills him to his core. More bodies surface. And the spray-painted numbers daubed above the corpses reveal the horrific truth: the killer is counting down. But to what end?

Adam has no idea—until Dr. Romilly Cole knocks on his door with damning evidence pointing to a series of murders fifteen years earlier—a case she knows intimately from her past. Now, it’s personal—and the next knock on his door could be fatal.

Sam Holland’s gripping debut novel, The Echo Man, riveted readers and critics alike with its raw and brutal depiction of the unthinkable depredations of a serial killer. With The Twenty, Holland kicks her depraved milieu into even higher gear with a page-turning, up-all-night read that left us breathless.]]> 464 Sam Holland 1639102566 Darryle 0 to-read 4.17 2023 The Twenty (Major Crimes, #2)
author: Sam Holland
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Echo Man (Major Crimes, #1)]]> 58656109
Detectives Cara Elliott and Noah Deakin are on the case of a series of seemingly unconnected murders, each different in method, but each shocking and brutal. As the body count increases, they can’t ignore the details that echo famous cases of the past—Manson, Kemper, Dahmer, and more. As Elliott and Deakin get closer to unmasking the killer, the murders are moving closer to home.

Meanwhile, Jessica Ambrose is on the run. She’s been implicated as the arsonist who killed her neglectful husband and injured her young daughter. With the help of disgraced and suspended detective Nate Griffin, Jess discovers a shocking link between her case and that of the ultimate copycat killer working on his horrifying masterpiece.]]> 400 Sam Holland 1643859927 Darryle 0 to-read 4.09 2022 The Echo Man (Major Crimes, #1)
author: Sam Holland
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[In the Heart of the Fire (Nameless: Season One, #1)]]> 49694471 A bloodthirsty sheriff is terrorizing a small Texas town where justice has been buried with his victims. Until Nameless arrives—a vigilante whose past is a mystery and whose future is written in blood.

Anyone who crosses Sheriff Russell Soakes is dead, missing, or warned. One of them is a single mother trying to protect her children but bracing herself for the worst. Nameless fears the outcome. He’s seen it in his visions. Now it’s time to teach the depraved Soakes a lesson in fear. But in turning predators into prey, will Nameless unearth a few secrets of his own?

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz comes In the Heart of the Fire, part of Nameless, a riveting collection of short stories about a vigilante nomad, stripped of his memories and commissioned to kill. Follow him in each story, which can be read or listened to in a single sitting.

]]> 62 Dean Koontz 1542016215 Darryle 4
As the book suggests with "Season One", it is a series of short stories or episodes that could easily become a TV series on Netflix or Prime. Each story has a flow and flare of its own and could stand alone as a series of books. While it took me a little longer to finish this book as I was wrapping up some other books I was reading as the Nameless saga had a plethora of short stories to go through than the other books.

I enjoyed the character development, the drama and suspense that these stories provided. I liked how this "season" ended with an important reveal that will set the stage for the next season. The Nameless saga was brilliantly written and being my first book review of his work, he did not disappoint and I look forward to the next series. Highly recommended.]]> 4.19 2019 In the Heart of the Fire (Nameless: Season One, #1)
author: Dean Koontz
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/23
date added: 2025/04/23
shelves:
review:
This is one of my first Dean Koontz thrillers and I must say I am impressed. The best way I can describe Nameless is that he is the "Jack Reacher of the Jason Bourne genre". He is a guy with no memory of his past and is at the right place at the right time to right some wrongs.

As the book suggests with "Season One", it is a series of short stories or episodes that could easily become a TV series on Netflix or Prime. Each story has a flow and flare of its own and could stand alone as a series of books. While it took me a little longer to finish this book as I was wrapping up some other books I was reading as the Nameless saga had a plethora of short stories to go through than the other books.

I enjoyed the character development, the drama and suspense that these stories provided. I liked how this "season" ended with an important reveal that will set the stage for the next season. The Nameless saga was brilliantly written and being my first book review of his work, he did not disappoint and I look forward to the next series. Highly recommended.
]]> <![CDATA[The Finish (The Eliminator #12)]]> 57481667
Rich Mallette is still a menacing force, and he's still got Jacobs first on his hit-list. Complicating matters is that Wilson Ames is still in the city, and trying to occupy the spot that Mallette once held. But there's not enough room for everybody, and nobody is safe.

Will Jacobs finally get the revenge he has long been seeking? Or will he finally fall, and join his family again?]]> 187 Mike Ryan Darryle 4
The Finish ended the way it needed to and was satisfying. I enjoy how Mike Ryan can make each of his multiple characters unique and to develop great stories that do not seem merely like a carryover of his other characters. While the Eliminator has some similarities to Marvel's Punisher, it is limited only to the origin story of his family being killed by the mob. The rest is unique to the Eliminator. I loved how Mr. Ryan was able to humanize the Eliminator to the point that he didn't care if he lived or died after getting his vengeance on Mallette. It as important that certain people like Tiffany came along at the right time to keep him grounded to feel that he still has a sense of purpose beyond what happened to Mallette when he was ready to join his family in death.

The Eliminator overall is highly recommended. If you love Mike Ryan's other works, he'll deliver on this series has he has in the rest of his universe. Enjoy!]]> 4.44 The Finish (The Eliminator #12)
author: Mike Ryan
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.44
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/07
date added: 2025/04/15
shelves:
review:
I am so glad I have been able to pick up where I left off about a year or two ago and see The Eliminator saga to its conclusion. It's one of those series that I am going miss as it was a really solid series from start to finish with compelling and multiple adversaries, tragedy that drove the Eliminator to become the person he became. There were multiple supporting characters that enhanced the overall story to include the special guest appearance of Nathan Thrower, a character best known from the Silencer series. I really would like the see Mr. Thrower in his own series as I am sure there are a lot of great stories to tell about him that that'll be action packed and that he'll have an interesting backstory.

The Finish ended the way it needed to and was satisfying. I enjoy how Mike Ryan can make each of his multiple characters unique and to develop great stories that do not seem merely like a carryover of his other characters. While the Eliminator has some similarities to Marvel's Punisher, it is limited only to the origin story of his family being killed by the mob. The rest is unique to the Eliminator. I loved how Mr. Ryan was able to humanize the Eliminator to the point that he didn't care if he lived or died after getting his vengeance on Mallette. It as important that certain people like Tiffany came along at the right time to keep him grounded to feel that he still has a sense of purpose beyond what happened to Mallette when he was ready to join his family in death.

The Eliminator overall is highly recommended. If you love Mike Ryan's other works, he'll deliver on this series has he has in the rest of his universe. Enjoy!
]]> King of Ashes 219833252 Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author S. A. Cosby returns with King of Ashes, a Godfather-inspired Southern crime epic and dazzling family drama.

When eldest son Roman Carruthers is summoned home after his father’s car accident, he finds his younger brother, Dante, in debt to dangerous criminals and his sister, Neveah, exhausted from holding the family—and the family business—together. Neveah and their father, who run the Carruthers Crematorium in the run-down central Virginia town of Jefferson Run, see death up close every day. But mortality draws even closer when it becomes clear that the crash that landed their father in a coma was no accident and Dante’s recklessness has placed them all in real danger.

Roman, a financial whiz with a head for numbers and a talent for making his clients rich, has some money to help buy his brother out of trouble. But in his work with wannabe tough guys, he’s forgotten that there are real gangsters out there. As his bargaining chips go up in smoke, Roman realizes that he has only one thing left to offer to save his himself, and his own particular set of skills.

Roman begins his work for the criminals while Neveah tries to uncover the long-ago mystery of what happened to their mother, who disappeared when they were teenagers. But Roman is far less of a pushover than the gangsters realize. He is willing to do anything to save his family. Anything.

Because everything burns.]]> 352 S.A. Cosby 1250832063 Darryle 0 to-read 4.54 2025 King of Ashes
author: S.A. Cosby
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.54
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Two Kinds of Truth (Harry Bosch, #20; Harry Bosch Universe, #31)]]> 34390820
Meanwhile, an old case from Bosch's LAPD days comes back to haunt him when a long-imprisoned killer claims Harry framed him, and seems to have new evidence to prove it. Bosch left the LAPD on bad terms, so his former colleagues aren't keen to protect his reputation. He must fend for himself in clearing his name and keeping a clever killer in prison.

The two unrelated cases wind around each other like strands of barbed wire. Along the way Bosch discovers that there are two kinds of truth: the kind that sets you free and the kind that leaves you buried in darkness.]]> 417 Michael Connelly Darryle 4
One thing people learn the hard way about Bosch is that he is not to be underestimated and his track record as a successful investigator speaks for itself. Yet, there is always someone (criminals, the brass, the angry public or a politician, etc.) looking to put the screws to Bosch because his success at finding the truth produces enemies. Those enemies can try as they might to take Bosch down, but as seen in so many attempts, it often ends in failure. Bosch has proven time and again that he is the best at what he does and even retired, his abilities, smarts and attention to detail has not diminished one bit. He sees right through the BS and can smell it a mile away. I already sensed it when his old case came under scrutiny, but the thing is, how can he get to the bottom of what he perceives is a set up before his legacy, reputation and integrity is destroyed?

When this book talks about "two kinds of truth", to me it's the difference between the actual truth and someone's personal truth (as what they think is truth or what they want to believe is the truth which for the most part are illusions). Bosch prefers the former than the latter which makes him not only relentless but dangerous to those who seek to conceal the truth in any case he takes on.

In this story, it had all of the right elements that came together beautifully to include the return of familiar characters such as Bosch's old partners J. Edgar and Lucy Soto that brings up the past in good and bad ways that affect their current relationships. There's a murder mystery that takes him to unexpected places and while those situations are going on, he finds himself having compassion for someone who is bound up with addiction that he is trying the save from self destruction which enables us to see so much more of his humanity.

As a Bosch fan and 20 books in, I still continue to learn more about Bosch regardless of the changing circumstances around him. With the ongoing character development spanning years and even decades later, Bosch remains a compelling character and each story brings something new. Coupled with the TV show, I feel like I have an edge because I know most of the characters (and each actor, especially Titus Welliver as Bosch). They are played very well on the TV series to the point that you know what to expect from the book. This book delivered the depth that I have come to expect and I am looking forward to the next book. As always, this book is highly recommended.]]> 4.24 2017 Two Kinds of Truth (Harry Bosch, #20; Harry Bosch Universe, #31)
author: Michael Connelly
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2023/03/09
date added: 2025/04/14
shelves:
review:
Wow! With a few minor exceptions, I was amazed how much the Bosch TV series followed this suspense thriller. As I was following along in this book, I can picture the scenes in the TV series which made the book itself more tangible. This was a Bosch thriller that did not need much altering to tell a great story because it was all there. Bosch had a decades old circumstantial case that landed a killer on death row only for it to be questioned and scrutinized as planting evidence, something Bosch would never do yet, here we are.

One thing people learn the hard way about Bosch is that he is not to be underestimated and his track record as a successful investigator speaks for itself. Yet, there is always someone (criminals, the brass, the angry public or a politician, etc.) looking to put the screws to Bosch because his success at finding the truth produces enemies. Those enemies can try as they might to take Bosch down, but as seen in so many attempts, it often ends in failure. Bosch has proven time and again that he is the best at what he does and even retired, his abilities, smarts and attention to detail has not diminished one bit. He sees right through the BS and can smell it a mile away. I already sensed it when his old case came under scrutiny, but the thing is, how can he get to the bottom of what he perceives is a set up before his legacy, reputation and integrity is destroyed?

When this book talks about "two kinds of truth", to me it's the difference between the actual truth and someone's personal truth (as what they think is truth or what they want to believe is the truth which for the most part are illusions). Bosch prefers the former than the latter which makes him not only relentless but dangerous to those who seek to conceal the truth in any case he takes on.

In this story, it had all of the right elements that came together beautifully to include the return of familiar characters such as Bosch's old partners J. Edgar and Lucy Soto that brings up the past in good and bad ways that affect their current relationships. There's a murder mystery that takes him to unexpected places and while those situations are going on, he finds himself having compassion for someone who is bound up with addiction that he is trying the save from self destruction which enables us to see so much more of his humanity.

As a Bosch fan and 20 books in, I still continue to learn more about Bosch regardless of the changing circumstances around him. With the ongoing character development spanning years and even decades later, Bosch remains a compelling character and each story brings something new. Coupled with the TV show, I feel like I have an edge because I know most of the characters (and each actor, especially Titus Welliver as Bosch). They are played very well on the TV series to the point that you know what to expect from the book. This book delivered the depth that I have come to expect and I am looking forward to the next book. As always, this book is highly recommended.
]]> <![CDATA[True Conviction (Adrian Hell, #1)]]> 25208751 A break-neck thriller that will have you ducking bullets and dying to turn the page!

Meet Adrian Hell, one of the deadliest professional assassins to ever pick up a gun.

In True Conviction, he takes a job in the sun-soaked city of Heaven's Valley, a paradise of sin and the jewel of Nevada. His contract? Kill a man who has stolen something of value from the local mafia. But when the job turns sour, he discovers a much larger threat looming in the shadows. He finds himself in the crosshairs of a powerful adversary, and he must use his skills to survive while working to stop a terrorist attack that could act as a catalyst for another world war.

Adrian is pushed beyond his limits, tested to breaking point and forced to overcome tremendous odds in order to do what's right in this adrenaline-fuelled action adventure... even if it means going against his killer instincts.

(Previously published under the title, Crucible)]]> 308 James P. Sumner Darryle 0 to-read 3.97 2014 True Conviction (Adrian Hell, #1)
author: James P. Sumner
name: Darryle
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/08
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Return (The Eliminator #11)]]> 56073622
In addition to Mallette, Jacobs now has to worry about people he may have placed trust with in the past. Luckily, he still has Thrower by his side to help with the additional threats being thrown his way.

Will Mallette finally succeed in taking down his long-term adversary by luring him into a trap? Or will Jacobs finally put an end to this fight?]]> 166 Mike Ryan Darryle 4
With Nate Thrower in the mix has really made a difference in the Eliminator's ability to continually defeat Mallette and his uneasy alliance with Butch. Throughout all of this, they still can't figure out who Thrower is which gives him and the Eliminator the advantage. Will it all be enough to finally put an end to threat of Mallette and the rest of the criminals at large for good? You'll have to see for yourself.

I am enjoying the Eliminator saga and I can't wait to see how it ends. It is highly recommended.]]> 4.28 The Return (The Eliminator #11)
author: Mike Ryan
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.28
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/03
date added: 2025/04/03
shelves:
review:
Mallette is finally released from prison and eager for a showdown with the Eliminator. As wisdom would have it, it would've been better to lay low, build back his crime family and come back stronger for that showdown. The problem was, he was faced with addition threats from rival gangs who have taken over his territories. Now he has to take them on to re-establish his control over the city. The problem (as expected) that the rivals do not want to give up their ill-gotten gains and even negotiations were not working. His hate for the Eliminator is an even bigger problem because he hasn't been able to beat him.

With Nate Thrower in the mix has really made a difference in the Eliminator's ability to continually defeat Mallette and his uneasy alliance with Butch. Throughout all of this, they still can't figure out who Thrower is which gives him and the Eliminator the advantage. Will it all be enough to finally put an end to threat of Mallette and the rest of the criminals at large for good? You'll have to see for yourself.

I am enjoying the Eliminator saga and I can't wait to see how it ends. It is highly recommended.
]]> <![CDATA[Vindicate (Joe Dillard Series, #11)]]> 228881509 The New Jack Dillard Novel

Two isolated killings.

Two potentially innocent men.

Jack Dillard—son of Joe—is a criminal defense attorney reeling in the wake of the ordeals he’s endured the last few years. He’s lost and angry, especially because the family reputation his parents built is in tatters. Though not entirely his fault, he blames himself.

When Jack is approached by a young podcaster who’s passionate about a convicted murderer’s innocence, he’s hesitant to get involved. But the case intrigues him, so Jack reluctantly agrees to assist.

Meanwhile, Jack’s wife and law partner, Charleston Dillard, is struggling to juggle his volatile moods, their shrinking law practice, and the challenges of raising their newly adopted daughter, Abby.

When Charlie is approached by a long-lost relative to represent a man charged in a local murder, she agrees to meet the prospective client. She and Jack need the money.

But she soon learns the victim’s father is one of the most powerful men in Unicoi County. And he is intent on seeing his son’s killer suffer.

As Jack and Charlie dig into the two cases, they begin to uncover strange connections between them. With pressure mounting, Jack becomes the target of a deeply unhinged enemy who will try to take everything from him, including his sanity, to stop him from discovering the truth.

And even the mighty Joe Dillard is powerless to help.

“Pratt’s richly developed characters are vivid and believable, especially the strong Southern women who fight their male-dominated culture from behind a façade of vulnerability.� (Publishers Weekly) ]]> 364 Scott Pratt 1944083243 Darryle 0 to-read 0.0 Vindicate (Joe Dillard Series, #11)
author: Scott Pratt
name: Darryle
average rating: 0.0
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Last Resort (Joe Dillard #10) 124015195
Was her menacing absentee father involved? Or did something even more sinister occur?

In the tenth installment of the best-selling Joe Dillard series, Joe finds himself turning 50 and on the brink of despair. His involvement in his law practice has tapered to the point of near retirement. He spends his days with his wife, Caroline, who is finally succumbing to the ravages of cancer after a decade-long battle. His son, Jack, is struggling with alcohol abuse and self-loathing after accidentally killing a young mother while protecting the woman he hopes to marry. Joe is nearing the end of his rope.

When the girl goes missing, Joe learns she is a member of Jack’s little league team. Her disappearance derails his already teetering son and starts a ticking clock. If she’s not found within 48 hours, the chances of recovering her alive dwindle to nearly zero. Joe knows this, so Caroline charges him with finding her.

As the investigation ramps up, law enforcement quickly zeroes in on a likely perpetrator. The identity of the prime suspect hits closer to home than Joe could have possibly imagined, adding frantic urgency to his quest to find the girl.]]> 293 Scott Pratt Darryle 0 to-read 4.61 2023 Last Resort (Joe Dillard #10)
author: Scott Pratt
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.61
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Due Process (Joe Dillard, #9) 39989269
Three players stand accused.

In the ninth installment of the bestselling Joe Dillard series, Dillard finds himself defending one of the players accused of assaulting the young woman. The case receives national attention, quickly escalating into a platform for deep-seeded division and hatred. It also ensnares Dillard, along with his son, Jack, and Charleston Story into a web of lies and deceit spun by a mysterious figure with a hidden agenda.

Meanwhile, his wife, Caroline, continues her fight against metastatic breast cancer, and his sister, Sarah, comes back into the picture. Culminating in a courtroom scene worthy of Perry Mason, Dillard must take on one of the most difficult cases of his career. Will justice prevail? Or will the weight of the criminal justice system grind Joe and his client to dust?

"Pratt's richly developed characters are vivid and believable, especially the strong Southern women who fight their male-dominated culture from behind a facade of vulnerability." (Publishers Weekly)]]> 303 Scott Pratt Darryle 0 to-read 4.53 2018 Due Process (Joe Dillard, #9)
author: Scott Pratt
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.53
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Judgment Cometh: And That Right Soon (Joe Dillard, #8)]]> 30973749
Three other judges have already gone missing.

In the eighth installment of Scott Pratt’s bestselling Joe Dillard Series, Dillard is hired to represent the man driving the pick-up. As Dillard delves into the case, he comes to believe his client is not guilty. But who is? Who has been kidnapping and killing judges all over the state of Tennessee?

The search for that answer leads Dillard and his friend, Sheriff Leon Bates, down a path so dark and so dangerous to a villain so evil, it will change both Joe and Leon forever -- if they manage to survive.]]> 321 Scott Pratt Darryle 0 to-read 4.41 2016 Judgment Cometh: And That Right Soon (Joe Dillard, #8)
author: Scott Pratt
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Crime of Passion (Joe Dillard, #7)]]> 23670643
The owner of her record company is charged with murder.

In the seventh installment of Scott Pratt's bestselling Joe Dillard series, Dillard is hired to travel to Tennessee's capital city to defend Paul Milius, a record company baron accused of strangling Kasey Cartwright, his label's young star. Dillard navigates Nashville's unfamiliar legal system and the world of country music in search of the truth, but he soon finds himself confronted with a web of lies so masterfully woven that he fears he may never find any answers. As the trial begins and the tension mounts, Dillard fears that not only will his client be wrongfully convicted, but that Dillard himself may not survive.

"If you like Reacher, the Lincoln Lawyer, Jake Brigance and Paul Madriani, you'll be excited to meet Joe Dillard!" --Amazon Five-Star Review

"I predict it won't be long before you see Scott Pratt's name mentioned with Lee Child, Michael Connelly, John Grisham, and Steve Martini when critics talk about legal/crime fiction." --Amazon Five-Star Review

"Every bit as good as Grisham! Superb characterization, suspense, drama." --Amazon Five-Star Review

"I love the Dillard Series by Scott Pratt. As a retired attorney who practiced transactional law and not civil or criminal litigation, I appreciate the way Scott reveals the tension between defense attorneys and prosecutors, the prejudices of both toward each other, the Judge, and law enforcement." --Amazon Five-Star Review]]> 339 Scott Pratt Darryle 0 to-read 4.38 2014 A Crime of Passion (Joe Dillard, #7)
author: Scott Pratt
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Blood Money (Joe Dillard #6) 18856384 241 Scott Pratt Darryle 0 to-read 4.42 2013 Blood Money (Joe Dillard #6)
author: Scott Pratt
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Conflict of Interest (Joe Dillard #5)]]> 18870584
The ransom note demands millions.

In this fifth installment of the highly-acclaimed and bestselling Joe Dillard series, Dillard is hired to represent the parents of a child who has gone missing. As the clock ticks, Dillard desperately tries to find the little girl, but the return of his wife's dreaded disease and the stunning appearance of his father combine to push Dillard to his emotional limit.

"I have grown to love Joe Dillard." - Janet Lindsay

"This author has created a cast of characters and a protagonist so real they virtually jump off the page." - Mark Rubenstein]]> 329 Scott Pratt Darryle 0 to-read 4.45 2013 Conflict of Interest (Joe Dillard #5)
author: Scott Pratt
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.45
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Combative (The Eliminator #10)]]> 55929252
Jacobs, with a new ally in Thrower, gives Ames all he can handle. But the crime boss has ideas of his own on how to end the conflict, and he has a sinister plan on how to take out what Jacobs now holds dear.

Will Ames finally succeed in taking out Tiffany, and bringing Jacobs to his knees? Or will Jacobs finally put an end to this fight?]]> 228 Mike Ryan Darryle 4
As the Eliminator saga comes to a close with the next couple of books, I am excited and anxious for how it will end. Whatever happens, I always want justice to prevail, the good guys to always win and the hero gets the girl. I am certain Mr. Ryan will deliver. I am already off to the next novel. This thriller is highly recommended. ]]> 4.37 The Combative (The Eliminator #10)
author: Mike Ryan
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.37
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/01
date added: 2025/04/01
shelves:
review:
In the Eliminator's showdown with Wilson Ames, this was one of the most revoting and action packed thriller of the series. Ames arrogance in taunting and thinking he could outsmart the the Eliminator has proved to be his undoing as special guest star Nathan Thrower (from the Silencer series) joins in the fray to provide extra protection for Tiffany and her parents from Ames' threats to harm them. I really enjoyed Thrower in his appearances in the Silencer series so I knew it was going to be a winner here and it was. I believe Mr. Ryan should consider giving him his own series because I am certain it was be a great read. Having Eddie Franks and Gunner, (the Eliminator's faithful K9) taking on these bad guys rounds out a great supporting cast and makes the stories fun and engaging.

As the Eliminator saga comes to a close with the next couple of books, I am excited and anxious for how it will end. Whatever happens, I always want justice to prevail, the good guys to always win and the hero gets the girl. I am certain Mr. Ryan will deliver. I am already off to the next novel. This thriller is highly recommended.
]]> <![CDATA[The Conflict (The Eliminator #9)]]> 54698857
With Wilson Ames now his number one focus because of what he did to his friend, Eddie Franks, Jacobs is willing to do anything to get his revenge. And that includes teaming up with people he normally wouldn’t.

But Ames will not go down without a fight. He will attempt to do what Rich Mallette couldn’t. He will try to finish The Eliminator and he will do it in any way possible. That includes using someone who appears to be getting closer to Jacobs� affections.

It will all culminate in an action-packed and explosive finale as Jacobs tries to prevent history from repeating itself.]]> 250 Mike Ryan Darryle 4
By this time, they would think that by his reputation alone, they would want to avoid getting into the Eliminator's cross hairs. After all, he has eliminated every threat to such a degree that the ONLY thing keeping Mallette alive and away from the Eliminator's vengeance is that he is in prison.

A wise mobster would just go to another city rather than suffer the same fate or maybe they all have a death wish, one that the Eliminator is happy to grant if they threaten him or those he care about.

This was another winner of a crime thriller by Mike Ryan. I look forward to the next book. Highly recommended. ]]> 4.32 The Conflict (The Eliminator #9)
author: Mike Ryan
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.32
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/28
date added: 2025/03/28
shelves:
review:
In this installment of the The Eliminator saga, the new threat of Wilson Ames give the Eliminator a new sense of purpose as Ames' crew goes on the attack to claim the city as his own and fill the void left by Mallette and Alexander. That means eliminating the Eliminator. Don't they ever learn? Mallette's maulers were as tough as they come but were eliminated. Alexander's group failed to stop him and were eliminated or jailed. Even the New York mob sent in an operative who realized the hard way that a high bounty to eliminate him would fail. She's dead too.

By this time, they would think that by his reputation alone, they would want to avoid getting into the Eliminator's cross hairs. After all, he has eliminated every threat to such a degree that the ONLY thing keeping Mallette alive and away from the Eliminator's vengeance is that he is in prison.

A wise mobster would just go to another city rather than suffer the same fate or maybe they all have a death wish, one that the Eliminator is happy to grant if they threaten him or those he care about.

This was another winner of a crime thriller by Mike Ryan. I look forward to the next book. Highly recommended.
]]> <![CDATA[The Station (Lance Spector #9)]]> 203403782 The Station by Saul Herzog is the stunning next instalment in the series that has taken the publishing industry, and Hollywood rights departments, by storm. This dazzling tour de force is a full standalone novel. From the mind of one of the most creative and versatile writers working in America today, this book will surely go down as a classic of the spy thriller genre.

If you read only one book this year, this is it. Action, adventure, rebellion, provocative foreign agents, characters you can sink your teeth into. If you're looking for a new spy thriller series that will stay with you long after you turn the last page, look no further.

Recommended for fans of Lee Child's Jack Reacher, Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp, Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne, and Brad Thor's Scot Harvath.]]> 376 Saul Herzog 1990251226 Darryle 0 to-read 4.45 The Station (Lance Spector #9)
author: Saul Herzog
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.45
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Center (Lance Spector #8) 123401048 New York, two years ago
Lance Spector is doing something he shouldn't be. He's sleeping with his handler. Here are all the reasons that can go so wrong. Set two years before the events of Book 1, The Center gives a shocking view of how far the Russians are willing to go to get kompromat on a trained assassin. It also shows just how far Lance Spector is willing to go to resist that kompromat, and how his relationship with Levi Roth became so fraught all those years ago.

The Center by Saul Herzog is the stunning eighth instalment in the series that has taken the publishing industry, and Hollywood rights departments, by storm. This dazzling tour de force is a full standalone novel. From the mind of one of the most creative and versatile writers working in America today, this book will surely go down as a classic of the spy thriller genre.

If you read only one book this year, this is it. Action, adventure, rebellion, provocative foreign agents, characters you can sink your teeth into. If you're looking for a new spy thriller series that will stay with you long after you turn the last page, look no further.

Recommended for fans of Lee Child's Jack Reacher, Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp, Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne, and Brad Thor's Scot Harvath.]]> 292 Saul Herzog 1990251188 Darryle 0 to-read 4.46 The Center (Lance Spector #8)
author: Saul Herzog
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.46
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Contractor (Lance Spector #7)]]> 61316836 The Contact by Saul Herzog is the stunning next instalment in the series that has taken the publishing industry, and Hollywood rights departments, by storm. This dazzling tour de force is a full standalone novel. From the mind of one of the most creative and versatile writers working in America today, this book will surely go down as a classic of the spy thriller genre.

If you read only one book this year, this is it. Action, adventure, rebellion, provocative foreign agents, characters you can sink your teeth into. If you're looking for a new spy thriller series that will stay with you long after you turn the last page, look no further.

Recommended for fans of Lee Child's Jack Reacher, Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp, Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne, and Brad Thor's Scot Harvath.]]> 266 Saul Herzog 1990251145 Darryle 0 to-read 4.35 The Contractor (Lance Spector #7)
author: Saul Herzog
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.35
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Fixer (Lance Spector, #6) 60222796 War has broken out. Russia has invaded its neighbor. As the world watches in horror, one assassin enters enemy territory to do what must be done.

Washington DC, USA
The US President grapples with one burning question. Is Russia preparing to use tactical nukes?

The Fixer by Saul Herzog is the stunning sixth instalment in the series that has taken the publishing industry, and Hollywood rights departments, by storm. This dazzling tour de force is a full standalone novel. From the mind of one of the most creative and versatile writers working in America today, this book will surely go down as a classic of the spy thriller genre. If you read only one book this year, this is it. Action, adventure, rebellion, provocative foreign agents, characters you can sink your teeth into. If you're looking for a new spy thriller series that will stay with you long after you turn the last page, look no further. Recommended for fans of Lee Child's Jack Reacher, Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp, Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne, and Brad Thor's Scot Harvath.]]> 508 Saul Herzog 1990251102 Darryle 0 to-read 4.36 The Fixer (Lance Spector, #6)
author: Saul Herzog
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.36
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Splinter (Lance Spector, #5)]]> 57553883 A Russian assassin is activated to kill seemingly unconnected female staffers at the US embassy. What emerges is a plot as complex as it is terrifying. Against a backdrop of escalating Russian invasion preparations, a Romanian kill squad, a Kremlin honeytrap, and a Soviet-era biological weapons victim converge on an unsuspecting city, and an unprotected embassy with deadly intent.]]> 500 Saul Herzog 1990251064 Darryle 0 to-read 4.56 The Splinter (Lance Spector, #5)
author: Saul Herzog
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.56
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Sleeper (Lance Spector, #4)]]> 56953264 A remote NATO seismic array in the far north of Norway detects the largest nuclear detonation since the days of the Soviet Union.

Svalbard Archipelago, Norway
The largest icebreaker in the Norwegian Navy, and one of the most high tech vessels operating in the Arctic, disappears without trace.

Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia
In the chaos following the explosion, the lead scientist on a top secret Russian military research program goes missing with his daughter. There are rumors of sabotage.

The Kremlin, Moscow
A Russian asset, embedded deep within the CIA's London Station, sends a coded message.
"Your missing scientist has made contact. I can lead you right to him."]]> 674 Saul Herzog 1990251021 Darryle 0 to-read 4.50 The Sleeper (Lance Spector, #4)
author: Saul Herzog
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.50
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Target (Lance Spector, #3)]]> 53683877 A policewoman finds something terrifying.
Deep in the forests along the border, there is proof of a massive Russian invasion plan.

US Embassy, Berlin
Someone is trying desperately to get a message to the CIA.
But Kremlin assassins have been activated across three countries to stop them.

New York, USA
A Kremlin sleeper agent is activated with very precise instructions.

The Kremlin has set its plan in motion.
Its goal is nothing short of the reestablishment of the USSR, and it is willing to risk World War Three in the process.
There is only one man who can stop it.
But this mission could cost him his life.]]> 610 Saul Herzog 1777189764 Darryle 0 to-read 4.50 The Target (Lance Spector, #3)
author: Saul Herzog
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.50
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Russian (Lance Spector, #2)]]> 53591940 The Kremlin activates a deadly assassin. Across the city, a massive bombing kills hundreds.

Washington DC, USA
The President believes the Kremlin is preparing for a new Cold War.

Langley, USA
With the world on the brink, the CIA has only one Asset capable of preventing catastrophe, but that man is AWOL. They have to find him.
But some men don't want to be found.]]> 574 Saul Herzog 177718973X Darryle 0 to-read 4.45 2020 The Russian (Lance Spector, #2)
author: Saul Herzog
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.45
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Asset (Lance Spector, #1) 53499615 When Lance Spector quit the CIA, he swore he was out for good. One more government lie and he would go off the deep end. They could find someone else to do their dirty work. As far as he was concerned, Washington, Langley, the Pentagon could all go to hell.

Yekaterinburg, Russia
A secret Russian expedition returns with a devastating new pathogen, harvested from the frozen corpses of mammoths. It's the biological super weapon they've been looking for, an apocalypse-level pathogen, a virus more deadly than anything ever to come out of a Russian lab. Something that will stop NATO and the Americans in their tracks.
A Biological Chernobyl.

Washington DC, USA
A mysterious vial, sealed in a titanium case, arrives at CIA headquarters. They have no idea who sent it, but it comes with a note.
"I will only speak to Lance Spector."]]> 564 Saul Herzog 1777189705 Darryle 0 to-read 4.29 The Asset (Lance Spector, #1)
author: Saul Herzog
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.29
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Gray Man (Gray Man, #1) 6547865 Courtland Gentry is a good man. But he’s a great assassin.

To those who lurk in the shadows, he’s known as the Gray Man. He is a legend in the covert realm, moving silently from job to job, accomplishing the impossible and then fading away. And he always hits his target. Always.

But there are forces more lethal than Gentry in the world. Forces like money. And power. And there are men who hold these as the only currency worth fighting for. And in their eyes, Gentry has just outlived his usefulness.

But Court Gentry is going to prove that, for him, there’s no gray area between killing for a living and killing to stay alive…]]> 456 Mark Greaney Darryle 5
Court Gentry aka The Gray Man is a legend, he is deadly, he is ruthless, he is a survivor who is elusive and very hard to kill. If you come after him, DON'T MISS because you learn the hard way that you won't live to get a second shot and your death will be inhumanly brutal. He had the very worst thrown at him by people who wanted him dead and he just kept on coming.

It should serve as a warning to those who make The Gray Man a target-- he does not remain the prey for long. He turns the tables and becomes the predator and YOU become the prey. How it ends is just insanely good and readers will enjoy the entire ride. Do I really need to say this is highly recommended? I am already starting the next book, "On Target".]]> 4.12 2009 The Gray Man (Gray Man, #1)
author: Mark Greaney
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at: 2024/07/21
date added: 2025/03/27
shelves:
review:
What a debut! The Gray Man is exactly what I look for in spy thrillers and the kind of character I enjoy reading about. It contains all of the elements I look for, espionage, betrayal, top tier action, payback, and a suspense filled manhunt by adversaries against the ultimate assassin, The Gray Man. Mark Greaney is a great writer and clearly has a handle on writing spy thrillers.

Court Gentry aka The Gray Man is a legend, he is deadly, he is ruthless, he is a survivor who is elusive and very hard to kill. If you come after him, DON'T MISS because you learn the hard way that you won't live to get a second shot and your death will be inhumanly brutal. He had the very worst thrown at him by people who wanted him dead and he just kept on coming.

It should serve as a warning to those who make The Gray Man a target-- he does not remain the prey for long. He turns the tables and becomes the predator and YOU become the prey. How it ends is just insanely good and readers will enjoy the entire ride. Do I really need to say this is highly recommended? I am already starting the next book, "On Target".
]]> <![CDATA[Karma Never Sleeps (Gus Wheeler FBI Thriller, #1)]]> 219889923 In a small town, the truth can’t always set you free�

When a second woman from a group of friends known as “the posse� is murdered in the woods near the New England enclave of Kendalton, FBI agent and profiler Gus Wheeler and his partner are called in to determine if this is a serial killing. He’s intrigued by a clue hidden on the a memorial picture of a teen who died 25 years ago.

Instead of helping with the investigation, the long-term friends stonewall the agents. But Gus can smell fear beneath their calm masks, fake smiles, and politely vague answers. Digging deeper, he discovers they are being terrorized by cyberstalking, spying, threats and mysterious break-ins. When a third member is hospitalized after a brutal attack, Gus suspects someone in the posse is the hunter instead of the hunted.

Is it the alpha leader Jules, her best friend Maria—married to the chief of police—outsider Mel, or weak link Lizzy? Or someone else bent on revenge? Time’s running out, and Gus’s life depends on his skill at determining who’s the best liar in town.]]> 363 R. John Dingle 1965640354 Darryle 0 to-read 4.33 2025 Karma Never Sleeps (Gus Wheeler FBI Thriller, #1)
author: R. John Dingle
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Connection (The Eliminator #8)]]> 54165558
Not only will new players in town look to notch Jacobs� name on their belts, but Eddie Franks also has a bullseye on his back. Jacobs has his hands full in protecting those closest to him, as well as seeking revenge on those who have been targeted because of him.

Filled with action, The Connection will take you on an emotional ride as Jacobs meets new enemies, saves friends in trouble, and possibly meets someone who might be able to help put his past in the past.]]> 350 Mike Ryan Darryle 4
I like how this story is a turning point for the Eliminator as he seemed to lose his sense of purpose after destroying Mallette's maulers and awaiting Mallette's release from prison to avenge his family, but that wait could take years. What could he do in the meantime? He did not know and he seemed ready to check out. Having Eddie in peril with these new threats changed things for him and was exactly what was needed for him to get back on track. The innocent need to Eliminator to protect them from the city's biggest threats that the police cannot touch because of the law and the rules. The Eliminator does not. I thought that Mike Ryan capture this element beautifully.

This also showed that the Eliminator is also human with human flaws that he too has to overcome to be the best he can be and to stay alive. As always, I highly recommend this thriller and I am off to the next book.]]> 4.37 The Connection (The Eliminator #8)
author: Mike Ryan
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.37
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/25
date added: 2025/03/25
shelves:
review:
The eighth installment of the Eliminator saga is riveting, intriguing and had a degree of humor as it focuses more on Eddie Franks, the fast talking, wise cracking friend of the Eliminator who has helped him throughout his quest to destroy the criminal element in Chicago. With a new threat emerging and Eddie finding himself in the thick of it, the Eliminator has to come to the rescue and take on the new players in the mix-- but will his presence be enough and also be able to save Eddie from the peril he finds himself in?

I like how this story is a turning point for the Eliminator as he seemed to lose his sense of purpose after destroying Mallette's maulers and awaiting Mallette's release from prison to avenge his family, but that wait could take years. What could he do in the meantime? He did not know and he seemed ready to check out. Having Eddie in peril with these new threats changed things for him and was exactly what was needed for him to get back on track. The innocent need to Eliminator to protect them from the city's biggest threats that the police cannot touch because of the law and the rules. The Eliminator does not. I thought that Mike Ryan capture this element beautifully.

This also showed that the Eliminator is also human with human flaws that he too has to overcome to be the best he can be and to stay alive. As always, I highly recommend this thriller and I am off to the next book.
]]> <![CDATA[While Justice Sleeps (Avery Keene, #1)]]> 55671327 #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - A gripping, complexly plotted thriller set within the halls of the U.S. Supreme Court, where a young law clerk finds herself embroiled in a shocking mystery crafted by one of the most preeminent judges in America--from celebrated national leader and bestselling author Stacey Abrams.

"Abrams follows in Dan Brown's footprint with this masterfully plotted thriller that unfolds like the ultimate chess match--bold move to bolder move with lives hanging in the balance."--Lisa Gardner, author of Before She Disappeared

"A first-class legal thriller, favorably compared to many of the best, starting with The Pelican Brief, which it brings to mind. It's fast-paced and full of surprises--a terrific read."--Scott Turow, author of Presumed Innocent

Avery Keene, a brilliant young law clerk for the legendary Justice Howard Wynn, is doing her best to hold her life together--excelling in an arduous job with the court while also dealing with a troubled family. When the shocking news breaks that Justice Wynn--the cantankerous swing vote on many current high-profile cases--has slipped into a coma, Avery's life turns upside down. She is immediately notified that Justice Wynn has left instructions for her to serve as his legal guardian and power of attorney. Plunged into an explosive role she never anticipated, Avery finds that Justice Wynn had been secretly researching one of the most controversial cases before the court--a proposed merger between an American biotech company and an Indian genetics firm, which promises to unleash breathtaking results in the medical field. She also discovers that Wynn suspected a dangerously related conspiracy that infiltrates the highest power corridors of Washington.

As political wrangling ensues in Washington to potentially replace the ailing judge whose life and survival Avery controls, she begins to unravel a carefully constructed, chesslike sequence of clues left behind by Wynn. She comes to see that Wynn had a much more personal stake in the controversial case and realizes his complex puzzle will lead her directly into harm's way in order to find the truth. While Justice Sleeps is a cunningly crafted, sophisticated novel, layered with myriad twists and a vibrant cast of characters. Drawing on her astute inside knowledge of the court and political landscape, Stacey Abrams shows herself to be not only a force for good in politics and voter fairness but also a major new talent in suspense fiction.]]> 367 Stacey Abrams 0385546572 Darryle 0 to-read 3.84 2021 While Justice Sleeps (Avery Keene, #1)
author: Stacey Abrams
name: Darryle
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[First Do No Harm (Detectives Kenda & Wilson, #2)]]> 209528308 Former homicide detective and star of Investigation Discovery, Joe Kenda follows his authentic and fascinating debut novel with First Do No Harm, another addictive tale of crime and punishment as only he can tell it.

A string of overdoses in Colorado Springs has Detectives Joe Kenda and Lee Wilson on the lookout for a bad batch of heroin that has been cut with a drug they’ve never seen before.

Meanwhile, at Springs General Hospital, Dr. Blair Moreland—the notoriously unpleasant head anesthesiologist—has found a way to feed his deepening addiction to the very same powerful new Fentanyl.

But when Dr. Moreland starts supplying the dangerous painkiller to dealer Lula Lopez—planning to manufacture the drug himself—he angers a Mexican crime syndicate and sets into motion a cycle of death and violence that threatens to engulf the entire city.

Detectives Kenda and Wilson must track down the source of this killer heroin before anyone else can overdose—and stop Moreland before he can escape the long arm of the law.]]> 272 Joe Kenda Darryle 0 to-read 3.97 2024 First Do No Harm (Detectives Kenda & Wilson, #2)
author: Joe Kenda
name: Darryle
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Rogue Justice (Avery Keene, #2)]]> 62849881 While Justice Sleeps. But as the sparks of impeachment hearings and political skirmishes swirl around her, Avery is approached at a legal conference by Preston Davies, an unassuming young man and fellow law clerk to a federal judge in Idaho. Davies believes his boss, Judge Francesca Whitner, was being blackmailed in the days before she recently took her own life, and he gives Avery a file, a burner phone, and a fearful warning that there are highly dangerous people involved. Moments later, Avery is shocked when she witnesses Davies being murdered.

After breaking the encrypted file Davies gave to her, Avery reveals a list of names--all federal judges--and, alarmingly, all judges on the FISA Court (the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court), also known as America's secret court. It is this body that grants permission to the government to wiretap American individuals or corporations suspected of terrorism. Avery knows Judge Whitner had been extorted, but as she investigates the names and cases associated with other judges on the list she begins to see a frightening pattern--and she worries that something far more sinister may be unfolding.]]> 353 Stacey Abrams 038554832X Darryle 0 to-read 3.86 2023 Rogue Justice (Avery Keene, #2)
author: Stacey Abrams
name: Darryle
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Grift: The Downward Spiral of Black Republicans from the Party of Lincoln to the Cult of Trump]]> 125468010 400 Clay Cane 1728290228 Darryle 0 to-read 4.21 The Grift: The Downward Spiral of Black Republicans from the Party of Lincoln to the Cult of Trump
author: Clay Cane
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.21
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Contract (The Eliminator #7)]]> 50310002
It will all culminate in a final, bloody mess inside a warehouse. Will Jacobs and Gunner make it out alive? Or will one of them succumb to the contract that was placed upon their heads?
]]> 246 Mike Ryan Darryle 4
Will these dummies ever learn from the Eliminator's body count that taking him on is at their own risk and not worth it for ANY dollar value? Mallette's maulers were some of the toughest, meanest and ruthless wise guys in the mob and he took them all down. Mallette is all that is left of his original crew with his new crew all recruited while in prison. The smart play for Mallette is to just lay low and not pursue any more engagement with the Eliminator until he is out of prison, but his ego won't allow him to do so. The threats between Mallette and the Eliminator rages on likely until one of them is dead which makes the Eliminator such a compelling series.

The Contract is a great crime series filled with action, suspense and intrigue which crime story lovers come to expect. I am off to the next book and highly recommend this series.]]> 4.34 The Contract (The Eliminator #7)
author: Mike Ryan
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.34
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/18
date added: 2025/03/18
shelves:
review:
Mallette must die. It's bad enough that he killed the Eliminator's family and practically created the Eliminator, but now he is crossing the line by putting a hit out on the Eliminator's dog. Is he crazy enough to want a John Wick situation on his hands? This new threat by the name of Harper comes into town to wreak havoc on the Eliminator's life as she is sent from New York to take him out once and for all with overwhelming force by thugs looking for the ultimate pay day.

Will these dummies ever learn from the Eliminator's body count that taking him on is at their own risk and not worth it for ANY dollar value? Mallette's maulers were some of the toughest, meanest and ruthless wise guys in the mob and he took them all down. Mallette is all that is left of his original crew with his new crew all recruited while in prison. The smart play for Mallette is to just lay low and not pursue any more engagement with the Eliminator until he is out of prison, but his ego won't allow him to do so. The threats between Mallette and the Eliminator rages on likely until one of them is dead which makes the Eliminator such a compelling series.

The Contract is a great crime series filled with action, suspense and intrigue which crime story lovers come to expect. I am off to the next book and highly recommend this series.
]]> <![CDATA[Black and Blue: Pathways to a Positive Interaction between African-Americans and the Police]]> 39797346
Black and Blue is designed to aid anyone who finds themselves in this situation to create more positive interactions that are crucial for everyone's safety. No one wants themselves or their loved ones in the position of being in danger, and this book will help any citizen engage with police officers in a way that encourages a calm, peaceful encounter. Help yourself, your loved ones, and police officers get home safely by finding ways to ease the strain on the relationship between police and those in the black community.]]> 132 Kevin Hempstead 1772049883 Darryle 4
This well written book takes a look into current events and America's history of the oft times controversial and long broken relationships between law enforcement and the African-American communities across the country. The author states without question about its unfavorable history resulting from Jim Crow/Segregation and even earlier than that in America's history of where the hostilities stem from. However, he does not stop there recognizing the root problems. He suggests pathways to more positive interactions between the two groups, dispelling the ugly myths, prejudices, injustices, stereotypes and generalizations that have plagued both groups for so long based on the actions of a few. The book also identifies a broken criminal justice system known for many times enabling bad cops to get away with crimes rather than holding them accountable, (which should be taking place) but has in many high profile cases have let the communities down furthering distrust in the public servants sworn to protect them.

The author, Kevin Hempstead (who is also a personal friend of mine) also suggests ways in which law enforcement and the African-American communities could come together by discussing the issues at hand, the tragedies and controversial uses of force with some cops, each having a voice on how the issues are addressed promoting transparency and accountability and most importantly, leading to the question of whether trust will ever be established and healing between the two entities?

Mr. Hempstead makes it clear that there are no easy answers, but states that there has to be a collaborative effort between law enforcement, lawmakers, the African-American community and other community groups having a voice to affect positive change. He also shares his concern about America continuing with the status quo which will only result in more tragedies, protests and misinformation that offers no solutions in helping America move away from its present collision course of a growing distrust of police by the communities abroad, something nobody wants.

This eye opening book is a must read for those affected in the African-American communities and in law enforcement with the hope that it can help both entities take steps to start dialogue and for law enforcement to make the changes necessary in its culture, mindset and communications to build trust and earn respect from the communities. This book tells us it is possible. The community and law enforcement just has to take those steps to hear each other out and move forward to a promising future.]]> 4.00 Black and Blue: Pathways to a Positive Interaction between African-Americans and the Police
author: Kevin Hempstead
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2018/09/26
date added: 2025/03/12
shelves:
review:
As a retired law enforcement professional of 20 years myself and also being an African-American, I identify with both sides of the spectrum. I am well aware of the issues this book references, the negative and positive history of law enforcement in America and its engagement with the African-American community. I have been subjected to occupational prejudice based on the actions of bad cops across the country who I never met, but are many times painted with the same negative brush simply because I wore the uniform.

This well written book takes a look into current events and America's history of the oft times controversial and long broken relationships between law enforcement and the African-American communities across the country. The author states without question about its unfavorable history resulting from Jim Crow/Segregation and even earlier than that in America's history of where the hostilities stem from. However, he does not stop there recognizing the root problems. He suggests pathways to more positive interactions between the two groups, dispelling the ugly myths, prejudices, injustices, stereotypes and generalizations that have plagued both groups for so long based on the actions of a few. The book also identifies a broken criminal justice system known for many times enabling bad cops to get away with crimes rather than holding them accountable, (which should be taking place) but has in many high profile cases have let the communities down furthering distrust in the public servants sworn to protect them.

The author, Kevin Hempstead (who is also a personal friend of mine) also suggests ways in which law enforcement and the African-American communities could come together by discussing the issues at hand, the tragedies and controversial uses of force with some cops, each having a voice on how the issues are addressed promoting transparency and accountability and most importantly, leading to the question of whether trust will ever be established and healing between the two entities?

Mr. Hempstead makes it clear that there are no easy answers, but states that there has to be a collaborative effort between law enforcement, lawmakers, the African-American community and other community groups having a voice to affect positive change. He also shares his concern about America continuing with the status quo which will only result in more tragedies, protests and misinformation that offers no solutions in helping America move away from its present collision course of a growing distrust of police by the communities abroad, something nobody wants.

This eye opening book is a must read for those affected in the African-American communities and in law enforcement with the hope that it can help both entities take steps to start dialogue and for law enforcement to make the changes necessary in its culture, mindset and communications to build trust and earn respect from the communities. This book tells us it is possible. The community and law enforcement just has to take those steps to hear each other out and move forward to a promising future.
]]> <![CDATA[The Shakedown (Brandon Hall #6)]]> 59712727 In the final book in the Brandon Hall series...Hall is approached by a marketing executive, asking him to check in on the man's son, who has been acting strange as of late. Though it initially looks like a boring case marked by possible infidelities, the case quickly spirals out of control, and they soon realize there is more than meets the eye.As Hall and Charlotte investigate, several dead bodies pop up, and they are aided by the mysterious James Rankin, who has his own reasons for helping.]]> 206 Mike Ryan Darryle 0 to-read 4.17 The Shakedown (Brandon Hall #6)
author: Mike Ryan
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.17
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Dead Client (Brandon Hall #5)]]> 58424180
Through several twists and turns, Hall and Charlotte will find out who killed their dead client.]]> 198 Mike Ryan Darryle 0 to-read 4.14 The Dead Client (Brandon Hall #5)
author: Mike Ryan
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.14
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Nightshade 221508547 #1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly introduces a new cop relentlessly following his mission in the seemingly idyllic setting of Catalina island.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly introduces a new cop relentlessly following his mission in the seemingly idyllic setting of Catalina island.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Detective Stilwell has been “exiled� to a low-key post policing rustic Catalina Island, after department politics drove him off a homicide desk on the mainland. But while following up the usual drunk-and-disorderlies and petty thefts that come with his new territory, Detective Stilwell gets a report of a body found weighed down at the bottom of the harbor—a Jane Doe identifiable at first only by a streak of purple dye in her hair. At the same time, a report of poaching on a protected reserve turns into a case fraught with violence and danger as Stilwell digs into the shady past of an island bigwig.

Crossing all lines of protocol and jurisdiction, Stilwell doggedly works both cases. Though hampered by an old beef with an ex-colleague determined to thwart him at every turn, he is convinced he is the only one who can bring justice to the woman known as “Nightshade.� Soon, his investigation uncovers closely guarded secrets and a dark heart to the serene island that was meant to be his escape from the evils of the big city.

Propulsive and atmospheric, Nightshade launches a brand new character into the Connelly universe, and proves without question that Michael Connelly is “the undisputed master of the modern crime novel� (Real Book Spy).]]> 352 Michael Connelly 0316588482 Darryle 0 to-read 4.21 2025 Nightshade
author: Michael Connelly
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Comeback (The Eliminator #6)]]> 50913599
While that's going on, Mallette finds himself with a new lawyer, one he didn't ask for. This one, though, has better news for him than Alexander did. It seems that Mallette is on the comeback and retaking control of his operation. With that in mind, some of the holdovers from Alexander's bunch are intent on impressing their new boss and put a hit out. Someone is taking a bullet. But who?]]> 193 Mike Ryan Darryle 4
Even after previous failures, they still seem to think that they have a shot to take out the the Eliminator "because he's human and just one guy". Do these criminals take the time to learn from the failure of others (who learned the hard way from the body counts) that coming after the Eliminator is high risk, hazardous to their health and could result in their OWN elimination?

Just when you think the Eliminator's mission is over as he has avenged his family (with the exception of Moulette himself), the threats continue as they keep coming after the Eliminator. Yet, it never ends well in spite of their overwhelming numbers. The smarter play is to keep their distance because at some point, I could see the Eliminator taking the fight to New York as soon as he finishes off the mob in Chicago because of their involvement in setting things in motion for the additional attacks.

I don't know where Mike Ryan is taking this in the next few books but I am here for the ride. I'd love to see a team up with some of the other characters (like The Silencer and others) to help the Eliminator face off against the New York mob, but that's my fantasy. If Mr. Ryan doesn't take it there at some point, he is missing an opportunity. *wink*

The Eliminator saga is highly recommended as an action packed suspense thriller and a fast and fun read. As you can see, I finished this in one day.]]> 4.28 The Comeback (The Eliminator #6)
author: Mike Ryan
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.28
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/12
date added: 2025/03/12
shelves:
review:
One would think that by now after the Eliminator (Brett Jacobs) took out Moulette's entire crew and got his successor mob boss Roger Alexander (who took over operations while Moulette is in prison) arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder that the remainder of Alexander's crew would lay low and not come after the Eliminator. But no, those dimwitted death wishers want to get into Moulette's good graces should he be released early and makes a comeback to resume his former operations.

Even after previous failures, they still seem to think that they have a shot to take out the the Eliminator "because he's human and just one guy". Do these criminals take the time to learn from the failure of others (who learned the hard way from the body counts) that coming after the Eliminator is high risk, hazardous to their health and could result in their OWN elimination?

Just when you think the Eliminator's mission is over as he has avenged his family (with the exception of Moulette himself), the threats continue as they keep coming after the Eliminator. Yet, it never ends well in spite of their overwhelming numbers. The smarter play is to keep their distance because at some point, I could see the Eliminator taking the fight to New York as soon as he finishes off the mob in Chicago because of their involvement in setting things in motion for the additional attacks.

I don't know where Mike Ryan is taking this in the next few books but I am here for the ride. I'd love to see a team up with some of the other characters (like The Silencer and others) to help the Eliminator face off against the New York mob, but that's my fantasy. If Mr. Ryan doesn't take it there at some point, he is missing an opportunity. *wink*

The Eliminator saga is highly recommended as an action packed suspense thriller and a fast and fun read. As you can see, I finished this in one day.
]]> <![CDATA[The Betrayal (The Eliminator #5)]]> 45877991
Is Abbie the woman that Jacobs needs to finally move on and get rid of the hurt he's been carrying? Is she really interested in helping Jacobs in his fight against the criminal element? Or is she not the person she claims to be and is waiting for the right opportunity to twist the knife in Jacobs' back?]]> 250 Mike Ryan Darryle 4
Meanwhile, as the Eliminator became a target for a new threat, a woman enters the picture and saves his life from being assassinated. He is now on the hunt to determine who was behind it and why because he had parted ways with Alexander amicably after eliminating Moulette's crew and had not involved himself with Alexander's operations since then. Thus, he needed to solve the mystery of why someone was taking a shot at him. Did someone new come to town to take him out, were the New York crime families involved and how is this woman connected if at all?

This was an intriguing story filled with suspense, the element of surprise and sprinkled with action on top. It was a fast read for which Mike Ryan is known for. Highly recommended. ]]> 4.32 The Betrayal (The Eliminator #5)
author: Mike Ryan
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.32
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/11
date added: 2025/03/11
shelves:
review:
What a great story and one of my favorites of the Eliminator saga. It had a clever plot and a carefully crafted ending that I found satisfying as the Eliminator takes on this new and more sophisticated mob leadership led by New York attorney Roger Alexander. He replaced Moulette as the Chicago mob boss that the Eliminator hunted down and destroyed his crew while Moulette is in prison.

Meanwhile, as the Eliminator became a target for a new threat, a woman enters the picture and saves his life from being assassinated. He is now on the hunt to determine who was behind it and why because he had parted ways with Alexander amicably after eliminating Moulette's crew and had not involved himself with Alexander's operations since then. Thus, he needed to solve the mystery of why someone was taking a shot at him. Did someone new come to town to take him out, were the New York crime families involved and how is this woman connected if at all?

This was an intriguing story filled with suspense, the element of surprise and sprinkled with action on top. It was a fast read for which Mike Ryan is known for. Highly recommended.
]]> <![CDATA[The Eliminator (The Eliminator #4)]]> 42644903
Roger Alexander is not only Mallette’s new lawyer, but he’s also taking over his organization. But in order to completely take over, he needs Mallette, and the rest of his men, eliminated. He calls for a truce with Jacobs, speaking to him at the cemetery, and offers up the rest of Mallette’s men for him on a silver platter. But something isn’t right. Is Alexander really just serving up the rest of Mallette’s men, or is he luring Jacobs into a trap to try and get rid of The Eliminator once and for all?]]> 246 Mike Ryan Darryle 4
I liked how he was able to do some flashbacks about the history of the character without needing to go back to the previous books to get caught up. While the Eliminator is getting his revenge and settling scores with the mob who killed his family, a new threat emerges that could very well be just as formidable and deadly as Mollette's maulers. The Eliminator is a lot like Marvel's Punisher in some respects, but this guy is a former detective who found himself having to operate outside of the law to avenge his family and clean up his city from the mob that harmed it and has a stranglehold on it. There are times when the law is not enough and to stop organized crime, an eliminator is needed.

This fourth installment had the right elements of suspense, action and intrigue that I come to expect from this series and it was a fast read. I am looking forward to the next book because just when one thinks there would be closure to the saga of the Eliminator (after he avenges his family), with the new threat emerging, even he realizes his work is just getting started. Needless to say, this book is highly recommended. ]]> 4.35 The Eliminator (The Eliminator #4)
author: Mike Ryan
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.35
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/04
date added: 2025/03/06
shelves:
review:
Mike Ryan fires on every cylinder when it comes to developing his various, different and sometimes complicated characters. Being able to resume the Eliminator saga after a long absence with so many other books and characters and was able to pick up where I left off in the series is great storytelling.

I liked how he was able to do some flashbacks about the history of the character without needing to go back to the previous books to get caught up. While the Eliminator is getting his revenge and settling scores with the mob who killed his family, a new threat emerges that could very well be just as formidable and deadly as Mollette's maulers. The Eliminator is a lot like Marvel's Punisher in some respects, but this guy is a former detective who found himself having to operate outside of the law to avenge his family and clean up his city from the mob that harmed it and has a stranglehold on it. There are times when the law is not enough and to stop organized crime, an eliminator is needed.

This fourth installment had the right elements of suspense, action and intrigue that I come to expect from this series and it was a fast read. I am looking forward to the next book because just when one thinks there would be closure to the saga of the Eliminator (after he avenges his family), with the new threat emerging, even he realizes his work is just getting started. Needless to say, this book is highly recommended.
]]> To Die For (The 6:20 Man, #3) 209456075 From #1 New York Times bestselling author, David Baldacci, the 6:20 Man returns, this time sent to the Pacific Northwest to aid the FBI in a case that gets more complicated with the more questions Devine asks—and he’s about to come face-to-face with his nemesis, the girl on the train.

Travis Devine has become a pro at adapting to any situation to accomplish the mission set in front of him. Whether it’s a high-powered corporate setting or small-town community, Devine will become the man for the job. His time as an Army Ranger and on the financial battlefields of Wall Street gave him the skills he needed, and he’s put them to good use. But this time it’s not his skills that send him to Seattle to aid the FBI in escorting orphaned, twelve-year-old Betsy Odom to a meeting with her uncle, who’s under investigation for RICO charges. Instead, he’s hoping to lie low and keep off the radar of an enemy that he evaded on a train in Switzerland and who has been after him ever since—the girl on the train.

But as Devine gets to know Betsy, questions begin to arise around the death of her parents. Betsy is adamant that they had never used drugs, but the police in the small rural town where they died insist the Odoms died of an overdose. Devine starts digging for answers, and what he finds points to a conspiracy bigger than he could’ve ever imagined. The question is, how do Betsy, her uncle, and various government agencies all fit into it.

It might finally be time for Devine and the girl on the train to come face-to-face, and when that happens, Devine is going to find himself unsure of who are his allies and who are his enemies. And in some cases, they might well be both.]]> 432 David Baldacci 1538757907 Darryle 4
What made this story stand out is that the central plot could easily be ripped out of the headlines of what is going on in America right now such as toxic politics and corruption, domestic terrorist plots, innocents being made into collateral damage by actors of ill and violent intent to achieve their means to an end. Having a person with principles, moral and integrity in law enforcement such as Devine is not only essential but vital to keep America safe from foreign and domestic threats seeking to destroy it. This story shows what it's like when corruption in law enforcement and politics cause great harm in a society if left unchecked.

This story captures those elements well and having been in law enforcement myself, I know a lot of people in real life who are like Devine and I am glad they are on the side of the angels. This book made me think about those I served with making it even more of a great read because I could relate to it on a personal level.

Also, the mystery surrounding the girl on the train (who was featured in the previous book) is taking shape and it was great to see how well Mr. Baldacci fleshed out that mystery and sub plot. This book is highly recommended especially since I am a fan of Baldacci's works.]]> 4.20 2024 To Die For (The 6:20 Man, #3)
author: David Baldacci
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/25
date added: 2025/02/26
shelves:
review:
I am always looking forward to my Baldacci fix and as always, he delivers. I am becoming more and more of a fan of the 6:20 Man Travis Devine. Mr. Baldacci is skilled at creating characters with military backgrounds turned federal agents who are very good investigators, intelligent and great fighters, both hand-to-hand and with weapons. Watching Devine in action in "To Die For" was very solid storytelling with the right amount of mystery, intrigue, suspense and action.

What made this story stand out is that the central plot could easily be ripped out of the headlines of what is going on in America right now such as toxic politics and corruption, domestic terrorist plots, innocents being made into collateral damage by actors of ill and violent intent to achieve their means to an end. Having a person with principles, moral and integrity in law enforcement such as Devine is not only essential but vital to keep America safe from foreign and domestic threats seeking to destroy it. This story shows what it's like when corruption in law enforcement and politics cause great harm in a society if left unchecked.

This story captures those elements well and having been in law enforcement myself, I know a lot of people in real life who are like Devine and I am glad they are on the side of the angels. This book made me think about those I served with making it even more of a great read because I could relate to it on a personal level.

Also, the mystery surrounding the girl on the train (who was featured in the previous book) is taking shape and it was great to see how well Mr. Baldacci fleshed out that mystery and sub plot. This book is highly recommended especially since I am a fan of Baldacci's works.
]]> The Cain Redemption (Cain #4) 26182745
His adventures take him to France, Germany, and back to Honduras, where it all started for him. Will his mission end where it all began?
]]> 189 Mike Ryan Darryle 4
Don't go into the Cain saga thinking that it's a "warmed over Jason Bourne" because it's far from it. Given that I am a huge fan of Jason Bourne, these two would be great in a team up and I could imagine the possibilities for a great story against a shared adversary that would bring those two together.

The theme, the direction it takes and the plot twists gives this saga its own character, tone and uniqueness as a great spy thriller in its own right. I like that Mr. Ryan approach is having his thrillers be fast reads while not taking short cuts on character development and enabling the reader to care about the character and supporting cast. This is the kind of series I would glad continue reading and I hope that Mr. Ryan would find the time to write book #5 or make it an ongoing series. This book is highly recommended.]]> 4.21 2015 The Cain Redemption (Cain #4)
author: Mike Ryan
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/14
date added: 2025/02/14
shelves:
review:
Mike Ryan did such a good job with this character known as Matthew Cain. This spy thriller was a great series that was action packed, filled with suspense, tragedy and great drama fill with a little bit of romance. I am certain there are much more stories to tell about this intriguing character.

Don't go into the Cain saga thinking that it's a "warmed over Jason Bourne" because it's far from it. Given that I am a huge fan of Jason Bourne, these two would be great in a team up and I could imagine the possibilities for a great story against a shared adversary that would bring those two together.

The theme, the direction it takes and the plot twists gives this saga its own character, tone and uniqueness as a great spy thriller in its own right. I like that Mr. Ryan approach is having his thrillers be fast reads while not taking short cuts on character development and enabling the reader to care about the character and supporting cast. This is the kind of series I would glad continue reading and I hope that Mr. Ryan would find the time to write book #5 or make it an ongoing series. This book is highly recommended.
]]> The Cain Deception (Cain #2) 21304168 172 Mike Ryan Darryle 4
Mike Ryan knows how to develop stories and create a variety of unique and sometimes complex characters. My only regret with this series is that it's limited to four books when he's capable of an ongoing series like the Silencer. I am currently reading the final book to see how it ends. If there is a chance he should continue this series, I think Mr. Ryan should. Highly recommended.]]> 4.12 2013 The Cain Deception (Cain #2)
author: Mike Ryan
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/07
date added: 2025/02/11
shelves:
review:
The Cain Deception was another delight to read. The character development was solid and the relationship between Cain and Heather was a highlight, especially given his profession. I also liked the subplot about Wentworth, a former operative of the Specter team believed dead but turned out to be alive. He is an interesting character that I expect to see more of as the Cain saga goes along. This second installment is filled with suspense, action, intrigue and a wide variety of supporting characters whose agendas are unclear until they become known when you least expect it. It is a page turner and a fast read which really gets you to like the character more as he seeks discovery of who he is and his lost memories from his head injury.

Mike Ryan knows how to develop stories and create a variety of unique and sometimes complex characters. My only regret with this series is that it's limited to four books when he's capable of an ongoing series like the Silencer. I am currently reading the final book to see how it ends. If there is a chance he should continue this series, I think Mr. Ryan should. Highly recommended.
]]> The Cain Directive (Cain #3) 25049736 167 Mike Ryan Darryle 4
Mike Ryan has a handle on how to write a variety of characters and stories and with each book of the Cain saga, he is at his best. I am amazed how he is able to easily bring these stories together and not take short cuts in telling his stories. I immediately went to the next book, but I wanted all of you to know that if you a Mike Ryan fan, you might want to add this Cain saga to your reading list. Do I need to say highly recommended? ]]> 4.13 2014 The Cain Directive (Cain #3)
author: Mike Ryan
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/09
date added: 2025/02/10
shelves:
review:
Of the Cain saga thus far, The Cain Directive is one of my favorite books. The twists and turns and the edge of your seat action and drama made this book an easy and fast read because I could not put it down. The story from beginning to end was not only a home run but a grand slam. The content of this book is what I always look for in spy thrillers-- A compelling storyline, character development, chemistry between characters, a great adversary, action and an effective use of descriptive language that puts the reader at the scene in each part of the story.

Mike Ryan has a handle on how to write a variety of characters and stories and with each book of the Cain saga, he is at his best. I am amazed how he is able to easily bring these stories together and not take short cuts in telling his stories. I immediately went to the next book, but I wanted all of you to know that if you a Mike Ryan fan, you might want to add this Cain saga to your reading list. Do I need to say highly recommended?
]]> The Cain Conspiracy (Cain #1) 18372018
Cain's first mission is supposed to be a piece of cake. Just take out an escaped fugitive in Honduras who's on the run for the rape and murder of a little girl in New York. There's only one problem...somebody beat him to it. Everything is not what it seems as Cain gets mixed up with an international arms dealer and an ex government agent who's gone rogue and supposed to be dead.

The Cain Conspiracy is the first book in the high-octane Cain Series. Also look for these books to be coming soon:

The Cain Deception
The Cain Directive
The Cain Redemption]]> 156 Mike Ryan Darryle 4
Everything else is unique to Mike Ryan's character who is Delta Force soldier Thomas Nelson who was shot in the head during a rescue mission of American hostages in the Middle East and was recovering from brain surgery. He wakes up in a military hospital unable to remember who he is. During recovery in the hospital, he is recruited by a top secret government agency known as "Project Specter" that is tasked with eliminating targets they deem to be a threat to the United States. Their goal is to turn Nelson into a super assassin named Matthew Cain.

What I enjoyed about this first installment of the Cain saga is that it has the suspense, mystery, action and character development I come to expect with Ryan's books and that it's a fast read. While writing this review, I am already on the second book as I like the character as he goes on this journey of self discovery in remembering the person he was. However, Project Specter does NOT want him to remember his past of who he used to be so they can simply use him as their weapon and is willing to go through great lengths ensure it does not happen.

I enjoy the care that Ryan takes to introduce other characters that are different from the Silencer, the Eliminator, the Extractor and others. I have been following his work for many years and he never fails to deliver quality writing for his readers and fans to enjoy regardless of character. This book is highly recommended. Off to the next book. ]]> 3.85 2013 The Cain Conspiracy (Cain #1)
author: Mike Ryan
name: Darryle
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/02
date added: 2025/02/04
shelves:
review:
I know some who might initially read The Cain Conspiracy and think that it's like a "warmed over Jason Bourne" when in fact, the ONLY the two characters have in common is the loss of memory.

Everything else is unique to Mike Ryan's character who is Delta Force soldier Thomas Nelson who was shot in the head during a rescue mission of American hostages in the Middle East and was recovering from brain surgery. He wakes up in a military hospital unable to remember who he is. During recovery in the hospital, he is recruited by a top secret government agency known as "Project Specter" that is tasked with eliminating targets they deem to be a threat to the United States. Their goal is to turn Nelson into a super assassin named Matthew Cain.

What I enjoyed about this first installment of the Cain saga is that it has the suspense, mystery, action and character development I come to expect with Ryan's books and that it's a fast read. While writing this review, I am already on the second book as I like the character as he goes on this journey of self discovery in remembering the person he was. However, Project Specter does NOT want him to remember his past of who he used to be so they can simply use him as their weapon and is willing to go through great lengths ensure it does not happen.

I enjoy the care that Ryan takes to introduce other characters that are different from the Silencer, the Eliminator, the Extractor and others. I have been following his work for many years and he never fails to deliver quality writing for his readers and fans to enjoy regardless of character. This book is highly recommended. Off to the next book.
]]> Crosshairs (The Silencer #22) 204475607
As they investigate, they learn of a group of rogue police officers who appear to be involved somehow. But who are they after? Recker? Or Vincent? Someone from the past is going to use these pictures to get one to turn on the other. And it’s a race against time to figure it out, before the pictures get released, effectively destroying the lives and careers of Mia and Cheryl, and before one of Recker or Vincent has to kill the other.]]> 213 Mike Ryan Darryle 5
This was a fast read as it was a page turner and I could not wait to see what was going to happen leading up to the finale and it delivered. This book is highly recommended. ]]> 4.45 Crosshairs (The Silencer #22)
author: Mike Ryan
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.45
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/30
date added: 2025/01/30
shelves:
review:
Crosshairs has easily become on of my favorites of the Silencer saga. This was exactly the kind of suspense filled crime thriller I was waiting for. With mob boss Vincent and the Silencer team become the targets of mysterious figures who has names, pictures and locations of them all for the purpose of manipulation and endangering everyone in their lives, all bets are off as they are on the hunt to find out who is hunting them. Those figures are one who seem to be one step ahead of them all. As Vincent and the Silencer team are on a race against time to find out how they were targeted and why, they might just discover that there are forces are work that even they might not be able to stop.

This was a fast read as it was a page turner and I could not wait to see what was going to happen leading up to the finale and it delivered. This book is highly recommended.
]]> The Oligarch's Daughter 212421071 "Joseph Finder has written some of the finest spy novels of our time, and he just keeps getting better.ĚýThe Oligarch’s Daughter,Ěýhis latest, rockets the reader into the terrifying story of Paul Brightman, who innocently falls in love with a Russian oligarch’s daughter and finds his life brutally overturned—forced to live under a false name, pursued by Russian killers, and forced to confront a malevolent conspiracy within the US government itself. On display is Finder’s intricate and fascinating knowledge of spycraft, Russia, and intelligence. I highly, highly recommend this unrelenting thriller!"—Douglas Preston, #1ĚýNew York TimesĚýbestselling co-author, with Lincoln Child, of the Pendergast novels

â€�Joseph Finder has been one of the undisputed masters of the thriller genre for decades, andĚýThe Oligarch's DaughterĚýis among his very best! It's a taut, emotional, and intelligent novel told at a breakneck pace that will keep readers fanning the pages till the end.â€�—Mark Greaney, #1ĚýNew York TimesĚýbestselling author ofĚýThe Chaos Agent, a Gray Man Novel

From the New York Times bestselling author of House on Fire, a breakneck thriller that marries the dynastic opulence of Succession with the tense and disorienting spy craft of The Americans.

Paul Brightman is a man on the run, living under an assumed name in a small New England town with a million-dollar bounty on his head. When his security is breached, Paul is forced to flee into the New Hampshire wilderness to evade Russian operatives who can seemingly predict his every move.

Six years ago, Paul was a rising star on Wall Street who fell in love with a beautiful photographer named Tatyana—unaware that her father was a Russian oligarch and the object of considerable interest from several US intelligence agencies. Now, to save his own life, Paul must unravel a decades-old conspiracy that extends to the highest reaches of the government.

Rivaling the classic spy novels of the Cold War, The Oligarch’s Daughter is a breakneck thriller built for the frightening world we live in now.]]> 438 Joseph Finder 0063396017 Darryle 0 to-read 4.03 2025 The Oligarch's Daughter
author: Joseph Finder
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/30
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Longest Con: How Grifters, Swindlers, and Frauds Hijacked American Conservatism]]> 195790583 A sardonic chronicle of how conservatism turned into a racketeering enterprise � and why Donald Trump became the living emblem of the American right’s moral decay.The Longest Con tells the fascinating story of the partisan con artists who have corrupted conservative politics in our time, creating a toxic phenomenon that culminated in the election of Donald Trump, a bumptious fraud whose checkered career and tawdry retinue, including his presidential cabinet, have featured almost every variety of scam. But long before he appeared, Trump’s path to power was blazed by the motley horde of swindlers and quacks who preceded him.From the “professional anti-communists� (whose tactics even J. Edgar Hoover despised) to the “populist� grifters of the Tea Party movement and the religious charlatans of the “prosperity gospel� (who provided a pious front for Trump), the right-wing ripoff has remained remarkably consistent, even as personalities change and new technologies Stir up anger and resentment, demonize political opponents, promise vengeance, and collect donations from the gullible. It’s a highly lucrative game that any unscrupulous charlatan can play, as many have � and they are named in these pages.In an unsparing and often comic narrative, Joe Conason explores the right’s long, steep descent into a movement whose principal aim is not to protect freedom or defend the Constitution, but merely to line the pockets of pretenders and blowhards whose malevolent tactics now endanger the nation.]]> 320 Joe Conason 125062116X Darryle 4
The Republican Party not only died in 2015 with the nomination of the con man convict Cheeto Boy, but took its own life along with any morals, ethics, values and principles it pretended to stand on with a round right in the mouth and exploded out the backside of the Republican Party's head. What exactly is "conservatism" and what exactly do they supposedly "conserve"? Are those merely empty words that make it easy for con men to pitch their grifting of the American people by pretending to be something they're not?

Truth be told, the Republican Party had been eroding for quite some time throughout its history. When looking at its overall history as the so-called "Party of Lincoln", there is not really much it can hang its hat on with regards to doing much that have benefitted the American people as a whole. Perhaps whatever it was supposed to stand for died with Lincoln and his successor Andrew Johnson who reversed any progress made by Lincoln following his assassination. The Republican compromise of 1877 ending reconstruction following the Civil War and allowing the South to enact Jim Crow/Segregation laws make that abundantly clear.

It raises the question that Lincoln ending the Civil War the atrocities of human enslavement in America are the only contributions of the Republican Party this entire time? No wonder it was so easy for the "Dixiecrats", white supremacists, domestic terrorists like the Klan, religious cultists and religious nationalist nutjobs disguised as "Christian" and hate groups to migrate to the party after the dismantling of Jim Crow/Segregation and the passing of the Civil Right Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Anyone who takes the time to heavily scrutinize the history of the Republican Party after Lincoln's assassination would quickly realize that the GOP made itself vulnerable to grifters, swindlers, frauds and the aforementioned hate groups throughout the course of its history. They had just as much of an opportunity to lead the way toward initiatives and progress to benefit ALL Americans but chose not to.

With the rise of the convicted felon returning to power and escaping justice for his crimes by hiding behind the presidency (something that normal, thinking people will never understand) the Republican Party has become seat of enabled criminality and grifting for him comes natural as he continues to con America.

Sadly, the story of the longest con does not end here. It's ongoing as we have another four years of grifting to come with "conservatism" and all of those other empty labels they use. This book is highly recommended. ]]> 4.07 2024 The Longest Con: How Grifters, Swindlers, and Frauds Hijacked American Conservatism
author: Joe Conason
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/29
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves:
review:
This is a book that is timely, relevant and spot on. As I went through this book, it sparked a lot of memories and issues I've known for some time when I used to be a member of this party (until I educated myself about the truth about the party and left to become an independent voter).

The Republican Party not only died in 2015 with the nomination of the con man convict Cheeto Boy, but took its own life along with any morals, ethics, values and principles it pretended to stand on with a round right in the mouth and exploded out the backside of the Republican Party's head. What exactly is "conservatism" and what exactly do they supposedly "conserve"? Are those merely empty words that make it easy for con men to pitch their grifting of the American people by pretending to be something they're not?

Truth be told, the Republican Party had been eroding for quite some time throughout its history. When looking at its overall history as the so-called "Party of Lincoln", there is not really much it can hang its hat on with regards to doing much that have benefitted the American people as a whole. Perhaps whatever it was supposed to stand for died with Lincoln and his successor Andrew Johnson who reversed any progress made by Lincoln following his assassination. The Republican compromise of 1877 ending reconstruction following the Civil War and allowing the South to enact Jim Crow/Segregation laws make that abundantly clear.

It raises the question that Lincoln ending the Civil War the atrocities of human enslavement in America are the only contributions of the Republican Party this entire time? No wonder it was so easy for the "Dixiecrats", white supremacists, domestic terrorists like the Klan, religious cultists and religious nationalist nutjobs disguised as "Christian" and hate groups to migrate to the party after the dismantling of Jim Crow/Segregation and the passing of the Civil Right Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Anyone who takes the time to heavily scrutinize the history of the Republican Party after Lincoln's assassination would quickly realize that the GOP made itself vulnerable to grifters, swindlers, frauds and the aforementioned hate groups throughout the course of its history. They had just as much of an opportunity to lead the way toward initiatives and progress to benefit ALL Americans but chose not to.

With the rise of the convicted felon returning to power and escaping justice for his crimes by hiding behind the presidency (something that normal, thinking people will never understand) the Republican Party has become seat of enabled criminality and grifting for him comes natural as he continues to con America.

Sadly, the story of the longest con does not end here. It's ongoing as we have another four years of grifting to come with "conservatism" and all of those other empty labels they use. This book is highly recommended.
]]> <![CDATA[Death Watch (The Silencer #21)]]> 175745205 222 Mike Ryan Darryle 4
I enjoyed the action, suspense and mystery behind this story and the banter between the Silencer team as a whole. The long time relationship that they have, the teamwork and strategies they come up with to take on threats and high risk challenges that enable them to carry out their missions even at difficult odds. This case was highly unusual for the The Silencer team because nothing was as it seemed. Highly recommended.]]> 4.31 Death Watch (The Silencer #21)
author: Mike Ryan
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.31
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/28
date added: 2025/01/28
shelves:
review:
Death Watch is one of those stories filled with mystery that began with the disappearance of a security guard at the Silencer's girlfriend Mia's job at the hospital. He was a older guy who rarely missed a day of work and was highly dependable. Mia was worried what happened to him because this was not like him to abruptly not show up with no calls or contacts. While to police had already investigated, she felt it was going nowhere so she calls the the Silencer to look into it. Once he does, each of the contacts wind up dead. Is there more to his disappearance and there are forces at work to keep the Silencer from discovering the truth?

I enjoyed the action, suspense and mystery behind this story and the banter between the Silencer team as a whole. The long time relationship that they have, the teamwork and strategies they come up with to take on threats and high risk challenges that enable them to carry out their missions even at difficult odds. This case was highly unusual for the The Silencer team because nothing was as it seemed. Highly recommended.
]]> <![CDATA[Firing Line (The Silencer #17)]]> 60121321
Recker will have to call on old friends, and some new ones, in order to help find the identity of the person who's after his friend and partner. Can he accomplish that before Jones is eliminated?]]> 219 Mike Ryan Darryle 3
This was a great read and had the right kind of suspense and mystery to drive the story, but there were still some unanswered questions that I would've loved for Mike Ryan to have addressed either in this story or in the later books. Nonetheless, it was good to see Jones in a bigger role since he works mostly behind the scenes. Highly recommended.]]> 4.31 Firing Line (The Silencer #17)
author: Mike Ryan
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.31
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/16
date added: 2025/01/28
shelves:
review:
It was great to resume the Silencer saga after a long absence as I awaited the audiobook. In the Firing Line, the focus was on David Jones who has become a target from someone from his past in the NSA. This adversary was gunning for Jones and neither he or the Silencer Team knows why. There were great twists and turns throughout to uncover the mystery of why this person was after Jones, a foe that is highly intelligent, highly skilled as a hacker and seemed to be steps ahead of Jones and the Silencer Team to uncover the identity of this mystery person. Jones had no idea why this person was after him and wants to kill Jones. By the time Jones finds out the truth, will it be too late?

This was a great read and had the right kind of suspense and mystery to drive the story, but there were still some unanswered questions that I would've loved for Mike Ryan to have addressed either in this story or in the later books. Nonetheless, it was good to see Jones in a bigger role since he works mostly behind the scenes. Highly recommended.
]]> <![CDATA[Center Mass (The Silencer #20)]]> 85478475 216 Mike Ryan Darryle 4
This was one of the more difficult cases the Silencer team came across because the assailants behind this caper could be anyone in the underworld, either within the city or outside the city. Even the help of the mob boss Vincent and his crew, they still were unable to specify who was involved, only knowing they all were connected since the heists involved taking only diamonds and leaving all other valuables behind. Will the Silencer team be able to stop this crime spree before innocent people are hurt or killed? They are on a race against time.

This was another great fast read in the Silencer saga as it had the right mix of mystery, suspense, and drama. Center Mass is highly recommended. ]]> 4.27 Center Mass (The Silencer #20)
author: Mike Ryan
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.27
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/25
date added: 2025/01/27
shelves:
review:
In the 20th installment of the Silencer saga, this was a novel filled with mystery and suspense that was a great read because the Silencer team were working diligently to stop a stream of diamond heists that were taking place in rapid succession throughout the city. Finding the the players involved and the mastermind behind that heights was a needle in a haystack even for Jones and they no longer have eyes and ears on the street from any informants at the moment to give them the intel they needed to get to the bottom of it.

This was one of the more difficult cases the Silencer team came across because the assailants behind this caper could be anyone in the underworld, either within the city or outside the city. Even the help of the mob boss Vincent and his crew, they still were unable to specify who was involved, only knowing they all were connected since the heists involved taking only diamonds and leaving all other valuables behind. Will the Silencer team be able to stop this crime spree before innocent people are hurt or killed? They are on a race against time.

This was another great fast read in the Silencer saga as it had the right mix of mystery, suspense, and drama. Center Mass is highly recommended.
]]> <![CDATA[Unfinished Business (The Silencer #23)]]> 215160715 211 Mike Ryan Darryle 0 to-read 4.44 Unfinished Business (The Silencer #23)
author: Mike Ryan
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.44
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Nobody Man (Aaron Holt #1)]]> 212300543 219 Mike Ryan Darryle 0 to-read 4.21 The Nobody Man (Aaron Holt #1)
author: Mike Ryan
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.21
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Execution File (The Silencer #19)]]> 62041085 205 Mike Ryan Darryle 4
This novel had all of the elements that I enjoy in the Silencer saga, the suspense, mystery, intrigue action and teamwork between Recker and Haley that makes the Silencer Team work. This is one of Mike Ryan's best and is highly recommended.

]]> 4.32 Execution File (The Silencer #19)
author: Mike Ryan
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.32
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/22
date added: 2025/01/22
shelves:
review:
Execution File will likely go down as one of my favorite books in The Silencer saga. Beginning the story with Recker seeing someone by a chance that he thought he had killed nine years ago while on aa mission with the CIA to take him down was a great way to start this story. It dove into Recker's past on an assignment he thought completed as the target was a monster and hitman from Croatia who had no problem killing innocent people or those who betray his trust including their entire families. The problem is, that every lead to verify this person is actually alive lead to nowhere at every step. Did Recker really see him or is he going nuts as the trauma of everything he's been through both the CIA and as the Silencer finally catching up with him?

This novel had all of the elements that I enjoy in the Silencer saga, the suspense, mystery, intrigue action and teamwork between Recker and Haley that makes the Silencer Team work. This is one of Mike Ryan's best and is highly recommended.


]]> <![CDATA[The Jack Smith Report: Volume I]]> 223830346 Smith’s investigation into Trump focused on two main Trump’s role in the January 6 U.S. Capitol attack and the alleged mishandling of government records, including classified documents. The documents case resulted in a 37-count indictment of Trump in June 2023, with three additional counts added in July. However, the classified documents case was dismissed in July 2024 on the grounds that Smith was unlawfully appointed as special counsel. The investigation into Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election also led to an indictment on four charges in August 2023. Despite the legal challenges, Smith’s investigation highlighted significant evidence against Trump, although the cases were ultimately dismissed following Trump’s re-election in 2024.]]> 246 Jack Luman Smith Darryle 0 to-read 5.00 The Jack Smith Report: Volume I
author: Jack Luman Smith
name: Darryle
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Hardwired (The Silencer #18) 61155195 193 Mike Ryan Darryle 4
Meanwhile, Haley is on a different case in which his ex-girlfriend reached out to him to ask for his help in finding her missing husband, the guy who she left Haley for. A very awkward situation in which Haley decided to put the past aside to uncover the mystery of his disappearance. Will the discovery come at a high cost that may include his life if he gets to the truth?

I enjoyed this book as it really brought closure in some element to a dangling plot that I had forgotten about. The solo story featuring Haley was long overdue and giving him more character development is always a plus. This book is a fast read, action packed and highly recommended. ]]> 4.33 Hardwired (The Silencer #18)
author: Mike Ryan
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.33
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/19
date added: 2025/01/22
shelves:
review:
Hard Wired was a great book that featured two stories in one as Recker has a showdown with the return of an old foe, a deadly gang leader in the past endangered the entire Silencer team including his girlfriend Mia. This unfinished business comes to a head as Recker teams up with Malloy and Vincent to take down this foe and his gang once and for all. Will they have everything they need to do it when the last time they tangled with him they barely survived?

Meanwhile, Haley is on a different case in which his ex-girlfriend reached out to him to ask for his help in finding her missing husband, the guy who she left Haley for. A very awkward situation in which Haley decided to put the past aside to uncover the mystery of his disappearance. Will the discovery come at a high cost that may include his life if he gets to the truth?

I enjoyed this book as it really brought closure in some element to a dangling plot that I had forgotten about. The solo story featuring Haley was long overdue and giving him more character development is always a plus. This book is a fast read, action packed and highly recommended.
]]> <![CDATA[Guaranteed to Fail: Socialism does not work, because socialism cannot work]]> 41540015 80 Dr. George Anderson Darryle 0
In a world filled with propaganda on the controversial subjects like "socialism", and so-forth, his book left me questioning whether this person is credible, knowledgeable and objective enough to speak on this subject. It doesn't offer the reader something to walk away from it learning something new and informative about the subject matter without the negative political, prejudicial and subjective stance that is often associated with the corporate controlled media, especially in the United States.

There are different types of socialism and not all are bad unless it's abused (particularly in a democratic republic like the United States and other countries who use taxes to pay for police, fire, public schools, government programs and so forth). That's what I would've liked the see along with a better title.

I would've actually re-titled the book "Communism does not work, because communism cannot work". I found that most writers of this subject get the words, concepts and the understanding of the socialism mixed up with communism and put them all in the same box which is wrong. Part ways into Anderson's book, I'm finding the same issue.

I would've liked if he had highlights the different types of socialism because not all socialism are "bad" or "scary" just because of dictatorships in the former Soviet Union, China, North Korea, Venezuela and the like who have been historically more communist than actually socialist states and regardless of what "ism" they use, their abuse of power and rampant corruption who not allow ANY system to work.

To suggest socialism as a whole "cannot work" without the right and definite context of when it works well and when it doesn't makes this book one-sided and incomplete. There is no balanced perspective to lead me to believe this author is objective. I am also skeptical of this author as there is no background about him to make him an authority on the subject.

Out of all of the books I've reviewed, this one has earned no stars. I wouldn't recommend the book as it left me with more questions about him and his knowledge of the content than answers.]]> 3.00 Guaranteed to Fail: Socialism does not work, because socialism cannot work
author: Dr. George Anderson
name: Darryle
average rating: 3.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/01/13
date added: 2025/01/13
shelves:
review:
From what I read, I am curious of Dr. Anderson's background, education and knowledge of history on the subject matter of socialism (is he a medical doctor of PhD)? Is he qualified to speak on this subject matter and why this subject? Is this book merely a personal opinion piece of his, his thesis from college, anti-socialist propaganda, or is it an objective and comprehensive approach to the subject matter of why "socialist states" have failed? Here are my thoughts:

In a world filled with propaganda on the controversial subjects like "socialism", and so-forth, his book left me questioning whether this person is credible, knowledgeable and objective enough to speak on this subject. It doesn't offer the reader something to walk away from it learning something new and informative about the subject matter without the negative political, prejudicial and subjective stance that is often associated with the corporate controlled media, especially in the United States.

There are different types of socialism and not all are bad unless it's abused (particularly in a democratic republic like the United States and other countries who use taxes to pay for police, fire, public schools, government programs and so forth). That's what I would've liked the see along with a better title.

I would've actually re-titled the book "Communism does not work, because communism cannot work". I found that most writers of this subject get the words, concepts and the understanding of the socialism mixed up with communism and put them all in the same box which is wrong. Part ways into Anderson's book, I'm finding the same issue.

I would've liked if he had highlights the different types of socialism because not all socialism are "bad" or "scary" just because of dictatorships in the former Soviet Union, China, North Korea, Venezuela and the like who have been historically more communist than actually socialist states and regardless of what "ism" they use, their abuse of power and rampant corruption who not allow ANY system to work.

To suggest socialism as a whole "cannot work" without the right and definite context of when it works well and when it doesn't makes this book one-sided and incomplete. There is no balanced perspective to lead me to believe this author is objective. I am also skeptical of this author as there is no background about him to make him an authority on the subject.

Out of all of the books I've reviewed, this one has earned no stars. I wouldn't recommend the book as it left me with more questions about him and his knowledge of the content than answers.
]]> <![CDATA[The Chaos Agent (Gray Man, #13)]]> 157980068 Artificial intelligence leads to shockingly real danger for the Gray Man in this latest entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.A car accident in Japan.A drowning in Seoul.A home invasion in Boston.Someone is killing the world’s leading experts on robotics and artificial intelligence. Is it a tech company trying to eliminate the competition or is it something even more sinister?After all, artificial intelligence may be the deadliest battlefield gamechanger since the creation of gunpowder. The first nation to field weapons that can act at the speed of computer commands will rule the battlefield.It’s an irresistible lure for most, but not for the Gray Man. His quest for a quiet life has led him to Central America where he and his lover, Zoya Zakharova, have assumed new identities. With a list of enemies that Ěýincludes billionaires, terrorists, and governments, they need to keep a low profile, but the world’s deadliest assassin can’t expect to hide out forever.Eventually, they’re tracked down and offered a job by an old acquaintance of Zoya’s. He needs their help extracting a Russian scientist who is on the kill list. They reject the offer, but just being seen with him is enough to put assassins on their trail.Now, they’re back on the run, but no matter which way they turn, it's clear that whoever's tracking them is always going to be one step ahead. Since flight’s no longer possible, fight is the only option left, and no one fights dirtier than the Gray Man.]]> 556 Mark Greaney 0593548159 Darryle 5
In the Chaos Agent, the dangers of AI in the wrong hands is a very scary concept. It reminds me of the Terminator movies (which happens to be referenced as one of the few movies the Gray Man has seen since he doesn't get out much). When he encounters autonomous weapons operated by AI, he faces a foe that cannot be easily killed, destroyed or defeated. At the time of this encounter, he was on the run (again) from CIA and everyone else with the kill order still in place. This time, he is with Zoya (Anthem) and they were in South America as nomads moving from place to place.

The Gray Man is bored and restless because there have been no missions or contracts putting him in the thick of things as with times past even while on the run. Poison Apple is dismantled, so he is left with no real sense of purpose but at least he has Zoya. All that changes once Zoya is tracked down by an old friend of her father's to help him extract a Russian engineer in another city whose vast knowledge of an AI program has made him a target for assassination by unknown assailants. In the midst of this meeting, they are tracked by a drone unbeknownst to them that conducts video images of them to unknown sources for an unknown purpose. Because Zoya is sucked into this mission as a favor to her father's friend, the Gray Man reluctantly decides to help her with this task...then all hell breaks loose. The Gray Man and Zoya find themselves coming up against an AI threat with a mind of its own that they can't simply shoot to defeat it, against a unbeatable foe they don't understand and have no idea who is behind it all. This is the Chaos Agent.

This is easily one of the most riveting stories in the Gray Man series. It makes me think just how scary it would be for AI to go out of control and harm its creators with nothing to stop it. I hope we never get to that point in real life, but we always have to be vigilant. It goes without saying that this book is highly recommended. I am sad that I have to wait for the next book, Midnight Black to come out since it's not released yet. I hope it comes soon. I need my next Gray Man fix! ]]> 4.49 2024 The Chaos Agent (Gray Man, #13)
author: Mark Greaney
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.49
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/13
date added: 2025/01/13
shelves:
review:
After reading this entire Gray Man saga with this gripping novel "The Chaos Agent", I am convinced that this series is easily one of the best spy thrillers out there. Every single book I've read of the Gray Man has been solid throughout. If I was to describe this series, I would call it "The spy thriller lover's spy thriller" because Mark Greaney consistently checks every box of what a reader would come to expect from spy thrillers. It's highly suspenseful, high octane, action packed, characters get seriously injured or even killed, it has great plots and sub plots. When supporting characters are introduced, we know who they are and their backstories, so their appearance in the book is not abrupt or choppy and you know how they fit in each story.

In the Chaos Agent, the dangers of AI in the wrong hands is a very scary concept. It reminds me of the Terminator movies (which happens to be referenced as one of the few movies the Gray Man has seen since he doesn't get out much). When he encounters autonomous weapons operated by AI, he faces a foe that cannot be easily killed, destroyed or defeated. At the time of this encounter, he was on the run (again) from CIA and everyone else with the kill order still in place. This time, he is with Zoya (Anthem) and they were in South America as nomads moving from place to place.

The Gray Man is bored and restless because there have been no missions or contracts putting him in the thick of things as with times past even while on the run. Poison Apple is dismantled, so he is left with no real sense of purpose but at least he has Zoya. All that changes once Zoya is tracked down by an old friend of her father's to help him extract a Russian engineer in another city whose vast knowledge of an AI program has made him a target for assassination by unknown assailants. In the midst of this meeting, they are tracked by a drone unbeknownst to them that conducts video images of them to unknown sources for an unknown purpose. Because Zoya is sucked into this mission as a favor to her father's friend, the Gray Man reluctantly decides to help her with this task...then all hell breaks loose. The Gray Man and Zoya find themselves coming up against an AI threat with a mind of its own that they can't simply shoot to defeat it, against a unbeatable foe they don't understand and have no idea who is behind it all. This is the Chaos Agent.

This is easily one of the most riveting stories in the Gray Man series. It makes me think just how scary it would be for AI to go out of control and harm its creators with nothing to stop it. I hope we never get to that point in real life, but we always have to be vigilant. It goes without saying that this book is highly recommended. I am sad that I have to wait for the next book, Midnight Black to come out since it's not released yet. I hope it comes soon. I need my next Gray Man fix!
]]> Burner (Gray Man, #12) 61177813 Court Gentry is caught between the Russian mafia and the CIA in this latest electrifying thriller in the #1 New York Times bestselling Gray Man series.

When you kick over a rock, you never know what's going to crawl out.Ěý
Ěý
Alex Velesky is about to discover that the hard way. He's stolen records from the Swiss bank that employs him, thinking that he'll uncover a criminal conspiracy. But he soon finds that he's tapped into the mother lode of corruption. Before he knows it, he's being hunted by everyone from the Russian mafia to the CIA.Ěý
Ěý
Court Gentry and his erstwhile lover, Zoya Zakharova, find themselves on opposites poles when it comes to Velesky. They both want him but for different reasons.Ěý
Ěý
That's a problem for tomorrow. Today they need to keep him and themselves alive. Right now, it's not looking good.]]> 527 Mark Greaney 0593548116 Darryle 4
In this story, the Gray Man is once again on the run from the CIA and this time he's on a mission that puts him in the crosshairs with the Russian mob, the CIA, U.S. government officials and others over a financial file that could expose numerous high level officials around the world engaged in corruption and bribery with ties to Russia. The Gray Man is sent on the mission to stop and retrieve the transfer of that file. In doing so, it could lift the shoot on sight order against him, so he has an uneasy alliance with Suzanne Brewer (you know, that same person who tried to kill him previously). With the Russian mob involved in retrieving that info, is this the mission in which the Gray Man may not survive?

Burner starts off slow by design because it shows when the Gray Man is not on mission, he seems rather aimless taking on weak jobs that do not suit his particular skills and it was captured very well. Once it picks up the pace it grabs the reader and doesn't let go. As always, I find the Gray Man saga enjoyable and is looking forward to the next book. Highly recommended. ]]> 4.57 2023 Burner (Gray Man, #12)
author: Mark Greaney
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.57
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/30
date added: 2024/12/30
shelves:
review:
Burner is another great spy thriller in the Gray Man saga because with him, Mark Greaney never disappoints. This is that kind of story that really helps the reader care about the characters more and more. The chemistry between Anthem and the Gray Man is compelling and it follows up great with book #10 Relentless. This story also tells the fate of a recurring character and introduces a new character to the mix that I anticipate we'll be seeing more of in the future.

In this story, the Gray Man is once again on the run from the CIA and this time he's on a mission that puts him in the crosshairs with the Russian mob, the CIA, U.S. government officials and others over a financial file that could expose numerous high level officials around the world engaged in corruption and bribery with ties to Russia. The Gray Man is sent on the mission to stop and retrieve the transfer of that file. In doing so, it could lift the shoot on sight order against him, so he has an uneasy alliance with Suzanne Brewer (you know, that same person who tried to kill him previously). With the Russian mob involved in retrieving that info, is this the mission in which the Gray Man may not survive?

Burner starts off slow by design because it shows when the Gray Man is not on mission, he seems rather aimless taking on weak jobs that do not suit his particular skills and it was captured very well. Once it picks up the pace it grabs the reader and doesn't let go. As always, I find the Gray Man saga enjoyable and is looking forward to the next book. Highly recommended.
]]> <![CDATA[The Secret Weapon (Alexander King #1)]]> 49118404 The world doesn't know he exists. Enemies of the state will wish he didn't.

After a covert mission became personal, the only way elite CIA counterterrorism operative Alexander King could keep his loved ones safe, and the eyes of Washington's enemies blind to his existence, was to disappear.

A year after his family buried a body that wasn't his, King saves a young woman from a car bomb in London, and that's when his work in the shadows gets complicated. Because she's not who he thinks she is, and the web that King is pulled into is tangled with enemies that reach to the highest levels of the United States government.

The clock is ticking on a nuclear sized threat that will make 9/11 look like child's play. And if King can't put together the pieces of a deadly puzzle that involves a ruthless terrorist, a surging presidential hopeful, a seedy billionaire businessman, and a mysterious seventeen-year-old girl, thousands of innocent lives will be lost.

When diplomacy fails, and the possibility of a world war hangs in the balance, it's often the secret weapons like King who scour the alleys and back avenues who make the difference. The question is, will he be enough?

_____________________________

If you couldn't put down Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp, Lee Child's Jack Reacher, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, Brad Thor's Scot Harvath, or David Baldacci's Will Robie, fans of Bradley Wright believe you won't be able to put down the addictive Alexander King.]]> 328 Bradley Wright Darryle 0 to-read 4.23 2020 The Secret Weapon (Alexander King #1)
author: Bradley Wright
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/18
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Capture or Kill (Mitch Rapp, #23)]]> 207595657 Mitch Rapp faces an Iranian foe bent on destabilizing the Middle East in this latest novel from Vince Flynn’s #1 New York Times bestselling series, now written by Don Bentley.

April 2011: On a remote mountaintop overlooking the remains of the Iranian nuclear weapons program, Azad Ashani witnesses the successful demonstration of a new weapons system meant to upend the American-led war in Afghanistan. Ashani, director of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security and Irene Kennedy’s former back channel to the Iranian government, recognizes the demonstration’s true significance, and the nation-ending conflict it will provoke. Alone, Ashani stands no chance of preventing this rush to madness.

But with the help of one man, he just might.

In Washington, DC, CIA director Irene Kennedy briefs the president that the operational window to kill or capture Osama bin Laden at his recently discovered compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan is rapidly closing. But before he’ll authorize a commando raid on Pakistani soil, the president demands irrefutable proof of bin Laden’s presence.

Proof he trusts just one man to provide.]]> 459 Don Bentley 1668045869 Darryle 4
Bentley brings the suspense, the intrigue, action and he seems to have a good handle on the character for his first time working on this amazing saga. When Kyle Mills left, I thought that it would be the end of the series for the character the late Vince Flynn created. I am pleased to say that it is not the case. If Bentley decides to continue with the series, I'd be excited about it. He has done his homework on the previous books on the characters and references what has gone before in previous stories and built upon them. That's how I know he will be good for this series.

While the Bin Laden focus might not have been my pick for the villain (as there are so many stories about him that it's played out), it was still a good series and enabled us Mitch Rapp fans to see what he has been up to. I was also glad to see the return of many supporting characters and familiar aspects of the storyline that refreshed my memory of previous books. Well done, Mr. Bentley.

I highly recommend this latest installment of the Mitch Rapp saga because the torch has been passed, Mitch Rapp's saga continues and the character is in good hands.]]> 4.37 2024 Capture or Kill (Mitch Rapp, #23)
author: Don Bentley
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/07
date added: 2024/12/18
shelves:
review:
In this latest novel in the Mitch Rapp saga, it introduces Don Bentley as the new writer replacing Kyle Mills. Don Bentley's style seems a good fit for the series and the storyline was solid basing it on the hunt for Osama Bin Laden. The story focuses on Mitch finding key intelligence information to confirm the whereabouts of Bin Laden. It takes him to Pakistan that could finally lead to his capture or killing. Before the U.S. could strike a blow at ending the threat of the most dangerous terrorist in American history, the CIA and Mitch Rapp must confirm his identity and that he is in a compound in Pakistan as he had been living off the grid for most of the time of the hunt.

Bentley brings the suspense, the intrigue, action and he seems to have a good handle on the character for his first time working on this amazing saga. When Kyle Mills left, I thought that it would be the end of the series for the character the late Vince Flynn created. I am pleased to say that it is not the case. If Bentley decides to continue with the series, I'd be excited about it. He has done his homework on the previous books on the characters and references what has gone before in previous stories and built upon them. That's how I know he will be good for this series.

While the Bin Laden focus might not have been my pick for the villain (as there are so many stories about him that it's played out), it was still a good series and enabled us Mitch Rapp fans to see what he has been up to. I was also glad to see the return of many supporting characters and familiar aspects of the storyline that refreshed my memory of previous books. Well done, Mr. Bentley.

I highly recommend this latest installment of the Mitch Rapp saga because the torch has been passed, Mitch Rapp's saga continues and the character is in good hands.
]]> Sierra Six (Gray Man, #11) 58122885 528 Mark Greaney 0593099001 Darryle 4
This book is an important element of the Gray Man's history of where it all began for him and the tragedies that occurred when the CIA kill order was placed on him. You'll have to read the previous novels to get the back story of what happened to the Gulf Sierra team and what happened with the Gray Man while on the run.

This book is of course highly recommended and a fast read. Off to the next novel.]]> 4.58 2022 Sierra Six (Gray Man, #11)
author: Mark Greaney
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.58
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/15
date added: 2024/12/18
shelves:
review:
Another great spy thriller by Mark Greaney. This time, he takes the Gray Man back to his roots of where things started for him before it went terribly wrong in future stories involving Gulf Sierra (aka the Goon Squad), the first team the Gray Man ever affiliated with. He has long been a singleton, a lone operative that was not accustomed to working with teams. In this case, he was "volun-told" to join this team by the CIA and he wasn't well received when brought on board to Gulf Sierra. The distrust, drama and other aspects are expected since the Gray Man was replacing the previous Sierra Six by terrorists during a raid. An old enemy emerges who was also thought dead after committing a heinous terrorist attack twelve years prior. Seeing that he is alive, the Gray Man want to ensure this time he never emerges again and the death will not be faked.

This book is an important element of the Gray Man's history of where it all began for him and the tragedies that occurred when the CIA kill order was placed on him. You'll have to read the previous novels to get the back story of what happened to the Gulf Sierra team and what happened with the Gray Man while on the run.

This book is of course highly recommended and a fast read. Off to the next novel.
]]> <![CDATA[The Myth of Race: The Troubling Persistence of an Unscientific Idea]]> 21878184
The Myth of Race traces the origins of modern racist ideology to the Spanish Inquisition, revealing how sixteenth-century theories of racial degeneration became a crucial justification for Western imperialism and slavery. In the nineteenth century, these theories fused with Darwinism to produce the highly influential and pernicious eugenics movement. Believing that traits from cranial shape to raw intelligence were immutable, eugenicists developed hierarchies that classified certain races, especially fair-skinned “Aryans,� as superior to others. These ideologues proposed programs of intelligence testing, selective breeding, and human sterilization―policies that fed straight into Nazi genocide. Sussman examines how opponents of eugenics, guided by the German-American anthropologist Franz Boas’s new, scientifically supported concept of culture, exposed fallacies in racist thinking. Although eugenics is now widely discredited, some groups and individuals today claim a new scientific basis for old racist assumptions. Pondering the continuing influence of racist research and thought, despite all evidence to the contrary, Sussman explains why―when it comes to race―too many people still mistake bigotry for science.]]> 384 Robert Wald Sussman 0674417313 Darryle 5
This is one of the most profound books I've read in a long time. When I think about a book like this, it provides insight on why the dehumanizing evils surrounding the myth of race has haunted and destroyed humanity for centuries. Reading a book like this explores the motives behind the all of the ugliness that came from the invention of race, to include the prejudices, the stereotypes, generalities, fear, and outright ignorance spawned from the lies by European "scholars" in particular who made up the concept of race with ZERO scientific evidence to back up their lies. From those lies they claimed and believed that Caucasians are somehow "superior" to other human beings, especially in the so-called "New World" (which wasn't new as those lands were occupied by other humans who didn't look like them and might not have been advanced in the same sense that they were).

This dehumanizing lie about race was carried with explorers who went on to become pirates and plunderers who stole from other humans in those far off lands and even used religion to justify those lies. That explains why the atrocities of human enslavement came about, particularly in the colonies. There is great effort to hide, omit and conceal truth like this from the history books, especially American history.

This sad and tragic book that highlights a long held lie about race is highly recommended for those who wonder why racism still exists centuries after it was first invented. This book educates us on how the myth of race was founded upon a lie that endured for centuries by those who sought to use the lie as a means for conquest, theft and a false belief of "superiority" over other humans who look different from them. It's an eye opener who seek truth and wish to denounce the long held lies about "race".]]> 4.06 2014 The Myth of Race: The Troubling Persistence of an Unscientific Idea
author: Robert Wald Sussman
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2014
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/08
date added: 2024/12/08
shelves:
review:
"Biological races do not exist―and never have. This view is shared by all scientists who study variation in human populations. Yet racial prejudice and intolerance based on the myth of race remain deeply ingrained in Western society. In his powerful examination of a persistent, false, and poisonous idea, Robert Sussman explores how race emerged as a social construct from early biblical justifications to the pseudoscientific studies of today."

This is one of the most profound books I've read in a long time. When I think about a book like this, it provides insight on why the dehumanizing evils surrounding the myth of race has haunted and destroyed humanity for centuries. Reading a book like this explores the motives behind the all of the ugliness that came from the invention of race, to include the prejudices, the stereotypes, generalities, fear, and outright ignorance spawned from the lies by European "scholars" in particular who made up the concept of race with ZERO scientific evidence to back up their lies. From those lies they claimed and believed that Caucasians are somehow "superior" to other human beings, especially in the so-called "New World" (which wasn't new as those lands were occupied by other humans who didn't look like them and might not have been advanced in the same sense that they were).

This dehumanizing lie about race was carried with explorers who went on to become pirates and plunderers who stole from other humans in those far off lands and even used religion to justify those lies. That explains why the atrocities of human enslavement came about, particularly in the colonies. There is great effort to hide, omit and conceal truth like this from the history books, especially American history.

This sad and tragic book that highlights a long held lie about race is highly recommended for those who wonder why racism still exists centuries after it was first invented. This book educates us on how the myth of race was founded upon a lie that endured for centuries by those who sought to use the lie as a means for conquest, theft and a false belief of "superiority" over other humans who look different from them. It's an eye opener who seek truth and wish to denounce the long held lies about "race".
]]> <![CDATA[Thriller 2: Stories You Just Can't Put Down]]> 6287995 Thriller: Stories To Keep You Up All Night, they became a part of one of the most successful short-story anthologies ever published. The highly anticipated Thriller 2: Stories You Just Can't Put Down is even bigger. From Jeffery Deaver's tale of international terrorism to Lisa Jackson's dysfunctional family in the California wine country to Ridley Pearson's horrifying serial killer, this collection has something for everyone. Twenty-three bestselling and hot new authors in the genre have submitted original stories to make up this unforgettable blockbuster.]]> 512 Clive Cussler 077832723X Darryle 0 to-read 3.59 2009 Thriller 2: Stories You Just Can't Put Down
author: Clive Cussler
name: Darryle
average rating: 3.59
book published: 2009
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[In Too Deep (Jack Reacher, #29)]]> 204432624 The gripping new Jack Reacher thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling authors Lee Child and Andrew ChildReacher wakes up, alone, in the dark, handcuffed to a bed in a makeshift hospital room. His few possessions are gone. He has no memory of getting there. The last thing he can recall is the car he had hitched a ride in getting run off the road. The driver was killed. The people who staged the attack assume Reacher was the driver's accomplice and patch up his wounds as they plan to make him talk. A plan that will backfire spectacularly . . .]]> 324 Lee Child 0593725808 Darryle 3
"In Too Deep" is a good and suspenseful Reacher story especially when he is in his private investigator mode which was needed to find out the circumstances of his accident causing the memory loss. However, this is not the high caliber action I enjoy seeing Reacher in when he is in vigilante mode. I can't believe I am nearing his 30th as I am a huge fan of Reacher and I continue to enjoy the ride and will continue to until the wheels fall off. I can't wait until the new season of Reacher comes out to see who well they follow "The Persuader" novel. As always, this book is recommended.]]> 3.65 2024 In Too Deep (Jack Reacher, #29)
author: Lee Child
name: Darryle
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/11/20
date added: 2024/12/06
shelves:
review:
As long as I have been reading the Reacher saga, I noticed three styles of Reacher-- The military cop, the private investigator and the vigilante. While the Reacher the vigilante is my favorite (as he is always the one who settles scores and rights the wrongs to the innocent), I particularly enjoy a combination of all three when he draws upon his roots and his skills as a former military investigator that makes him so effective in so many situations along with his size and imposing presence. In this case, we have Reacher the private investigator. He found himself in a situation in which a car accident causes him to lose his memory. While investigating that element, he comes across a criminal plot and teams up with undercover FBI agents and cops to solve the mystery of it.

"In Too Deep" is a good and suspenseful Reacher story especially when he is in his private investigator mode which was needed to find out the circumstances of his accident causing the memory loss. However, this is not the high caliber action I enjoy seeing Reacher in when he is in vigilante mode. I can't believe I am nearing his 30th as I am a huge fan of Reacher and I continue to enjoy the ride and will continue to until the wheels fall off. I can't wait until the new season of Reacher comes out to see who well they follow "The Persuader" novel. As always, this book is recommended.
]]> Relentless (Gray Man, #10) 53990866
The first agent disappearance was a puzzle
The second was a mystery
The third was a conspiracy

Intelligence operatives around the world are disappearing. When a missing American agent re- appears in Venezuela, Court Gentry, the Gray Man, is dispatched to bring him in, but a team of assassins has other ideas. Court escapes with his life and a vital piece of intelligence.

Meanwhile, CIA agent Zoya Zakharova is in Berlin. Her mission: to infiltrate a private intelligence firm with some alarming connections. The closer she gets to answers, the less likely she is to get out alive.

Court and Zoya are just two pieces on this international chessboard, and they're about to discover one undeniable truth--sometimes capturing a king requires sacrificing some pawns.]]> 496 Mark Greaney Darryle 4 4.50 2021 Relentless (Gray Man, #10)
author: Mark Greaney
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/04
date added: 2024/12/04
shelves:
review:
The Gray Man is a fun and fast read. This was high intensity and action packed like an episode right out of 24 or a Jason Bourne movie. The plot and sub plots flow well together and readers see the entire Poison Apple team working together for the first time. I like the vulnerability of the Gray Man that in spite of his injuries from previous missions or cases, he still fights on and stays in the fight until the mission is complete. This is one of my favorite books of the Gray Man saga, so I won't give anything away about it and is highly recommended.
]]> <![CDATA[Valley of Death (Jason Trapp #7)]]> 58694384 You can check out any time you want.But you can never leave.Two decades ago, the United States invaded Taliban-controlled Afghanistan to fumigate a rat's nest of international terrorists. And then it left.Now the Taliban are teetering on the edge of a fresh civil war, and a new breed of militants is growing out of the fertile ground of chaos. One group makes the Taliban regime look like kindergarten teachers by comparison. It's known as Islamic State Khorasan. Brutal, violent, and bent on using the failed state of Afghanistan as a launching pad for global mayhem.If there's one thing Trapp has learned, it's the more things change, the more they stay the same. IS-K has to be stopped.The problem is, not everybody agrees...]]> 362 Jack Slater Darryle 4
Valley of Death is very well written and has the balance of suspense, action, intrigue and flow that is consistent throughout this saga. The character development enables me to care about the character and what drives him to do what's right without any regard for personal benefit or safety. This recent mission confirms as such as he is called upon by the President to go on a mission to Afghanistan to protect an envoy secretly meeting with a faction of the Taliban in a deal that would protect America's national security and interests in the region. What could possibly go wrong? Well, Trapp always knows the grave danger that exists among these kind of missions, especially over there. In the midst of it, he comes across a plot of a CIA official with a hidden agenda that exacerbates the risk and the danger and if he doesn't uncover it quickly, it will spell the end for Trapp and those he is protecting.

I always enjoy those kind of suspenseful plots in these spy thrillers and this one is no different. It was a quick read and Mr. Slater is on point at delivering what fans of Jason Trapp want. This book is highly recommended for lovers of spy thrillers. ]]> 4.61 Valley of Death (Jason Trapp #7)
author: Jack Slater
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.61
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/27
date added: 2024/11/27
shelves:
review:
I was looking forward to this seventh installment of the Jason Trapp saga and I am glad I was finally able to read it. Jack Slater is a great writer of of spy thrillers and Jason Trapp could easily be the "cousin" of Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp. In fact, they seems so closely aligned that the stories could be used interchangeably between the two characters without missing a beat.

Valley of Death is very well written and has the balance of suspense, action, intrigue and flow that is consistent throughout this saga. The character development enables me to care about the character and what drives him to do what's right without any regard for personal benefit or safety. This recent mission confirms as such as he is called upon by the President to go on a mission to Afghanistan to protect an envoy secretly meeting with a faction of the Taliban in a deal that would protect America's national security and interests in the region. What could possibly go wrong? Well, Trapp always knows the grave danger that exists among these kind of missions, especially over there. In the midst of it, he comes across a plot of a CIA official with a hidden agenda that exacerbates the risk and the danger and if he doesn't uncover it quickly, it will spell the end for Trapp and those he is protecting.

I always enjoy those kind of suspenseful plots in these spy thrillers and this one is no different. It was a quick read and Mr. Slater is on point at delivering what fans of Jason Trapp want. This book is highly recommended for lovers of spy thrillers.
]]> <![CDATA[Thriller: Stories To Keep You Up All Night]]> 33672 Thriller is the first collection of pure thriller stories ever published. Offering up heart-pumping tales of suspense in all its guises are thirty-two of the most critically acclaimed and award-winning names in the business. From the signature characters that made such authors as David Morrell and John Lescroart famous to four of the hottest new voices in the genre, this blockbuster will tantalize and terrify.

Lock the doors, draw the shades, pull up the covers and be prepared for Thriller to keep you up all night.]]> 576 James Patterson 0778322998 Darryle 3 3.47 2006 Thriller: Stories To Keep You Up All Night
author: James Patterson
name: Darryle
average rating: 3.47
book published: 2006
rating: 3
read at: 2024/11/14
date added: 2024/11/14
shelves:
review:
While most of the stories were not as thrilling as I expected, I did appreciate the short stories that kept me guessing and wanting more. While I enjoyed most of the stories, I've read other complications like this in which I was interested in wanting to know more about the characters and future stories and followed them later on. In this case, there were not a lot of characters I was intrigued by. Overall, it is a good book for those who enjoy short stories. Since the legendary James Patterson is the narrator introducing the writers and characters it gives a great introduction to new writers and characters. With that, the book is recommended.
]]> Armored (Armored, #1) 59473109 A novel inspired by #1 New York Times best-selling author Mark Greaney’s Audible Original drama, Armored.Joshua Duffy is a Close Protection Agent—a professional bodyguard—and he's one of the world's elite operatives. That is, he was until his last mission in Lebanon. Against all odds, Josh got his primary out alive, but the cost was high. Josh lost his lower left leg.ĚýĚýThere's not much call for an elite bodyguard with such an injury. So, Josh has to support his family working as a mall cop in New Jersey. For a man like Josh, this is purgatory on earth, but miracles can occur even in Paramus.ĚýĚýA lucky run-in with an old comrade promises to get Josh back in the field for one last job. The UN is sending a peace mission into the Sierra Madre mountains in Mexico, an area so dangerous it's known as Espinazo del Diablo—the Devil's Spine. Only a fool would think they could broker peace between the homicidal drug cartels in the region, and only a madman would sign on to keep those fools alive.]]> 510 Mark Greaney Darryle 4
Duffy is a person of integrity and lives by a code of honor that stems from his history in the military which made him so good at his job. Being down on his luck after a bad injury on his last mission in the Middle East cost him a leg, he signed on to one of the worst private contractors out there, Armored Saint. Because money is tight, he goes against his better judgement and goes on a mission that is a disaster waiting to happen. The mission he went on this time was incredibly high risk dealing with rival cartels and the UN is sending a peace mission into the Sierra Madre mountains in Mexico in which he and his team is tasked to provide support. Will this dangerous mission be his last?

I enjoyed this story because Mr. Greaney writes in the same vein as his fantastic Gray Man books. If you are a fan of The Gray Man, you can expect the same action packed intensity with Armored. It is highly recommended. ]]> 4.38 2022 Armored (Armored, #1)
author: Mark Greaney
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/14
date added: 2024/11/14
shelves:
review:
Since I enjoy The Gray Man and I am between books, I wanted to check out this one shot by Mark Greaney to see if it follows the same style as the Gray Man and it indeed it does. This was a high octane, action packed and intense suspense thriller filled with great plot twists, surprises and acts of betrayal that are revealed during the course of the story. I liked the main character Joshua Duffy, a Close Protection Agent who provides protection services in some of worst and hostile regions around the world. In that line of work, it's very dangerous and comes at a very high price that others would question whether it is worth the reward.

Duffy is a person of integrity and lives by a code of honor that stems from his history in the military which made him so good at his job. Being down on his luck after a bad injury on his last mission in the Middle East cost him a leg, he signed on to one of the worst private contractors out there, Armored Saint. Because money is tight, he goes against his better judgement and goes on a mission that is a disaster waiting to happen. The mission he went on this time was incredibly high risk dealing with rival cartels and the UN is sending a peace mission into the Sierra Madre mountains in Mexico in which he and his team is tasked to provide support. Will this dangerous mission be his last?

I enjoyed this story because Mr. Greaney writes in the same vein as his fantastic Gray Man books. If you are a fan of The Gray Man, you can expect the same action packed intensity with Armored. It is highly recommended.
]]> <![CDATA[The Waiting (Renée Ballard, #6; Harry Bosch, #25; Harry Bosch Universe, #39)]]> 205985057 LAPD Detective Renée Ballard tracks a terrifying serial rapist whose trail has gone cold with the help of the newest volunteer to the Open-Unsolved Patrol Officer Maddie Bosch, Harry's daughter.

Renée Ballard and the LAPD's Open-Unsolved Unit get a hot shot DNA connection between a recently arrested man and a serial rapist and murderer who went quiet twenty years ago. The arrested man is only twenty-three, so the genetic link must be familial. It is his father who was the Pillowcase Rapist, responsible for a five-year reign of terror in the city of angels. But when Ballard and her team move in on their suspect, they encounter a baffling web of secrets and legal hurdles.

Meanwhile, Ballard's badge, gun, and ID are stolen-a theft she can't report without giving her enemies in the department the ammunition they need to end her career as a detective. She works the burglary alone, but her solo mission leads her into greater danger than she anticipates. She has no choice but to go outside the department for help, and that leads her to the door of Harry Bosch.

Finally, Ballard takes on a new volunteer to the cold case unit. Bosch's daughter Maddie wants to supplement her work as a patrol officer on the night beat by investigating cases with Ballard. But Renée soon learns that Maddie has an ulterior motive for getting access to the city's library of lost souls.

***

CRIME DOESN'T COME BETTER THAN 'The pre-eminent detective novelist of his generation' IAN RANKIN 'The best mystery writer in the world' GQ 'A superb natural storyteller' LEE CHILD 'A master' STEPHEN KING 'America's greatest living crime writer' DAILY EXPRESS 'One of the great storytellers of crime fiction' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH]]> 403 Michael Connelly 1398719048 Darryle 4
Since I enjoy Connelly's characters so much in the Bosch universe, this was a very fast read for me as with his other books. I don't want to give away any details of the story as I know there are a lot of Connelly fans out there like me. This book is (of course) highly recommended and I can't wait for the next book.

Thus, the title "The Waiting" is the story of my life. Hurry up with your next book, Connelly. I need another fix.]]> 4.47 2024 The Waiting (Renée Ballard, #6; Harry Bosch, #25; Harry Bosch Universe, #39)
author: Michael Connelly
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/09
date added: 2024/11/14
shelves:
review:
With much anticipation, I eagerly awaited the next Connelly novel and as always, it is worth the wait. The Waiting was a perfect crime novel for Renee Ballard not only because of the suspense, the engaging dialogue and the longstanding relationship with Harry Bosch, but it also features Harry daughter, Maddie Bosch, now a grown adult and a young police officer with the LAPD. She follows in her dad's footsteps and her interaction with Ballard makes the storyline work fluidly. It also coincides with the Bosch: Legacy TV series (which I hope they have a new season soon). Ballard is a solid detective who is in charge of the Open and Unsolved Unit, one that Harry Bosch used to work and still consults on from time to time. With Maddie in the mix of this story, it introduces the next generation of the Bosch saga as the torch is passing.

Since I enjoy Connelly's characters so much in the Bosch universe, this was a very fast read for me as with his other books. I don't want to give away any details of the story as I know there are a lot of Connelly fans out there like me. This book is (of course) highly recommended and I can't wait for the next book.

Thus, the title "The Waiting" is the story of my life. Hurry up with your next book, Connelly. I need another fix.
]]> One Minute Out (Gray Man, #9) 46008456 TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR THE CITY OF ANGELS

While on a mission to Croatia, Court Gentry uncovers a human trafficking operation. The trail leads from the Balkans all the way back to Hollywood.

Court is determined to shut it down, but his CIA handlers have other plans. The criminal ringleader has actionable intelligence about a potentially devastating terrorist attack on the US. The CIA won't move until they have that intel. It's a moral balancing act with Court at the pivot point.

From Mark Greaney, the New York Times bestselling author of Mission Critical and a co-author of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan novels, comes another high-stakes thriller featuring the world's most dangerous assassin: the Gray Man.

]]> 529 Mark Greaney Darryle 4
While he is considered the best there is, the Gray Man isn't for every contract. This particular mission was focused upon destroying a human trafficking network which was well established by people with very deep pockets and vast resources around the world. This meant it was impossible for him to do alone and required outside help. Will he get that support from his CIA handler who once tried to kill him? It's complicated. If he doesn't act with so much at stake in which these women could lose their lives ? Very likely. I liked One Minute Out because of how it humanizes the Gray Man with a moral dilemma and a conscience for a guy who specializes in killing people. It has the right amount of fast moving action, suspense and thrills to make it a fast read and an intriguing story. As usual, this book is highly recommended. The Gray Man has done it again.]]> 4.45 2020 One Minute Out (Gray Man, #9)
author: Mark Greaney
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.45
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/23
date added: 2024/10/23
shelves:
review:
In this installment of the Gray Man, while out on on outside contract from the CIA, he stumbled upon an international human trafficking ring. The Gray Man has a code and a conscience and when he sees wrong doing even when it has nothing to do with his mission, he feels compelled to act. This is one of those situations. The Gray Man is an anti-hero in the highest sense. While he does a lot of killing as a black ops assassin, he picks the assignments he deems worthy to pursue based on the type of mission and the target(s).

While he is considered the best there is, the Gray Man isn't for every contract. This particular mission was focused upon destroying a human trafficking network which was well established by people with very deep pockets and vast resources around the world. This meant it was impossible for him to do alone and required outside help. Will he get that support from his CIA handler who once tried to kill him? It's complicated. If he doesn't act with so much at stake in which these women could lose their lives ? Very likely. I liked One Minute Out because of how it humanizes the Gray Man with a moral dilemma and a conscience for a guy who specializes in killing people. It has the right amount of fast moving action, suspense and thrills to make it a fast read and an intriguing story. As usual, this book is highly recommended. The Gray Man has done it again.
]]> <![CDATA[Mission Critical (Gray Man, #8)]]> 40202025 From Mark Greaney, the New York Times bestselling author of Gunmetal Gray and a coauthor of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan novels, comes a high-stakes thriller featuring the world's most dangerous assassin: the Gray Man.

Court Gentry's flight on a CIA transport plane is interrupted when a security team brings a hooded man aboard. They want to kick Gentry off the flight but are overruled by CIA headquarters. The mystery man is being transported to England where a joint CIA/MI6 team will interrogate him about a mole in Langley.

When they land in an isolated airbase in the U.K., they are attacked by a hostile force who kidnaps the prisoner. Only Gentry escapes. His handlers send him after the attackers, but what can one operative do against a trained team of assassins? A lot, when that operative is the Gray Man.]]> 512 Mark Greaney Darryle 4
This was a very well crafted spy thriller and I am elevating Mark Greaney to one of my favorite authors of this genre. I saw the Gray Man movie recently and as we know, the books are always better. In this cases, it holds true. This is the kind of book that would definitely portray the Gray Man very well in a movie if they do not take too many liberties and be true to the book.

I would say without giving anything away that this is the kind of spy thriller that I am always looking for and it delivered in every respect. I am already off to the next book and I don't know how many books are in the Gray Man saga, but I am here for the entire journey at this rate.

Do I really need to say this is highly recommended? Most of you know it's a given. I am a fan of the Gray Man! ]]> 4.51 2019 Mission Critical (Gray Man, #8)
author: Mark Greaney
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.51
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/11
date added: 2024/10/11
shelves:
review:
Mission Critical is easily one of my favorite books of the Gray Man saga. If any readers remember the hit TV show on Fox called "24", you see all of those elements of being action packed, suspenseful, with fast moving drama that is also a true page turner. I got so into it that I could not stop reading and couldn't wait to see what happens in the next chapter. I was like I hope they find out what the terrorist plot is before it's too late and I could not wait to see how it ended.

This was a very well crafted spy thriller and I am elevating Mark Greaney to one of my favorite authors of this genre. I saw the Gray Man movie recently and as we know, the books are always better. In this cases, it holds true. This is the kind of book that would definitely portray the Gray Man very well in a movie if they do not take too many liberties and be true to the book.

I would say without giving anything away that this is the kind of spy thriller that I am always looking for and it delivered in every respect. I am already off to the next book and I don't know how many books are in the Gray Man saga, but I am here for the entire journey at this rate.

Do I really need to say this is highly recommended? Most of you know it's a given. I am a fan of the Gray Man!
]]> Agent in Place (Gray Man, #7) 35226533 The Gray Man is back in another nonstop international thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan novels

Fresh off his first mission back with the CIA, Court Gentry secures what seems like a cut-and-dried contract job: A group of expats in Paris hires him to kidnap the mistress of Syrian dictator Ahmed Azzam to get intel that could destabilize Azzam's regime.

Court delivers Bianca Medina to the rebels, but his job doesn't end there. She soon reveals that she has given birth to a son, the only heir to Azzam's rule--and a potent threat to the Syrian president's powerful wife.

Now, to get Bianca's cooperation, Court must bring her son out of Syria alive. With the clock ticking on Bianca's life, he goes off the grid in a free-fire zone in the Middle East--and winds up in the right place at the right time to take a shot at bringing one of the most brutal dictatorships on earth to a close...]]> 521 Mark Greaney Darryle 4
In Agent In Place, The Gray Man is hired by a group of Syrian freedom fighters, as mission not assigned by the CIA, but is freelance. It brings him to Paris where he is tasked to kidnap the mistress of the Syrian president. Reputed as the best there is for impossible missions, this is one of the most dangerous missions of all that if he is caught or even if he cannot successfully carry out this mission, it could very well be his last. There was more to the story that just when you think that even if he succeeds, the ramifications could have a ripple effect beyond a mere international incident.

I was so pulled into this remarkable spy thriller because Mr. Greaney has a handle on developing this intriguing character to the point that readers come to care for and root for the Gray Man to succeed even if they don't agree with his methods. He is an anti-hero and an assassin with a code that he tries not to cross unless he has no choice. Agent In Place is a story that must be read chronologically after the previous books to really appreciate the character's development and will give readers a better understanding of the supporting characters and how important they are to the Gray Man saga.

Like the previous six books, this book is highly recommended and a fast and fun read. Enjoy! ]]> 4.42 2018 Agent in Place (Gray Man, #7)
author: Mark Greaney
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/04
date added: 2024/10/11
shelves:
review:
Mark Greaney has me hooked on the Gray Man. Period.

In Agent In Place, The Gray Man is hired by a group of Syrian freedom fighters, as mission not assigned by the CIA, but is freelance. It brings him to Paris where he is tasked to kidnap the mistress of the Syrian president. Reputed as the best there is for impossible missions, this is one of the most dangerous missions of all that if he is caught or even if he cannot successfully carry out this mission, it could very well be his last. There was more to the story that just when you think that even if he succeeds, the ramifications could have a ripple effect beyond a mere international incident.

I was so pulled into this remarkable spy thriller because Mr. Greaney has a handle on developing this intriguing character to the point that readers come to care for and root for the Gray Man to succeed even if they don't agree with his methods. He is an anti-hero and an assassin with a code that he tries not to cross unless he has no choice. Agent In Place is a story that must be read chronologically after the previous books to really appreciate the character's development and will give readers a better understanding of the supporting characters and how important they are to the Gray Man saga.

Like the previous six books, this book is highly recommended and a fast and fun read. Enjoy!
]]> Gunmetal Gray (Gray Man, #6) 30189669
Mark Greaney, the #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan novels, delivers another breakneck thriller following the world's deadliest assassin the Gray Man.
After five years on the run Court Gentry is back on the inside at the CIA. But his first mission makes him wish he had stayed on the outs when a pair of Chinese agents try to take him down in Hong Kong. Normally the Chinese prefer to stay eyes-only on foreign agents. So why are they on such high alert?

Court's high stakes hunt for answers takes him across Southeast Asia and leads to his old friend, Donald Fitzroy, who is being held hostage by the Chinese. Fitzroy was contracted to find Fan Jiang, a former member of an ultra-secret computer warfare unit responsible for testing China's own security systems. And it seems Fan may have been too good at his job because China wants him dead.

The first two kill teams Fitzroy sent to find Fan have disappeared and the Chinese have decided to supervise the next operation. What they don't know is that Gentry's mission is to find Fan first and get whatever intel he has to the US.

After that, all he has to do is get out alive...

“I Love the Gray Man.��#1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Child

“Bourne for the new millenium.��New York Times bestselling author James Rollins

“Mark Greaney reigns as one of the recognized masters of action and adventure. Back Blast is no exception.��New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author Steve Berry

“Fast-paced [and] tightly written...A great ride.��New York Times bestselling author Larry Bond

“Punches with bone-busting power…Flesh-and-blood priceless.��New York Times bestselling author Stephen Templin

“Greaney’s unraveling of the Back Blast mystery is masterly, but it’s the Gray Man’s ability to outthink and outgun...that will keep readers glued to the pages.��Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“[A] high-energy thriller...Clancy fans will have a blast.��Kirkus Reviews

]]> 505 Mark Greaney Darryle 4
I enjoyed the new direction this series is taking the reader and the character development along to way has been stellar. It's a great and fast read and if you're looking for edge of your seat action, suspense, intrigue and a great plot, this is the series to check out. As always, this series is highly recommended. The Gray Man does not disappoint.]]> 4.46 2017 Gunmetal Gray (Gray Man, #6)
author: Mark Greaney
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.46
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2024/09/25
date added: 2024/09/25
shelves:
review:
With this sixth installment, author Mark Greaney delivers as always. In the aftermath of finally getting answers on the kill order against him, the Gray Man has finally got the answers he needed and closure. No longer being hunted by the CIA, the Gray Man is on a new mission-- This time it's under the ruse of still being hunted, but it is used to his advantage as a tool to go undercover for the CIA and to be "grayer" than ever. He finds himself on a mission in Hong Kong that is shrouded in more mystery than he expected and much more dangerous because of being in the dark of why he was being sent there. Once he finds out, he found himself in grave danger along with discovering someone from his past is in peril. If this mission fails, so is the person endangered. Could his new mission outside of being hunted be his last?

I enjoyed the new direction this series is taking the reader and the character development along to way has been stellar. It's a great and fast read and if you're looking for edge of your seat action, suspense, intrigue and a great plot, this is the series to check out. As always, this series is highly recommended. The Gray Man does not disappoint.
]]> <![CDATA[Any Means Necessary (Leona #2)]]> 43351390 "Jenny Rogneby is the new queen of Nordic noir. Her heroine is like no one else." —David Lagercrantz, author of the #1 best-selling The Girl in the Spider's Web This second installment in the Leona Lindberg series follows the corrupt detective as she deals with the emotional fallout of her actions while investigating a terrorist attack in the heart of Stockholm. Perfect for fans of Henning Mankel and Steig Larsson A man blows himself up outside the Parliament House in Stockholm, but miraculously survives. Was he a lone wolf, or are there more heinous acts to follow? Leona Lindberg is put on the case. But Leona, who has barely escaped her trials from the last case, is focused on other things. Her family is shattered, she is living under threat, and desperately needs liquid assets. It's lucky that Leona can think outside the box like no other detective. With one foot on each side of the law, she mounts a special operation of grand proportions. And the higher the risk, the higher the rewards.]]> 447 Jenny Rogneby 1590518853 Darryle 0 to-read 3.91 2016 Any Means Necessary (Leona #2)
author: Jenny Rogneby
name: Darryle
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Back Blast (Gray Man, #5) 24611449
Five years ago, Court Gentry was the CIA’s best covert asset. Then, without warning, his masters at the Agency put him at the top of their kill list. Court fled his country and became an enigmatic killer for hire known as the Gray Man.

Determined to find out what made the Agency turn against him, he plans to get his hands on the men who sent him on his last mission, Operation BACK BLAST. What he doesn’t realize is that the questions that arose from his time as an American assassin are still reverberating in the U.S. intelligence community, and he’s stumbled onto a secret that powerful people want kept under wraps.

The result: everyone has Court in their crosshairs...]]> 513 Mark Greaney 0425282791 Darryle 5
Mark Greaney has proven he is quite a writer who has a great handle on his character. I was going to see the Gray Man movie on Netflix but I decided to wait especially after reading this page turner of a book.

I not only highly recommend this book, but you absolutely must read the first four books to get the full understanding of the Gray Man saga, his character development, his history and why he is the best he is as the greatest assassin in the spy business. May you enjoy this series as much as I am. Off to the next book. ]]> 4.50 2016 Back Blast (Gray Man, #5)
author: Mark Greaney
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at: 2024/09/07
date added: 2024/09/09
shelves:
review:
In this fifth installment, this is one of the most important books of the series. It unlocks a lot of mysteries, answers a lot of lingering questions and is filled with action, suspense, character development, flashbacks of the Gray Man's history and more. It practically has it all. This is easily my favorite book of the series and adds depth and substance to the Gray Man's story.

Mark Greaney has proven he is quite a writer who has a great handle on his character. I was going to see the Gray Man movie on Netflix but I decided to wait especially after reading this page turner of a book.

I not only highly recommend this book, but you absolutely must read the first four books to get the full understanding of the Gray Man saga, his character development, his history and why he is the best he is as the greatest assassin in the spy business. May you enjoy this series as much as I am. Off to the next book.
]]> Dead Eye (Gray Man, #4) 17166242
Ex-CIA master assassin Court Gentry gets hit with a blast from the past in the fourth Gray Man novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Mark Greaney.
Ex-CIA master assassin Court Gentry has always prided himself on his ability to disappear at will, to fly below the radar and exist in the shadows—to survive as the near-mythical Gray Man. But when he takes revenge upon a former employer who betrayed him, he exposes himself to something he’s never had to face before: a killer who is just like him.

Code-named Dead Eye, Russell Whitlock is a graduate of the same ultra-secret Autonomous Asset Program that trained and once controlled Gentry. But now, Whitlock is a free agent who has been directed to terminate his fellow student of death. He knows how his target thinks, how he moves, and how he kills. And he knows the best way to do the job is to make Gentry run for his life—right up until the moment Dead Eye finally ends it�

“The various moves of each of the skilled and ruthless principals play out against a constantly shifting background of changing goals and allegiances. Fans of superhuman antiheroes will hope the Gray Man survives to fight another day.��Publishers Weekly

“Political intrigue at its finest...Dead Eye twists and turns with each new revelation as Mark Greaney takes the reader on one heck of a wild ride!��Fresh Fiction

“Writing as smooth as stainless steel and a hero as mean as razor wire.��New York Times bestselling author David Stone

“The story is so propulsive, the murders so explosive, that flipping the pages feels like playing the ultimate video game.��The New York Times

“A high-octane thriller that doesn’t pause for more than a second for all of its 464 pages.��Chicago Sun-Times

“Take fictional spy Jason Bourne, pump him up with Red Bull and meth, shake vigorously—and you’ve got the recipe for Court Gentry.��The Memphis Commercial Appeal

]]> 479 Mark Greaney 0425269051 Darryle 5
Against such a deadly and unpredictable foe, has the Gray Man finally met his match and could he survive such an encounter? That's something you'll have to read for yourself. This was another winner and a fast read in this series that I really enjoyed.

Mark Greaney is a heck of a writer that pulls you into his spy thrillers and won't let go until you see it to the end and wanting more. This is why I am about to go to his next book, because this is one heck of a thrill ride. What a way to create a deadly character to come up against the Gray Man. Needless to say, this book is highly recommended. If anyone read these books, I'd love to share thoughts about this series. I believe this would work for a TV series, not just a movie.]]> 4.35 2013 Dead Eye (Gray Man, #4)
author: Mark Greaney
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2013
rating: 5
read at: 2024/08/19
date added: 2024/08/19
shelves:
review:
In this fourth installment of the Gray Man, if there was ever an archenemy for the Gray Man, Deadeye is it. This character is everything that the Gray Man is-- Deadly, highly intelligent, strategist, focused, agile, hard to kill and beats the odds against multiple foes including other assassins. Unlike the Gray Man, the things Deadeye are missing are a sense of code and is selective on who he kills. Deadeye is a wild card in the hunt for the Gray Man who plays by his own deadly rules and doesn't care about his handlers or employers when it comes to an assignment.

Against such a deadly and unpredictable foe, has the Gray Man finally met his match and could he survive such an encounter? That's something you'll have to read for yourself. This was another winner and a fast read in this series that I really enjoyed.

Mark Greaney is a heck of a writer that pulls you into his spy thrillers and won't let go until you see it to the end and wanting more. This is why I am about to go to his next book, because this is one heck of a thrill ride. What a way to create a deadly character to come up against the Gray Man. Needless to say, this book is highly recommended. If anyone read these books, I'd love to share thoughts about this series. I believe this would work for a TV series, not just a movie.
]]> Ballistic (Gray Man, #3) 10633176 Years before, Eddie Gamboa had saved Court's life. Now, Eddie has been murdered by the notorious Mexican drug cartel he fought to take down. And Court soon finds himself drawn into a war he never wanted. But in this war, there are no sides—only survivors...

]]> 467 Mark Greaney Darryle 4
In his situation, even the most precise planning from someone of his experience ever goes according to plan. That drug cartel wants revenge and the way for them to get it is to endanger his friends family. That's where the drug cartel crossed the line because they did not anticipate encountering the Gray Man and when they end up in his crosshairs, the outcome rarely ends well.

As with the previous books, it was action packed, suspenseful, thrilling and intriguing. This is highly recommended as it is just a great series.]]> 4.26 2011 Ballistic (Gray Man, #3)
author: Mark Greaney
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at: 2024/08/04
date added: 2024/08/06
shelves:
review:
I am really into this Gray Man series. This third installment was a fast read and I got through it really quickly because it was such a page turner. In Ballistic, we find the Gray Man living off the grid in Mexico when an old friend who saved his life in Laos was recently killed in a police raid that he led against a drug cartel. When the Gray Man went to show his respects to his old friend, he met his family who was planning a protest against the cartel who killed his friend. The day that the protest takes place, all hell breaks loose and the Gray Man springs into action to protect his friend's family. However, it did not go without notice by the CIA who saw his exploits on TV and are on the hunt to kill him.

In his situation, even the most precise planning from someone of his experience ever goes according to plan. That drug cartel wants revenge and the way for them to get it is to endanger his friends family. That's where the drug cartel crossed the line because they did not anticipate encountering the Gray Man and when they end up in his crosshairs, the outcome rarely ends well.

As with the previous books, it was action packed, suspenseful, thrilling and intriguing. This is highly recommended as it is just a great series.
]]> On Target (Gray Man, #2) 8423597
Killing is Court Gentry's business. Now, his business is about to get personal in the second Gray Man novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Mark Greaney.
Four years ago, Court Gentry was betrayed by his handlers in the CIA. To survive, he had to eliminate his own brothers in arms. Now, as a master assassin known as the Gray Man, he makes his living killing other people. But when an old comrade he thought dead returns to haunt him, his own life is put in the crosshairs.]]> 534 Mark Greaney Darryle 4
The biggest part of this is that while the Gray Man is a hunter, he is also being hunted by the CIA who betrayed him and he angered a long list of other adversaries all over the world who are also hunting him and seeking to kill him...but the Gray Man is too good and have taken down scores of bad guys. In other words, to take on the Gray Man is to court death and with the body count in his wake, it's no secret about what he is capable of.

To this day, he still does not know why a shoot on sight order was place on him by the CIA when he followed orders to the letter. Even more so, he did not understand the betrayal by his team who was ordered by the suits in the CIA for the kill. When he finds out, there will be hell to pay. I can't wait to see when he finds out the truth. In On Target, the CIA offered the Gray Man an out to get the kill order lifted if he completed an assignment he was already hired to do by the Russians. Because of that code, he refused to follow the CIA's orders which resulted in resuming the kill order.

This was a great read filled with top notch action, suspense, high energy and no slow parts at all. It could easily be adapted into an action movie. Highly recommended.]]> 4.15 2010 On Target (Gray Man, #2)
author: Mark Greaney
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2024/07/30
date added: 2024/08/06
shelves:
review:
The second installment of the Gray Man fires on all cylinders. Just when I thought the first book was one heck of a debut, "On Target" takes it up a notch. Unlike other assassins in other spy novels, the Gray Man gets injured a lot during the course of his engagements yet he's still standing and still is able to stay in the fight to take down his adversaries. While the Gray Man is deadly, efficient and effective at what he does, he is not indestructible. He is still human and the author Mark Greaney lays it out very well. This is also the kind of assassin that still believes in living by a code. He doesn't take just any assignment for money. He kills evil people who deserves to be killed and a form of his own style of justice.

The biggest part of this is that while the Gray Man is a hunter, he is also being hunted by the CIA who betrayed him and he angered a long list of other adversaries all over the world who are also hunting him and seeking to kill him...but the Gray Man is too good and have taken down scores of bad guys. In other words, to take on the Gray Man is to court death and with the body count in his wake, it's no secret about what he is capable of.

To this day, he still does not know why a shoot on sight order was place on him by the CIA when he followed orders to the letter. Even more so, he did not understand the betrayal by his team who was ordered by the suits in the CIA for the kill. When he finds out, there will be hell to pay. I can't wait to see when he finds out the truth. In On Target, the CIA offered the Gray Man an out to get the kill order lifted if he completed an assignment he was already hired to do by the Russians. Because of that code, he refused to follow the CIA's orders which resulted in resuming the kill order.

This was a great read filled with top notch action, suspense, high energy and no slow parts at all. It could easily be adapted into an action movie. Highly recommended.
]]> The Edge (The 6:20 Man, #2) 123024036 The 6:20 Man is back, dropped by his handlers into a small coastal town in Maine to solve the murder of a CIA agent who knew America’s dirtiest secrets—can Travis Devine uncover the truth before his time runs out?
Ěý
When CIA operative Jenny Sikwell is murdered in rural Maine, government officials have immediate concerns over national security. Her laptop and phone were full of state secrets that, in the wrong hands, endanger the lives of countless operatives. In need of someone who can solve the murder quickly and retrieve the missing information, the U.S. government knows just the chameleon they can call on.
Ěý
Ex-Army Ranger Travis Devine spent his time in the military preparing to take on any scenario, followed by his short-lived business career chasing shadows in the deepest halls of power, so his analytical mind makes him particularly well-suited for complex, high-stakes tasks. Taking down the world’s largest financial conspiracy proved his value, and in comparison, this case looks straightforward. Except small towns hold secrets and Devine finds himself an outsider again.
Ěý
Devine must ingratiate himself with locals who have trusted each other their whole lives, and who distrust outsiders just as much. Dak, Jenny’s brother, who’s working to revitalize the town. Earl, the retired lobsterman who found Jenny’s body. And Alex, Jenny’s sister with a dark past of her own. As Devine gets to know the residents of Potter, Maine, answers seem to appear and then transform into more questions. There’s a long history of secrets and those who will stop at nothing to keep them from being exposed. Leaving Devine with no idea who he can trust... and who wants him dead.]]> 417 David Baldacci 1538719924 Darryle 4
This mission is personal for his handler since the father of Agent Sikwell served with the handler in the Army as fellow officers and were long time friends before the father went on to become a U.S. senator. The father's failing health has him bed ridden, making it more personal for Devine's hander to investigate, assess any potential damage to national security through her missing laptop and cell phone and contain the situation. Of course, it's easier said than done, as Devine deals with local authorities who are suspected to be in on it and additional bodies are popping up during the course of the investigation that may or may not be linked.

Devine discovers really quickly that the closer he gets to the investigation, the greater the threats are against him and he is not sure where the threats are coming from yet. If he doesn't get to the bottom of it before the threats against his life hit their mark, it will not only be a mission failure but that he will be among the bodies popping up in this rural Maine.

The Edge was a great book and a fast read that I found quite enjoyable to true to Baldacci in his style of storytelling and I enjoy how many if his characters are unique. The 6:20 Man reminds me of his John Puller character as far as background and connection to the military but that's as far as it goes. The character development adds life to Mr. Devine making him more tangible and a fun read. It has the right elements of suspense, action and mystery that I come to expect from Baldacci's novels. This book is highly recommended to those who enjoy Baldacci's long list of diverse characters.]]> 4.37 2023 The Edge (The 6:20 Man, #2)
author: David Baldacci
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/07/16
date added: 2024/07/16
shelves:
review:
For some time, I had seen the series for the 6:20 Man but I was distracted by so many other spy novels, non-fiction and other thrillers that I never got around to it... until now! In this second installment of The 6:20 Man (aka Travis Devine), he finds himself on a new mission to look into the mysterious murder of CIA operative Jenny Sikwell in rural Maine whose secrets and knowledge if in the wrong hands would severely damage and jeopardize our national security. Devine was tasked by his handler to look into the case undercover as a DHS agent to determine who killed her, why she was killed, what information may have been exposed and/or compromised.

This mission is personal for his handler since the father of Agent Sikwell served with the handler in the Army as fellow officers and were long time friends before the father went on to become a U.S. senator. The father's failing health has him bed ridden, making it more personal for Devine's hander to investigate, assess any potential damage to national security through her missing laptop and cell phone and contain the situation. Of course, it's easier said than done, as Devine deals with local authorities who are suspected to be in on it and additional bodies are popping up during the course of the investigation that may or may not be linked.

Devine discovers really quickly that the closer he gets to the investigation, the greater the threats are against him and he is not sure where the threats are coming from yet. If he doesn't get to the bottom of it before the threats against his life hit their mark, it will not only be a mission failure but that he will be among the bodies popping up in this rural Maine.

The Edge was a great book and a fast read that I found quite enjoyable to true to Baldacci in his style of storytelling and I enjoy how many if his characters are unique. The 6:20 Man reminds me of his John Puller character as far as background and connection to the military but that's as far as it goes. The character development adds life to Mr. Devine making him more tangible and a fun read. It has the right elements of suspense, action and mystery that I come to expect from Baldacci's novels. This book is highly recommended to those who enjoy Baldacci's long list of diverse characters.
]]> The 6:20 Man 62874235 A cryptic murder pulls a former soldier turned financial analyst deep into the corruption and menace that prowl beneath the opulent world of finance, in this #1 New York Times bestselling thriller from David Baldacci.

Every day without fail, Travis Devine puts on a cheap suit, grabs his faux-leather briefcase, and boards the 6:20 commuter train to Manhattan, where he works as an entry-level analyst at the city’s most prestigious investment firm. In the mornings, he gazes out the train window at the lavish homes of the uberwealthy, dreaming about joining their ranks. In the evenings, he listens to the fiscal news on his phone, already preparing for the next grueling day in the cutthroat realm of finance. Then one morning Devine’s tedious routine is shattered by an anonymous email: She is dead.Ěý

Sara Ewes, Devine’s coworker and former girlfriend, has been found hanging in a storage room of his office building—presumably a suicide, at least for now—prompting the NYPD to come calling on him. If that wasn’t enough, before the day is out, Devine receives another ominous visit, a confrontation that threatens to dredge up grim secrets from his past in the army unless he participates in a clandestine investigation into his firm. This treacherous role will take him from the impossibly glittering lives he once saw only through a train window, to the darkest corners of the country’s economic halls of power . . . where something rotten lurks. And apart from this high-stakes conspiracy, there’s a killer out there with their own agenda, and Devine is the bull’s-eye.]]> 464 David Baldacci 1538719851 Darryle 4
The 6:20 Man, better known as Travis Devine is an ex-Army Ranger who left the Army for reasons of his own and fines himself working in the world of finance on Wall Street. When a mysterious death of a fellow employee with whom he had a relationship with was deemed a suicide, Devine was looking to get to the bottom of it to see what drove her to suicide. Before he could look into it, he was recruited by a retired Army general for a black ops mission to investigate suspicious activity by the firm he's working for of laundering dark money for America's enemies both foreign and domestic. That general works for some very powerful people and knows of the circumstances surrounding Devine leaving the Army abruptly and used that as leverage to get Devine to work for him as spy gathering intelligence on the dark secrets his firm may hold.

From that element, I already knew it was going to be a winning plot and a fun read. The only thing I would've liked a little more was that the plot twist and the surprised ending didn't seem as rushed, as Baldacci had an opportunity to direct us to the mastermind behind the mysteries as he sometimes does in his stories by leaving teasers and Easter eggs along the way leading to the conclusion. However, from what I know of his style from the Memory Man, there are moments when he does this in his stories for a specific purpose or reason and sometimes I have to read it again to see what I might have missed. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's more like minor nitpicking in a sense.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and the character as it was a great introduction to the 6:20 Man and he was right on schedule. This book is highly recommended and I am off to the next book.]]> 4.13 2022 The 6:20 Man
author: David Baldacci
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2024/07/09
date added: 2024/07/11
shelves:
review:
As I complete my 250th book, it is fitting that it is by one of my top authors, David Baldacci who has vast array of characters he writes about. Some of my favorite characters he's written about include the Memory Man, Will Robie and John Puller. I figured I'd look into a character I have been considering for a while, the 6:20 Man. I didn't know what to expect, but I know that in the hands of Baldacci, it was likely going to be another great suspense thriller. As usual, Baldacci delivers.

The 6:20 Man, better known as Travis Devine is an ex-Army Ranger who left the Army for reasons of his own and fines himself working in the world of finance on Wall Street. When a mysterious death of a fellow employee with whom he had a relationship with was deemed a suicide, Devine was looking to get to the bottom of it to see what drove her to suicide. Before he could look into it, he was recruited by a retired Army general for a black ops mission to investigate suspicious activity by the firm he's working for of laundering dark money for America's enemies both foreign and domestic. That general works for some very powerful people and knows of the circumstances surrounding Devine leaving the Army abruptly and used that as leverage to get Devine to work for him as spy gathering intelligence on the dark secrets his firm may hold.

From that element, I already knew it was going to be a winning plot and a fun read. The only thing I would've liked a little more was that the plot twist and the surprised ending didn't seem as rushed, as Baldacci had an opportunity to direct us to the mastermind behind the mysteries as he sometimes does in his stories by leaving teasers and Easter eggs along the way leading to the conclusion. However, from what I know of his style from the Memory Man, there are moments when he does this in his stories for a specific purpose or reason and sometimes I have to read it again to see what I might have missed. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's more like minor nitpicking in a sense.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and the character as it was a great introduction to the 6:20 Man and he was right on schedule. This book is highly recommended and I am off to the next book.
]]> In the Dark (Blake Larsen #1) 105736315
Tragedy has stalked Blake Larsen her entire life. Orphaned after the violent death of her parents, her Green Beret brother Caleb was all she had left. He was there the day she graduated high school, and the first person she called after she became a federal agent.

And then the cops find him swinging from the rafters. The horrific discovery pushes Blake to the edge of despair.

But then one of Caleb's closest friends is violently murdered outside her front door—and the killer snatches a folder from his dying fingers. It's clear Kyle was silenced moments before coming clean. After detectives slow-walk their investigation, Blake resolves to uncover the truth. Her way.

Blake teams up with Ryan Walker, another of Caleb's former comrades-in-arms. As they grow more and more entangled in the dark, intimate underworld of Northern Pines, they learn how far the killers will go to keep a small town’s secrets buried. For years they've silenced victims and police alike through murder, corruption, and intimidation.

But for Blake, this is personal.
If the cops won't deliver justice, she will.]]> 383 Jack Slater Darryle 3
As the mystery starts to unfold, you can see her incredible investigative skills at work. It was of course not without barriers such as local law enforcement, nosy civilians, criminals and a biker gang all in the mix and she had no idea which ones were out to kill her for "sticker her nose where it didn't belong" but she was determined to get to the truth surrounding her brother's death, what he was involved in that got him and his fellow soldier killed. When she get the answers she's seeking, will it be at a high cost to include her life?

This was another book by Jack Slater featuring a different character not named Jason Trapp and it wasn't a bad read. I think he might just grow on me over time as I check out other books featuring this character. It is recommended especially since it had a strong female character and a change from the usual mystery novels I read.]]> 4.32 2023 In the Dark (Blake Larsen #1)
author: Jack Slater
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2024/07/02
date added: 2024/07/08
shelves:
review:
"In the Dark" was a good mystery novel that introduces former U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division (CID) investigator Blake Larsen. While it had some slow parts in the story, it had a great flow and when things revved up, it became more riveting to include some plot twists leading up the end. While the story doesn't go into to much detail as to why she left the CID (maybe it's being saved for the future books), once the mystery was revealed regarding her brother's mysterious death ruled a suicide and a former soldier who served with her brother was also killed near her brother's residence and very close to the time he died, Blake did not see it as a coincidence.

As the mystery starts to unfold, you can see her incredible investigative skills at work. It was of course not without barriers such as local law enforcement, nosy civilians, criminals and a biker gang all in the mix and she had no idea which ones were out to kill her for "sticker her nose where it didn't belong" but she was determined to get to the truth surrounding her brother's death, what he was involved in that got him and his fellow soldier killed. When she get the answers she's seeking, will it be at a high cost to include her life?

This was another book by Jack Slater featuring a different character not named Jason Trapp and it wasn't a bad read. I think he might just grow on me over time as I check out other books featuring this character. It is recommended especially since it had a strong female character and a change from the usual mystery novels I read.
]]> <![CDATA[On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century]]> 33917107
On November 9th, millions of Americans woke up to the impossible: the election of Donald Trump as president. Against all predictions, one of the most-disliked presidential candidates in history had swept the electoral college, elevating a man with open contempt for democratic norms and institutions to the height of power.

Timothy Snyder is one of the most celebrated historians of the Holocaust. In his books Bloodlands and Black Earth, he has carefully dissected the events and values that enabled the rise of Hitler and Stalin and the execution of their catastrophic policies. With Twenty Lessons, Snyder draws from the darkest hours of the twentieth century to provide hope for the twenty-first. As he writes, “Americans are no wiser than the Europeans who saw democracy yield to fascism, Nazism and communism. Our one advantage is that we might learn from their experience.�

Twenty Lessons is a call to arms and a guide to resistance, with invaluable ideas for how we can preserve our freedoms in the uncertain years to come.]]> 127 Timothy Snyder 0804190119 Darryle 0 to-read 4.24 2017 On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century
author: Timothy Snyder
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Black Eagle (Jason Trapp #6) 57070959
Siberia in April isn't in any tourist guidebook. But that is where Trapp finds himself. It's cold, dark, and the vodka tastes like gasoline.

After brawling with half a dozen corrupt Russian cops, he's taken to the infamous penal colony marked on maps as IK-29, but known to inmates as the Black Eagle. The guards are brutes, their prisoners little better than animals. It's hell on earth.

And this time, he's on his own. The Agency has no knowledge of his mission. They wouldn't back him if they did. Because men like Trapp are tools. They aren't supposed to get ideas of their own.

It's dangerous when they do.]]> 436 Jack Slater Darryle 4 spy-thriller
The suspense, intrigue and the drama surrounding why Jason Trapp was on this off the books CIA mission flowed beautifully in the story. The reader gets drawn in and the use of descriptive words put you at the scene and you can almost feel the cold of Siberia. Trapp had a specific purpose for being there and this was a risk he had to take at a high cost, as he ended up in a Siberian prison known as Black Eagle, an ice cold hellhole in Russia. He went undercover as a prisoner knowing if his true identity is discovered, he is a dead man with no cover or rescue coming from the CIA who is unaware of his actions.

These are the kind of spy thrillers I enjoy as it was full of surprises, it had great action, a page turner and a great overall plot. This installment is highly recommended because this is that kind that I look for in any saga.]]> 4.50 Black Eagle (Jason Trapp #6)
author: Jack Slater
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.50
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/25
date added: 2024/06/25
shelves: spy-thriller
review:
Black Eagle was the best of the Jason Trapp saga. Period. It was like author Jack Slater read my mind after the previous chapter and delivered in a big way. I wanted more of Jason Trapp and got it. With the story beginning in a bar in Siberia, you would think it's rather cliché for a spy thriller but as the story progressed, it truly served a vital purpose to the story.

The suspense, intrigue and the drama surrounding why Jason Trapp was on this off the books CIA mission flowed beautifully in the story. The reader gets drawn in and the use of descriptive words put you at the scene and you can almost feel the cold of Siberia. Trapp had a specific purpose for being there and this was a risk he had to take at a high cost, as he ended up in a Siberian prison known as Black Eagle, an ice cold hellhole in Russia. He went undercover as a prisoner knowing if his true identity is discovered, he is a dead man with no cover or rescue coming from the CIA who is unaware of his actions.

These are the kind of spy thrillers I enjoy as it was full of surprises, it had great action, a page turner and a great overall plot. This installment is highly recommended because this is that kind that I look for in any saga.
]]> Target One (The Spy Game #1) 61908421
Jacob seeks out a mysterious and beautiful archeologist, whose brilliance is needed on the case. Together, they must partner to decode the archeological riddles and stop the terrorists before it is too late.

Yet as they race to recover the stolen artifact, they soon find themselves in the midst of a conspiracy bigger than anything they could have imagined—and time is quickly running out.]]> 268 Jack Mars Darryle 4 4.07 Target One (The Spy Game #1)
author: Jack Mars
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.07
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/15
date added: 2024/06/24
shelves:
review:
Target One is a good spy thriller that is suspenseful, fast moving and a quick read. The main character is Jacob Snow—elite soldier-turned-CIA agent who is put on a mission that involves reuniting with the daughter of his CIA mentor for which they have a history. I am familiar with author Jack Mars work with Troy Stark so I wanted to see his take on other characters and like Michael Donnelly, he has a good handle on making the characters unique and gives us just enough character development to keep the readers intrigued and care about the character. I liked how the story got stronger as it went along with action, a build up of danger and no guarantees that Snow was going to survive this mission. That's what I like and come to expect out of my spy thrillers and Target One delivered. I recommend this book and I am off to the next book.
]]> <![CDATA[The Ares Decision (Covert-One, #8)]]> 3224566 In northern Uganda, an American special forces team is decimated by a group of normally peaceful farmers. Video of the attack shows even women and children possessing almost supernatural speed and strength, consumed with a rage that makes them immune to pain, fear, and all but the most devastating injuries.

Covert-One’s top operative, army microbiologist Colonel Jon Smith, is sent to investigate the attack and finds evidence of a parasitic infection that for centuries has been causing violent insanity and then going dormant. This time, though, it’s different. The parasite had been purposely kept alive and crudely transmitted in acts of terrorism. Now the director of Iranian Intelligence is in Uganda trying to obtain this biological weapon to unleash it on the West.

Smith and his team are ambushed and cut off from all outside support just as they begin to suspect that forces much more powerful than the Iranians are in play—forces that can be traced to Washington itself.

]]> 404 Kyle Mills Darryle 2
With the Covert-One saga, I am not sure if the general premise is that it is more story driven with some suspense but little to no action, it wasn't quite what I was looking for in this kind of thriller. At some point, I wanted it to pick up momentum and it didn't quite get there for me as a come to expect from my spy thrillers. Since this was my first book and the eighth installment of the Covert-One saga, maybe I am missing some elements and the backstory of this group that I couldn't get into it. I typically like to start at the beginning with a series, but unfortunately after this book even with Kyle Mills at the helm, it wasn't enough to hold my interest which is too bad. I was really hoping for the best and would begin reading Mr. Ludlum's work in the process. Since Mr. Mills follows the original works of other authors closely, I suppose a more drama and story driven theme is what I should come to expect from the Covert-One saga. It is not enough to keep me engaged in the story as I enjoy from most of my spy thrillers.

I will move on from this series to other books and stories from Kyle Mills and dismiss this one as a "one-off" as it's not easy even for some of the best writers to pick up an established group or character as he did with Mitch Rapp.]]> 4.08 2011 The Ares Decision (Covert-One, #8)
author: Kyle Mills
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2011
rating: 2
read at: 2024/06/15
date added: 2024/06/15
shelves:
review:
I am a huge fan of Kyle Mills especially with his work on Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp saga. I was excited to see his take on Robert Ludlum's Covert-One team. However, this story didn't meet the expectations that I was hoping for from Mr. Mills with this covert team and its black ops mission. When he picked up where Vince Flynn left off in the Mitch Rapp saga, he didn't miss a beat in the handling of the character and his writing style was consistent with the intrigue, suspense, action and overall plot.

With the Covert-One saga, I am not sure if the general premise is that it is more story driven with some suspense but little to no action, it wasn't quite what I was looking for in this kind of thriller. At some point, I wanted it to pick up momentum and it didn't quite get there for me as a come to expect from my spy thrillers. Since this was my first book and the eighth installment of the Covert-One saga, maybe I am missing some elements and the backstory of this group that I couldn't get into it. I typically like to start at the beginning with a series, but unfortunately after this book even with Kyle Mills at the helm, it wasn't enough to hold my interest which is too bad. I was really hoping for the best and would begin reading Mr. Ludlum's work in the process. Since Mr. Mills follows the original works of other authors closely, I suppose a more drama and story driven theme is what I should come to expect from the Covert-One saga. It is not enough to keep me engaged in the story as I enjoy from most of my spy thrillers.

I will move on from this series to other books and stories from Kyle Mills and dismiss this one as a "one-off" as it's not easy even for some of the best writers to pick up an established group or character as he did with Mitch Rapp.
]]> <![CDATA[The Apparatus (Jason Trapp #5)]]> 53528639
Jason Trapp is about to find that out the hard way. All he wanted was a week off, but the world had other plans. Trapp stumbles onto something he wasn't meant to see, and when half a dozen top US officials are murdered by drug cartel sicarios, the reason becomes sickeningly clear.

Within days, Mexico is on the brink of civil war, and the violence is spilling across the US border. The drug cartels are at war, innocent people are dying, and the President needs options. Trapp soon realizes there's more to this than meets the eye.

Someone out there planned this.

But he intends to finish it.

The Apparatus is the fifth book in Jack Slater's best-selling Jason Trapp CIA thriller series. It sees the return of fan favorite operative Eliza Ikeda, and the introduction of a shadowy global organization that will prove Trapp's stiffest test yet...]]> 452 Jack Slater Darryle 3
The suspense, intrigue and development of the supporting characters was great. However, I would've liked the story better if there was more Jason Trapp. It seems to me that there was less of him than in the previous stories and the main character should always be the main focus. Some of the backstories of certain characters could've been shortened, part of the an intelligence briefing to Trapp or been sort of a flashback sequence instead of the central part of the story. Other than that, it is a fast read and the parts when Trapp was featured the most was everything we come to expect from the character as he delivers in carrying out his mission to protect the U.S. from its enemies. The book is recommended even though I enjoyed some of the previous books because he was at center stage. Off to the next book. ]]> 4.29 The Apparatus (Jason Trapp #5)
author: Jack Slater
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.29
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2024/06/11
date added: 2024/06/11
shelves:
review:
In the fifth installment of the Jason Trapp saga, the concept of this suspense thriller was great. The Apparatus was a black ops strategy that was clever, far fetched and so extremely dangerous of an operation that was quickly dismissed by the higher authorities several years prior. However, those who put together this plan sought to implement it on their own and the ramifications of this operation would put both the U.S. and Mexico in grave danger of an international conflict between the two countries that would be difficult to recover from. It began with the murder of a high level military official and the DEA Director which sets off a chain of events that are about to unfold. That's when the President calls Trapp to get involved.

The suspense, intrigue and development of the supporting characters was great. However, I would've liked the story better if there was more Jason Trapp. It seems to me that there was less of him than in the previous stories and the main character should always be the main focus. Some of the backstories of certain characters could've been shortened, part of the an intelligence briefing to Trapp or been sort of a flashback sequence instead of the central part of the story. Other than that, it is a fast read and the parts when Trapp was featured the most was everything we come to expect from the character as he delivers in carrying out his mission to protect the U.S. from its enemies. The book is recommended even though I enjoyed some of the previous books because he was at center stage. Off to the next book.
]]> Depth Charge (Jason Trapp #4) 49204377 The clock is ticking.In the North Pacific, the crew of a deep-sea recovery ship, the MV Challenger, are mercilessly gunned to death. Only one man survives, adrift in the ocean, and hundreds of miles from land.In the deserts of Iraq, a clandestine meeting between one of the world's foremost assassins and his ruthless benefactor sets in train a cascade of horrific events that will shape the world for good.And in America, with two weeks to go before a NATO summit that President Charles Nash hopes will finally bring peace to the long-simmering cold war between Iran and the United States, a network of sleeper agents prepares to bring America to her knees.They are well armed, trained and funded ... and they're prepared to die.But Jason Trapp is watching. And he's not done yet.______________________________________________________Depth Charge is the fourth book in the gripping Jason Trapp thriller series, described by Amazon readers as "the most explosive, well developed debut by an author I've ever read!"]]> 422 Jack Slater Darryle 4
This was an edge of your seat, race against time thriller to find a nuclear weapon long submerged in a Chinese military vessel that was sunk years ago, but recently rediscovered in a classified location and raised to be used by domestic terrorists. This is the kind of threat that could not only endanger thousands of American lives, but could also bring about World War III unless the President is able to make the right call and send Trapp out stop it before the end of everything occurs. Trapp is built for this kind of thing so when he's on the job, America and world are in good hands. I particularly enjoyed the epilogue and the ending. This book is highly recommended.]]> 4.46 Depth Charge (Jason Trapp #4)
author: Jack Slater
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.46
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/04
date added: 2024/06/04
shelves:
review:
In the fourth installment of the Jason Trapp saga, Depth Charge fires on all cylinders with the right intensity, suspense and intrigue. What's different about this novel compared to the previous novels that is is more story driven than the action packed thrillers we are used to with Trapp and there are so many enemies involved that Trapp could not take on in this case alone. I liked that there was more character development with President Nash and Trapp's work with the FBI particular Special Agent Ross in this case.

This was an edge of your seat, race against time thriller to find a nuclear weapon long submerged in a Chinese military vessel that was sunk years ago, but recently rediscovered in a classified location and raised to be used by domestic terrorists. This is the kind of threat that could not only endanger thousands of American lives, but could also bring about World War III unless the President is able to make the right call and send Trapp out stop it before the end of everything occurs. Trapp is built for this kind of thing so when he's on the job, America and world are in good hands. I particularly enjoyed the epilogue and the ending. This book is highly recommended.
]]> <![CDATA[Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You]]> 52220686 Stamped from the Beginning for ages 12 and up.

A timely, crucial, and empowering exploration of racism--and antiracism--in America.

This is NOT a history book.
This is a book about the here and now.
A book to help us better understand why we are where we are.
A book about race.

The construct of race has always been used to gain and keep power, to create dynamics that separate and silence. This is a remarkable reimagining of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi's Stamped from the Beginning, winner of a National Book Award. It reveals the history of racist ideas in America and inspires hope for an antiracist future.

Stamped takes you on a race journey from then to now, shows you why we feel how we feel, and why the poison of racism lingers. It also proves that while racist ideas have always been easy to fabricate and distribute, they can also be discredited.

Through a gripping, fast-paced, and energizing narrative, Jason Reynolds shines a light on the many insidious forms of racist ideas--and on ways readers can identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their daily lives.]]> 294 Jason Reynolds 0316453692 Darryle 0 to-read 4.46 2020 Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You
author: Jason Reynolds
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.46
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America]]> 25898216 Stamped from the Beginning uses the lives of five major American intellectuals to offer a window into the contentious debates between assimilationists and segregationists and between racists and anti-racists. From Puritan minister Cotton Mather to Thomas Jefferson, from fiery abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison to brilliant scholar W. E. B. Du Bois to legendary anti-prison activist Angela Davis, Kendi shows how and why some of our leading pro-slavery and pro–civil rights thinkers have challenged or helped cement racist ideas in America.

As Kendi illustrates, racist thinking did not arise from ignorance or hatred. Racist ideas were created and popularized in an effort to defend deeply entrenched discriminatory policies and to rationalize the nation’s racial inequities in everything from wealth to health. While racist ideas are easily produced and easily consumed, they can also be discredited. In shedding much-needed light on the murky history of racist ideas, Stamped from the Beginning offers tools to expose them—and in the process, reason to hope.]]> 592 Ibram X. Kendi 1568584636 Darryle 0 to-read 4.53 2016 Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America
author: Ibram X. Kendi
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.53
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Safe Man: A Ghost Story 15789825 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly

Like his father before him, Brian Holloway is a safe man. That is, his specialty is opening safes. Every job is a little mystery, and he has yet to encounter a lock he can't break or a box he can't crack. But the day Holloway gets called in to open a rare, antique safe in a famous author's library, his skills open a door that should have remained closed.

In this haunting and singular story, previously published anonymously, Michael Connelly proves once again that he is "superb at building suspense.... the reader can never be sure what sudden turns the plot may take" (Wall Street Journal).]]> Michael Connelly 1619698382 Darryle 4
As always, this book is highly recommended. I hope Connelly does more of these because after this kind of story, is there nothing Connelly can't do when it comes to writing great stories? (That's rhetorical).]]> 3.72 2012 The Safe Man: A Ghost Story
author: Michael Connelly
name: Darryle
average rating: 3.72
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2024/05/28
date added: 2024/05/28
shelves:
review:
I was looking for my Connelly fix as I awaited the next Renee Ballard/Bosch crime thriller and I came across The Safe Man: A Ghost Story. This is different from Connelly's usual works and for him to a mystery/horror thrill like this was not only a pleasant surprise but written in the caliber of Stephen King. Once I got into the story, it was hard to put down and I finished in in two days. As I went through the plot twists and turns as well as the creepiness of the story, Connelly's use of descriptive words put me at every scene and made it visual which is what every reader wants in a story of this nature. It was so good and a fast read that I don't to even mention the content of it but for you to check it out for yourself.

As always, this book is highly recommended. I hope Connelly does more of these because after this kind of story, is there nothing Connelly can't do when it comes to writing great stories? (That's rhetorical).
]]> <![CDATA[The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story]]> 57717410 The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story offers a revealing vision of the American past and present.

In late August 1619, a ship arrived in the British colony of Virginia bearing a cargo of twenty to thirty enslaved people from Africa. Their arrival led to the barbaric and unprecedented system of American chattel slavery that would last for the next 250 years. This is sometimes referred to as the country’s original sin, but it is more than that: It is the source of so much that still defines the United States.

The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story builds on The New York Times Magazine’s award-winning �1619 Project,� which reframed our understanding of American history by placing slavery and its continuing legacy at the center of our national narrative. This book substantially expands on the original "1619 Project, "weaving together eighteen essays that explore the legacy of slavery in present-day America with thirty-six poems and works of fiction that illuminate key moments of oppression, struggle, and resistance. The essays show how the inheritance of 1619 reaches into every part of contemporary American society, from politics, music, diet, traffic, and citizenship to capitalism, religion, and our democracy itself. This legacy can be seen in the way we tell stories, the way we teach our children, and the way we remember. Together, the elements of the book reveal a new origin story for the United States, one that helps explain not only the persistence of anti-Black racism and inequality in American life today, but also the roots of what makes the country unique.

The book also features an elaboration of the original project’s Pulitzer Prize–winning lead essay by Nikole Hannah-Jones on how the struggles of Black Americans have expanded democracy for all Americans, as well as two original pieces from Hannah-Jones, one of which makes a case for reparative solutions to this legacy of injustice.]]> 590 Nikole Hannah-Jones 0593230574 Darryle 5
I highly recommend to every American who loves history like I do. I believe this book is not designed to make anyone "feel uncomfortable" based on who they are, what they believe and what they have been taught in school about America's history. However, if it is used as intended to educate oneself beyond the limited amount of history most of us were taught in school about this heartbreaking cancer of America's history that's hard to talk about, challenge us to question what we know and dig deeper with an open mind, the goal is achieved. You will see this book as enlightening and leave with a greater understanding of where the societal and social ills of today come from and what we can do to make changes in our own lives and mindsets through knowledge and education so our society can become the America it's meant to be and truly living up to its principles. That's the America I've always wanted.

The 1619 Project is an important historical account that has been well researched from highly credible sources and renowned historical scholars as well as a vast variety of other contributors who identify key elements of that missing, altered, edited and/or omitted parts about the horrors enslaved Africans endured in the New World as they were dehumanized, were seen as an "inferior race" to Caucasians, were considered as nothing more subhuman chattel or "property" and treated worse than livestock. It tells us why this ugly legacy never ended with the Emancipation Proclamation and took on other identities such as Jim Crow/Segregation which existed across the country after the Civil War and not just behind the Mason-Dixon line.

There are some who may argue that slavery has occurred throughout history which is true. However, book highlights that the atrocities of human enslavement in America was unique in all of world history. It was intergenerational and no other country in history has ever profited, benefitted and acquired vast wealth from the atrocities of human enslavement to the degree that America has for three centuries. The horror stories of enslaved Africans being threatened with torture and murder as they were being kidnapped from their homeland if they did not comply with their captors and packed tightly in dirty ships filled with disease and endured cruel and inhumane along the way to the New World for more of the same in a lifetime of bondage is the darkest and most shameful part of American history whose legacy still haunts American society to this day.

Page after page was heartbreaking as so many wonder how it is possible that a country that loves dropping words of "freedom", "liberty and justice for all" would first and foremost allow such inhumanity to occur at all and for so long? It's simple-- enslavement was a booming business. In fact, it was the greatest "import" that enabled unpaid labor to build wealth for American enslavers through products of trade such as tobacco, bread and flour, rice, dried fish, indigo and cotton.

The 1619 Project takes us through the timeline of how that one sin of human enslavement in America became the very foundation for which nearly all racism, prejudice, stereotyping, bigotry, hate, racial terrorism, Jim Crow/Segregation and other inhuman treatment directed toward African-Americans was built upon.

That ugly elements of human enslavement will never be taught in American history in schools and for good reason. To this day, many feel uncomfortable talking about this topic because it challenges everything they have been taught about American history and puts it on its head. It shows the inhumanity and cruelty of what America was capable of back then, why they engaged in it (because it was highly profitable to enslave other humans) while contradicting itself with as a false identity of being "free country", "a beacon of democracy" and so forth. All while concealing the truth of what America ACTUALLY has been and refusing to acknowledge its ugly past.

Lying by omission about America's shameful history are the reasons why in the 21st century, America still struggles with the same ugliness of all racism, prejudice, stereotyping, bigotry, hate, racial terrorism, and other inhuman treatment directed toward African-Americans. Because our society today is not taught the truth about those atrocities of America's shameful history (if even taught at all), many live in an illusion that none of these things exist when in reality it's on the rise more than ever.

As I was reading this book, I asked the question, what if human enslavement never existed in America? Perhaps there still would've been a Revolutionary War and wars against the Indigenous peoples as colonizers sought to expand taking Native land. However, the haunting legacies would not have existed in which there would not have been a Civil War, there would not have been Jim Crow/Segregation, there would not been a need for the Civil Rights Movement led Martin Luther King Jr. Progress would've been slower in America but it would've had a better chance of living up to its principles.

The greatest part of this book is that this hidden part of American history is finally being told about stories of freedom that true and meaningful by those who truly cherished it understand it far better than the so-called founding fathers, many of which also benefitted from human enslavement when they had an opportunity to set things right as they made their "declaration of independence".

As an African-American, where I find strength in the book's content is that in spite of efforts of extreme cruelty to humiliate, dehumanize and destroy enslaved Africans for three centuries in America and the freed generations that followed, THEY SURVIVED IT ALL. They were living proof of being survivors of depths of America's cruelty and dehumanization, not victims. I will be reading this book again because it has had a profound impact on my knowledge of American history that I've known for some time and this book reinforces it. ]]> 4.61 2019 The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story
author: Nikole Hannah-Jones
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.61
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2024/05/28
date added: 2024/05/28
shelves:
review:
The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story delivers! There are not a lot of books that come along that challenges our thinking, long held beliefs and what we were taught about America's history especially the shameful parts that are commonly whitewashed, downplayed, rewritten with myths, propaganda and half truths about the ugliest chapter of that history-- the atrocities of human enslavement.

I highly recommend to every American who loves history like I do. I believe this book is not designed to make anyone "feel uncomfortable" based on who they are, what they believe and what they have been taught in school about America's history. However, if it is used as intended to educate oneself beyond the limited amount of history most of us were taught in school about this heartbreaking cancer of America's history that's hard to talk about, challenge us to question what we know and dig deeper with an open mind, the goal is achieved. You will see this book as enlightening and leave with a greater understanding of where the societal and social ills of today come from and what we can do to make changes in our own lives and mindsets through knowledge and education so our society can become the America it's meant to be and truly living up to its principles. That's the America I've always wanted.

The 1619 Project is an important historical account that has been well researched from highly credible sources and renowned historical scholars as well as a vast variety of other contributors who identify key elements of that missing, altered, edited and/or omitted parts about the horrors enslaved Africans endured in the New World as they were dehumanized, were seen as an "inferior race" to Caucasians, were considered as nothing more subhuman chattel or "property" and treated worse than livestock. It tells us why this ugly legacy never ended with the Emancipation Proclamation and took on other identities such as Jim Crow/Segregation which existed across the country after the Civil War and not just behind the Mason-Dixon line.

There are some who may argue that slavery has occurred throughout history which is true. However, book highlights that the atrocities of human enslavement in America was unique in all of world history. It was intergenerational and no other country in history has ever profited, benefitted and acquired vast wealth from the atrocities of human enslavement to the degree that America has for three centuries. The horror stories of enslaved Africans being threatened with torture and murder as they were being kidnapped from their homeland if they did not comply with their captors and packed tightly in dirty ships filled with disease and endured cruel and inhumane along the way to the New World for more of the same in a lifetime of bondage is the darkest and most shameful part of American history whose legacy still haunts American society to this day.

Page after page was heartbreaking as so many wonder how it is possible that a country that loves dropping words of "freedom", "liberty and justice for all" would first and foremost allow such inhumanity to occur at all and for so long? It's simple-- enslavement was a booming business. In fact, it was the greatest "import" that enabled unpaid labor to build wealth for American enslavers through products of trade such as tobacco, bread and flour, rice, dried fish, indigo and cotton.

The 1619 Project takes us through the timeline of how that one sin of human enslavement in America became the very foundation for which nearly all racism, prejudice, stereotyping, bigotry, hate, racial terrorism, Jim Crow/Segregation and other inhuman treatment directed toward African-Americans was built upon.

That ugly elements of human enslavement will never be taught in American history in schools and for good reason. To this day, many feel uncomfortable talking about this topic because it challenges everything they have been taught about American history and puts it on its head. It shows the inhumanity and cruelty of what America was capable of back then, why they engaged in it (because it was highly profitable to enslave other humans) while contradicting itself with as a false identity of being "free country", "a beacon of democracy" and so forth. All while concealing the truth of what America ACTUALLY has been and refusing to acknowledge its ugly past.

Lying by omission about America's shameful history are the reasons why in the 21st century, America still struggles with the same ugliness of all racism, prejudice, stereotyping, bigotry, hate, racial terrorism, and other inhuman treatment directed toward African-Americans. Because our society today is not taught the truth about those atrocities of America's shameful history (if even taught at all), many live in an illusion that none of these things exist when in reality it's on the rise more than ever.

As I was reading this book, I asked the question, what if human enslavement never existed in America? Perhaps there still would've been a Revolutionary War and wars against the Indigenous peoples as colonizers sought to expand taking Native land. However, the haunting legacies would not have existed in which there would not have been a Civil War, there would not have been Jim Crow/Segregation, there would not been a need for the Civil Rights Movement led Martin Luther King Jr. Progress would've been slower in America but it would've had a better chance of living up to its principles.

The greatest part of this book is that this hidden part of American history is finally being told about stories of freedom that true and meaningful by those who truly cherished it understand it far better than the so-called founding fathers, many of which also benefitted from human enslavement when they had an opportunity to set things right as they made their "declaration of independence".

As an African-American, where I find strength in the book's content is that in spite of efforts of extreme cruelty to humiliate, dehumanize and destroy enslaved Africans for three centuries in America and the freed generations that followed, THEY SURVIVED IT ALL. They were living proof of being survivors of depths of America's cruelty and dehumanization, not victims. I will be reading this book again because it has had a profound impact on my knowledge of American history that I've known for some time and this book reinforces it.
]]> <![CDATA[Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions]]> 209786389
A fundamental principle of our legal system is a presumption of innocence, but once someone has been found guilty there is very little room to prove doubt. Framed shares ten true stories of men who were innocent but found guilty and forced to sacrifice friends, families, wives, and decades of their lives to prison while the guilty parties remained free. In each of the stories, John Grisham and Jim McCloskey recount the dramatic hard-fought battles for exoneration. They take a close look at what leads to wrongful convictions in the first place, and the racism, misconduct, flawed testimony, and the corrupt court system that can make them so hard to reverse.

Told with page-turning suspense as only John Grisham can deliver, Framed is the story of overcoming adversity when the battle already seems lost, and the deck is stacked against you.]]> 368 John Grisham 0385550448 Darryle 0 to-read 4.08 2024 Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions
author: John Grisham
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/05/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Blood Work (Harry Bosch Universe, #7)]]> 32504 Terry McCaleb, one of the most effective serial-killer investigators in the history of the FBI, hunts down his heart donor's killer. An unputdownable story from the award-winning No. 1 bestselling author.

'Blood Work' - that's what Terry McCaleb used to call his job at the FBI. Eight weeks ago he was a dead man, but now someone else's heart is keeping him alive. Then a newspaper report of his brush with death brings him an unwanted visitor. Graciela Rivers reveals to McCaleb that the anonymous donor of his heart was her murdered sister, and that the police investigation into the case is going nowhere. McCaleb feels he has no choice but to take on the investigation.

Nothing about the seemingly random killing makes sense. McCaleb realises that someone is watching his every move - someone who has killed before and will kill again...]]> 498 Michael Connelly 0446690449 Darryle 4
As I can expect from Connelly, Blood Work was a compelling, suspenseful and intriguing plot. I liked the premise of it from the beginning to the end. Now that I've read this book, (which seems like the only one that features McCaleb as the main character), I would've liked at least another book with him but it was not to be. Because I really get into Connelly's novels and they are hard to put down, it was a very fast read and I enjoyed how the story unfolded, seeing a lot of Bosch in McCaleb in many ways while still being distinctive. This book is highly recommended and should be read before the Bosch novel. ]]> 4.12 1998 Blood Work (Harry Bosch Universe, #7)
author: Michael Connelly
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.12
book published: 1998
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/26
date added: 2024/04/26
shelves:
review:
I needed to get my Connelly fix and as always he delivers. The first time I heard of ex-FBI agent Terry McCaleb was in the Bosch novel "A Darkness More Than Night". I wished I had read "Blood Work" first to give me insight into his character at the time I read the Bosch novel and it would've given me more context and would've made "A Darkness More Than Night" more enjoyable as it was more of a McCaleb novel than a Bosch novel. While they recapped some elements of Blood Work in the Bosch novel, reading it in its entirety was far better. If I saw the Clint Eastwood movie based on the novel it was a long time ago. I figure if I saw it now, I'd like to see how closely it followed this book.

As I can expect from Connelly, Blood Work was a compelling, suspenseful and intriguing plot. I liked the premise of it from the beginning to the end. Now that I've read this book, (which seems like the only one that features McCaleb as the main character), I would've liked at least another book with him but it was not to be. Because I really get into Connelly's novels and they are hard to put down, it was a very fast read and I enjoyed how the story unfolded, seeing a lot of Bosch in McCaleb in many ways while still being distinctive. This book is highly recommended and should be read before the Bosch novel.
]]> The Firm (The Firm, #1) 1941607 Ěý
For a young lawyer on the make, it was an offer Mitch McDeere couldn’t a position at a law firm where the bucks, billable hours, and benefits are over the top. It’s a dream job for an up-and-comer—if he can overlook the uneasy feeling he gets at the office. Then an FBI investigation into the firm’s connections to the Mafia plunges the straight and narrow attorney into a nightmare of terror and intrigue.ĚýWith no choice but to pit his wits, ethics, and legal skills against the firm’s deadly secrets—if he hopes to stay alive…]]> 448 John Grisham 0385319053 Darryle 0 to-read 4.33 1991 The Firm (The Firm, #1)
author: John Grisham
name: Darryle
average rating: 4.33
book published: 1991
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/04/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Hide 53469782 264 Jake Cross 1913419398 Darryle 3
Hide is a story about this person who was hiding from his past for reasons of his own until unexpected circumstances brought him and his past out into the open. It has some similarities to Die Hard where the character is at the "wrong place at the right time" because his skills are needed. As I see him taking on these bad guys, he also has to save his son who found himself among the hostages and the robbers are unaware of his relation to Torrance...for now! What happens when they find out about Torrance's true identity and his son as Torrance takes down some of the bad guys one by one?

These are fun stories to read as it takes you on a familiar journey at first but is then filled with plot twists that takes it in directions the reader does not expect. That's how suspense thrillers are done. While there are some slow parts that probably could've been edited out of the story, when the focus was on Torrance, it was an action packed nail biter that kept the reader on the edge of their seat to see what would happen next. This was a one shot featuring this character but well worth the ride. Recommended. ]]> 3.50 Hide
author: Jake Cross
name: Darryle
average rating: 3.50
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2024/04/18
date added: 2024/04/18
shelves:
review:
At the time, the robbers staged their criminal plot, they thought they were merely dealing with a handyman until they discovered the hard way that he was much more and he's coming to bring their entire plot down. I enjoyed how the author Jake Cross approached this mysterious character known only as Emil Torrance who actually has a past that is far different to how he is perceived in the town as a handyman. Had this criminal plot not occurred in that sleepy town, Torrance could've easily lived many years with a quiet life with his young son and no one would've had no idea about his past.

Hide is a story about this person who was hiding from his past for reasons of his own until unexpected circumstances brought him and his past out into the open. It has some similarities to Die Hard where the character is at the "wrong place at the right time" because his skills are needed. As I see him taking on these bad guys, he also has to save his son who found himself among the hostages and the robbers are unaware of his relation to Torrance...for now! What happens when they find out about Torrance's true identity and his son as Torrance takes down some of the bad guys one by one?

These are fun stories to read as it takes you on a familiar journey at first but is then filled with plot twists that takes it in directions the reader does not expect. That's how suspense thrillers are done. While there are some slow parts that probably could've been edited out of the story, when the focus was on Torrance, it was an action packed nail biter that kept the reader on the edge of their seat to see what would happen next. This was a one shot featuring this character but well worth the ride. Recommended.
]]>