Tag Archives: Mystery

Charlie’s Review of London Falling by Paul Cornell

sb10063436a-002As I have stated over and over again I am a HUGE fan of the fantasy genre, so when I was asked to read London Falling I welcomed it with open arms. To top it off, it’s written by Paul Cornell, who I was fortunate enough to interview not only about London Falling, but just chat with in general. It was a huge honor. I’m a big fan of his work, so I jumped at the chance to read his new novel.

From the publisher: Police officers Quill, Costain, Sefton, and Ross know the worst of London—or they think they do. While investigating a mobster’s mysterious death, they come into contact with a strange artifact and accidentally develop the Sight. Suddenly they can see the true evil haunting London’s streets.

Armed with police instincts and procedures, the four officers take on the otherworldly creatures secretly prowling London. Football lore and the tragic history of a Tudor queen become entwined in their pursuit of an age-old witch with a penchant for child sacrifice. But when London’s monsters become aware of their meddling, the officers must decide what they are willing to sacrifice to clean up their city.

The centralized plot of the story revolves around the main characters, who are police officers investigating the death of a local mob boss. This leads to the formation of a secret squad to further explore the mysteries surrounding the criminal enterprise they begin to uncover. As the boss died under mysterious circumstances, the team starts tracking a lead that might also connect the crime to a series of child abductions and a long-standing curse on the local football team. Something supernatural has invaded their world and it will forever bond this group of police officers together. They can now see the true horrors that no one else can see, which leads them to discover new ways to tackle the unexplained besides just relying on their police instincts and procedures. With all that being said, you can find out the rest for yourself, as there is a plethora of storytelling for you to look forward to.

I’m a big fan of the BBC’s Doctor Who franchise, and one of the main factors that piqued my interest in London Falling was Paul Cornell, who is a writing contributor to that series. His new novel, the first in a proposed series, is a great mix of not only the fantasy genre, but the horror and crime genres as well. This gives it the opportunity to appeal to a wide variety of people. While I definitely enjoyed the book, its mix of these genres presented a dilemma for me at first. Personally I grow tired of the crime genre, which is duplicated over and over again in different ways. However, the fantasy elements here gave London Falling (and the crime genre) a fresh new take, which I loved. Having a historical backstory really was a great add-on for me as well, since I am fascinated by the English culture. London is the one place in the world I would want to live outside of the US. Additionally, I’m a sucker for mythology, so the inclusion of mythical elements in the work were an added bonus as well.

All and all, Cornell has constructed an excellent new series in the world of fantasy. It’s well written, detailed, original, complex, and has great character development.  He has definitely executed a plan for the series in my eyes. He makes readers want to know what is going to happen next. His knack for the unusual really makes the book shine. Hopefully this can generate a nice fan base because I think there is a lot of potential for a wonderful adult fantasy series, especially considering that this would adapt very well to the screen. We get a whole new look at the city of London, which even though it may be supernatural, is intriguingly believable. With good word of mouth, as well as the fact that it’s written by Paul Cornell, I feel that not only does London Falling have a fan base off the bat, it has great promise to become something even greater. While some may not agree, I really believe this novel has something for everyone. Like I said earlier, it’s part horror, crime, and fantasy all wrapped into one. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for something new, and I am eagerly awaiting the sequel, The Severed Streets.

4 out of 5 Stars

London Falling by Paul Cornell
Tor (2013)
Hardcover: 416 pages
ISBN: 9780765330277

Special thanks to Tor Books for my review copy!

Kim’s Review of Sapphire Blue (Edelstein Trilogie #2) by Kerstin Gier

sbAs you may remember from my review of Ruby Red, the first book in the Edelstein Trilogie (which can be found here), I can’t get enough of the covers on these books.  What’s more, not only are the covers stunning, but so is the writing.  Gier did a wonderful job at crafting a complex story that spans multiple time periods and included interesting characters.  The cliffhanger at the end of Ruby Red nearly did me in.  Luckily for me Sapphire Blue was already available to read, making my depression short lived.

Plot from Goodreads: Gwen’s life has been a rollercoaster since she discovered she was the Ruby, the final member of the secret time-traveling Circle of Twelve. In between searching through history for the other time-travelers and asking for a bit of their blood (gross!), she’s been trying to figure out what all the mysteries and prophecies surrounding the Circle really mean.

At least Gwen has plenty of help. Her best friend Lesley follows every lead diligently on the Internet. James the ghost teaches Gwen how to fit in at an eighteenth century party. And Xemerius, the gargoyle demon who has been following Gwen since he caught her kissing Gideon in a church, offers advice on everything. Oh, yes. And of course there is Gideon, the Diamond. One minute he’s very warm indeed; the next he’s freezing cold. Gwen’s not sure what’s going on there, but she’s pretty much destined to find out.

When I started reading Sapphire Blue I didn’t think this series could get any more epic,  but upon finishing this book I think it totally blew Ruby Red out of the water!  Gideon and Gwen are thrust into a dual-sided battle of words as they try to decipher who is telling them the truth about the power the chronograph will unleash.  Sapphire Blue gives a little more depth into each side’s reasoning behind their belief in what the power is, but left just enough mystery to make reading Emerald Green a no-brainer.

As I suspected, Sapphire Blue delved deeper into Gwen’s mind and her ever growing/changing feelings for Gideon.  The lack of over-the-top intricacies on the “how-to” of time traveling allows the reader to be impressed with other elements Gier presents.  The comedy of Gier’s writing truly shines in this second installment, as Gwen is given a crash course in Georgian history.  Her study of the culture and customs is rife with humorous moments, most especially her dance lessons.  I didn’t think it could get any funnier, but then she’s actually transported back to 1782 and winds up getting drunk on punch.  I became so endeared to Gwen as she struggled to do her best while dealing with the turmoil of discovering that she was a time traveler and confusion over her feelings for Gideon.

In all, if you’re still on the fence about reading the Edelstein Trilogie, take it from me that both of the books have been a delight, and it is definitely worth your while to pick up a copy of both.  Just like Ruby Red, Sapphire Blue left me on the edge of my seat, and it looks like I’ll have to wait until October, when Emerald Green, the third book in the trilogy, will come out.  Until then, we’ll have to find a way to occupy ourselves and not think of this incredible cliffhanger!  So, if you haven’t already, go out and read this book!

5 out of 5 Stars

This is my fifth completed review for the Color Coded Challenge

Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier
Henry Holt and Co (2012)
Hardcover: 368 pages
ISBN: 9780805092660

Sam’s Review of Three Graves Full by Jamie Mason

tgfEvery day our lives intersect with those of countless others. There’s the lady on-line at the grocery store, the parent of another child at the school pick-up line, the man who bumps into you as he hurries up the street. Most of these people are and remain strangers. Some we exchange pleasantries with, then part ways. Rarely, a few become lasting fixtures in our lives. They might turn out to be lovers, confidantes, life-long friends. But, what happens when one of these chance meetings turns into something we regret, leaving us wishing we’d never even met in the first place?

Such an encounter serves as a catalyst for the action in Jamie Mason’s Three Graves Full. Jason Getty meets a stranger one day by chance at the gas station. In an effort to spread a little good karma Jason offers to fill his tank with gas. A relationship that starts out interesting and amicable soon turns sinister when the man drives Jason to commit a crime he never thought himself capable of: murder.

Scared of what he has done, Jason quickly buries the body in his yard where he hopes it will never be found. Jason then slowly starts to put back the pieces of his life to try to move on. Over a year has gone by since the murder when Jason finally feels comfortable having some landscaping done on his property. He carefully watches the workers to make sure they maintain a distance from the dark secret that lurks just beyond the edge of the yard. To Jason’s shock, the workers uncover something…a human skeleton! Sure that his secret has been discovered, Jason follows the men out the yard to have a look. What he sees there is indeed a human skeleton, but not the one he buried in the yard! What’s more, a second body is discovered.

As police are called to the scene to investigate the bodies, Jason begins to unravel. The investigation persists and the reader is introduced to a lively cast of characters, each connected in some way to Jason and the bodies in his yard.

This book made me reflect a lot on our relationships with other people. How well can you really know someone? How much influence do we have over the actions of others? At what point does a person break and become something or someone they never dreamed possible?

Three Graves Full is an exciting mystery thriller that kept me guessing with each turn. Mason does a fantastic job creating characters that leap off of the page and keep you wanting to read just five more pages. I really enjoyed the well-balanced combination of his detailed writing style and fast-moving plot. Infused with tensity and dark humor, this is a book that simply can’t be missed!

4 out of 5 Stars

Three Graves Full by Jamie Mason
Gallery Books (2013)
Hardcover: 320 pages
ISBN: 9781451685039

Special thanks to Gallery Books for my review copy!

Kim’s Review of Ruby Red (Edelstein Trilogie #1) by Kerstin Gier

rrFriends. I have a confession to make. I totally judged a book by its cover.  I saw the cover for Ruby Red and immediately HAD to have it.   Turns out it was a great judgement, because the book was AWESOME.  Ruby Red is the first book in Kerstin Gier’s Edelstein Trilogie, which was originally published in Germany.  

As the plot is a bit complex (time traveling!!), I’ll let Goodreads guide you through it:

Gwyneth Shepherd’s sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!

Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon–the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

I am honestly so surprised that I haven’t come across more people who have read this series.  This book hooked me from start to finish. It had time-traveling, secret societies, intrigue, visions of the dead, secret signet rings, mystery, sword fights and so much more.  There is an incredible amount of story packed into this book.  The time traveling element allowed for great variety of time periods to be visited, which helped set a fast pace.  Since Gwen was never prepared to be a time traveler, her quick lessons in how to time travel, as well as the history of The Guardians society (the secret society helping the time travelers), led to some great comedic moments.  There were times where I felt these moments felt stilted, which I think is mainly due to the translation (the books were originally published in German).  Other than that I think the translation is excellently done.  Gwen’s voice totally draws you in to the story and describes the woes of her life as a teenage time traveler perfectly.

Ruby Red definitely sets up what is sure to be a phenomenal trilogy.  I’m interested in seeing how Gwen and Gideon grow from here.  They’re both in their teens, yet thrust into extraordinary circumstances far beyond what 16 and 17 year-olds should have to deal with.  We’re not given too much depth with their characters, but I’d expect that to change as we travel through time with them in the second and third books.  I know that I keep talking about the future of the series and I’ll explain why.  Having already read book two, Sapphire Blue, I know it picks up quite literally after the last sentence of Ruby Red.  I think when Emerald Green (book three) comes out it’ll be more apparent that the story is one long story split up through three books.  The development of the characters will happen gradually throughout the three books since it’s one massive conflict that is trying to be resolved.  I’m usually not a fan of series’ written like this, but surprisingly the good outweighs the bad here.  Ruby Red was just too damn fun! Gwen and Gideon are, to put it simply, hilarious.

My goal before Emerald Green is released in October is to get the word out about this series.  It’s seriously one you don’t want to miss.  I hope that those of you who choose to read it out there decide to share it with your friends! This is a series that definitely needs to be shared more.

4 out of 5 Stars

This is my fourth completed review for the Color Coded Challenge

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
Henry Holt and Co (2011)
Hardcover: 336 pages
ISBN: 9780805092523

Kim’s Review of Death in the Floating City (Lady Emily Series #7) by Tasha Alexander

ditfcTowards the end of 2011/beginning of 2012 I was introduced to a character by the name of Lady Emily. She is a woman of the Victorian Era, a time when woman should be seen and not heard.  Lady Emily, however, is a woman who bucks that notion and delves into learning, reading, languages, art, geography, etc.  I found so much of myself in her at times that I flew through the first book of Tasha Alexander’s Lady Emily series And Only to Deceive. After falling head-over-heels in love with Alexander’s writing, characters, and settings I quickly made my way through the other five available books: A Poisoned Season, A Fatal Waltz, Tears of Pearl, Dangerous to Know, and A Crimson Warning (all links lead to my reviews).

In the latest installment of the Lady Emily series, Death In the Floating City, we follow Emily as her adventures take her to Italy for the first time.  Many years ago, Emily’s childhood arch nemesis  Emma Callum, shocked English society by eloping to Venice, Italy with her lover, an Italian count.  Despite their past, Emma has now turned to Emily for help as she finds herself entangled in a mystery that involves the death of her father-in-law and the disappearance of her husband.  Emily takes her up on the offer, and travels to Venice with her husband, Colin Hargreaves.  There, Emily discovers that there is more to this story than what meets the eye, and she finds that she must look to the past to solve this crime in the present day.

I’ve always been impressed with authors who can write 5+ books in a series and keep each one feeling fresh and new, while continuing to develop the characters and relationships in new and exciting ways.  Death in the Floating City is the seventh book in the Lady Emily series, yet it reads with the excitement and freshness of the first, And Only to Deceive.  It’s 100% due to Alexander’s talent as a writer.  Not only should she continue to write the Lady Emily series, but I think she should start writing travel books as well.  Her descriptions of Venice are astonishingly beautiful, stunning, and so visual.  At times I could close my eyes and completely see the scene she was painting for me.

When I read Alexander’s books I literally become so engulfed by them.  The characters’ sadness is my sadness, their happiness is my happiness as well.  By the time I got to the last few pages of the book my face hurt SO MUCH from smiling.  I walked around the whole day with just a goofy grin on my face because I was completely overwhelmed with happiness.  Books that can have that kind of effect on a person are my favorite.  It’s a clear indication that the writer got you enveloped in the story.  The added surprise to Death in the Floating City was a book within the book!  Not only do you become completely obsessed with the murder mystery, but you are fascinated by the tragedy that is Besina and Nicolo’s story.  I was slightly saddened that Colin was missing for large chunks of this book, but understood the reason for it once I got to the end.

I’m excited about the direction that the series is taking.  The decisions and discoveries made at the end of Death in the Floating City should create some interesting problems/conflicts to overcome in the next books of the series.  Book eight, Behind the Shattered Glass, is slated to release this upcoming October.

On a completely different side note, Elsie Lyons has been designing the covers of Alexander’s novels since book five (Dangerous to Know) and she needs a shout out. These covers are exquisite and to put it simply, I love them.

4 out of 5 Stars

This is my twelfth completed review for the Historical Fiction Challenge.

Death in the Floating City by Tasha Alexander
Minotaur Books (2012)
Hardcover: 320 pages
ISBN: 9780312661762

Jess’s Review of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

goneYou know the main plot of this book. Nick Dunne’s beautiful wife is missing. He comes home from work to find his living room furniture over turned, his front door wide open, and the iron still plugged in. Amy has disappeared, and her husband is acting a little out of sorts. As the police investigation heats up, her loving husband becomes suspect #1. I told you that you knew the plot, but if you think you know how it ends, you couldn’t be more wrong. This is the beauty of Gillian Flynn’s 2012 bestseller, Gone Girl.

Nick and Amy appear to the perfect couple. In fact, Amy has written about how perfect their relationship is in her diary, which is later discovered during the police investigation following her disappearance. But as the couple leaves their home in New York City for Nick’s hometown in the Midwest, Amy’s diary entries start to reveal an increasingly troubled couple. Nick however seems to see things a little differently.

I admit its difficult to write this review without giving away any spoilers so I have to keep my synopsis pretty brief. Flynn creates an unpredictable mystery with multidimensional characters whom you get to know through a series of first person narrative and diary entries. One of the most interesting themes in the story is the role the media plays in the police investigation, and how it fuels public opinion in the high-profile disappearance. The story unfolds quickly, keeps you guessing and will force you to stay awake well after your bedtime.

On a side note, I recommend you start reading this book now because rumor has it, Flynn has starting working with writers to develop the film adaptation of Gone Girl. I think the story will translate well on-screen, but there is nothing like experiencing the twists and turns unfolding on the page. When you do read this book, feel free to look me up on the staff page and shoot me an email with your thoughts on the ending. I am still not sure how I feel about it and I would love to hear from all of you! (Please no spoilers in the comments).

4 out of 5 Stars

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Crown Publishing Group (2012)
Hardcover 432 pages
ISBN: 9780307588364

Adam’s Review of Deal With The Devil (Part II) by J. Gunnar Grey

A few months ago I had the pleasure of reading Deal With The Devil Part I by J. Gunnar Grey. (My review is here)  I became quickly enveloped in the story and was desperate to read part II after the cliffhanger ending in part I.  Life intervened unfortunately, and it wasn’t until recently that I was able to read part II and finally find out what happened to Major Faust, Major Stoner, Jennifer, and the rest of the cast!  (As a side note: the book is being sold as one novel now, so you won’t have to wait on pins and needles like I did to find out what happened!)  In part 2 there are even more twists and turns making for an even more epic conclusion to this tale of allegiance and backstabbing.

Leaving off directly where the first book ends, the story picks up with Major Faust, a German officer, and Major Stoner, a retired British officer, still at odds with each other and unsure of where the other truly stands. There is one thing Major Faust is sure of, however, and that is his growing feelings for Jennifer, Major Stoner’s granddaughter. Through the course of the novel their relationship grows, but at what cost? There are still some questions of motive on both sides, and some uncertainty between all of the parties involved. Through all this is a carefully crafted mystery that leaves the reader wanting more.

I really enjoyed part two almost as much as part one. The story picked up right from the start and I couldn’t stop reading (a real amazement if you know me). I was interested to see how the characters’ stories would end and couldn’t put the book down. I thought J. Gunnar Grey was really good at was not only developing the characters and making them interesting for the reader, but also making the setting seem more accessible. By writing lots of little details about the setting, I felt more like a fly on a wall rather than a reader. Grey makes the story come to life and makes the action jump right off the page. At times I felt like I could see pictures of the scenes; I had such a vision of the characters and of the setting  because I knew all the small little details.  I was able to enjoy the story that much more because of my ability to visualize the action.

One small note I have, and this is all my fault due to the fact that I read part 1 and part 2 so far apart, is that the two pieces are just a continuation of one another.  I read them five months apart, and I found myself constantly going back and forth from the first one, (which I smartly saved) and the second one to remind myself of the characters and of their background. One day soon, I will read this all as one novel and I think it would help me understand the flow of the story more. This comment has nothing to do with the writing style of the author, but because of my own stupidity to read them far apart and not closer together.

All and all I enjoyed reading the conclusion to J. Gunnar Grey’s story Deal with the Devil. I look forward to re-reading it as one full novel in the near future because I think by doing that will only enhance the story and allow me to enjoy it better. Still I have to give it a perfect score because a good story is a good story regardless of your own mistakes.

5 out of 5 Stars

Deal With The Devil by J. Gunnar Grey
Astraea Press (2011)
eBook: 286 pages
ISBN: 2940012608321

Special thanks to Astraea Press for my review copy!

#91 A Guest Review of Murder Most Austen by Tracy Kiely

If you’re a fan of murder, mystery, and mayhem, then you’re going to want to check out my latest review on the Austenprose blog, Murder Most Austen by Tracy Kiely.

The fourth installation of Kiely’s Elizabeth Parker Mystery series picks up with Elizabeth and her Aunt Winnie traveling to Bath, England for the annual Jane Austen conference.  On their flight over they meet Professor Richard Baines, who claims to be the utmost authority on Austen.  He is a pretentious man with absolutely crazy notions of what Austen’s work represented.  In the middle of the conference, however, Baines is found dead!  After Aunt Winnie’s friend is suspected, Elizabeth picks up her sleuthing hat to try to find out whodunit.

Check out my full review here

Todd’s Review of A Conflict of Interest by Adam Mitzner

Ever since I read A Time to Kill by John Grisham many years ago, I’ve always liked courtroom dramas.  I’m not sure if it’s the looming suspense of whether or not the main character will be found guilty, or the heroic struggle of the protagonist attorney struggling against seemingly impossible odds to protect his client, but this genre really catches my interest.  So, I was obviously excited when offered the opportunity to read A Conflict of Interest by Adam Mitzner.  This is his first novel, and Mitzner has done a great job of entering the genre with an exciting and fast-paced read.

A Conflict of Interest begins by introducing us to Alex Miller, a prominent New York defense attorney at the firm Cromwell Altman.  The youngest partner in the firm’s history, Alex has experienced a wave of popularity that makes him well-liked amongst his fellow partners and clients alike.  Unfortunately, his personal life has not experienced the same successes as of late.  His father recently passed away suddenly, leaving his mother alone in Florida, far away from Alex and his family.  Additionally, his relationship with his wife has been strained due to his long hours at the office.  Things get more complicated when Alex meets Michael Ohlig, a longtime friend of his parents, at his father’s funeral.  Although he doesn’t go into specifics, he tells Alex that he is being investigated for securities fraud, and would like Alex and his firm to represent him.  Alex is able to keep this a secret from his mother for a while, but eventually she finds out, and is very distraught over it.  Additionally, Alex is paired with Abby Sloane, an associate at the firm who is widely regarded as on the short list for the next partner position that will open up at the firm.  Not only is she a great lawyer, but she is beautiful, and spends more and more time with Alex as they work on Ohlig’s case.  Of course, this puts even more pressure on Alex’s marriage, and threatens to derail his career if he were ever caught with Abby.  However, there is something much more sinister at play, and it is much bigger than any infidelity.  The twist at the end of this novel is one that no one saw coming (especially not me!)

Going in to this novel, I was pretty sure I’d like it, although I thought there may be a slight danger of encountering the inherent problem that all courtroom dramas face: how to make court proceedings exciting.  Don’t get me wrong, there is the potential for a lot of drama in a court case, but the difficulty is in making all the legal jargon translate into a gripping story.  Fortunately, Mitzner does this expertly.  He meticulously explains the lawyer-speak that pops up throughout the novel, and weaves a great story that draws the reader in with every page.  The romantic tryst dovetailed nicely with Alex’s impassioned defense of Ohlig in the trial, and every time I turned the page there was a new layer to the plot.  The twist at the end was one of the best I’ve read in a while, and I give Mr. Mitzner a lot of credit for how he played it out.  It definitely won’t disappoint you, and it’s no wonder that this book won Suspense Magazine‘s best book of 2011 award!  So, what are you waiting for?  Go read this one!

5 out of 5 Stars

A Conflict of Interest by Adam Mitzner
Pocket Books (2012)
Paperback: 512 pages
ISBN: 9781439196434

Special thanks to Pocket Books for sending me my review copy!

Todd’s Review of Do No Harm by Cliff Bacchus

When I first received a review request for a new medical mystery/suspense thriller, Do No Harm by Cliff Bacchus, my interest was immediately piqued.  I’m generally a sucker for suspense books, and the fact that this one was written by a physician and involved a medical component made it even more enticing.  So, without further ado, I began reading (on the plane over to Ohio for my cousin’s wedding, to be exact).

Do No Harm begins with an introduction to Dr. Al Chandler, a physician who has been enjoying a growing practice and general success in his personal and professional life.  He has a close relationship to the newly minted President of the United States, who thinks so highly of him that he asks him to be a part of his new administration.  Chandler, although quite humbled and taken aback, declines.  He states that his interests lie in helping others and he feels that working under the new President would take him away from his true duties.  After this, he meets Pandora Coltman, a sensual woman who attracts him instantaneously and convinces him to leave everything and travel with her to Atlantic Isle, a small island in the Bahamas where she lives.  There, Chandler begins working for the island’s hospital in the emergency room, and gets to know his new boss, Obi Falconer.  He and Pandora marry, and all seems well until Chandler begins to notice that Pandora has a history with some men on the island, including Falconer.  The mystery deepens when he discovers Pandora’s lifeless body in their backyard by the pool.  Chandler is the main suspect, and he must work to clear his name.  Can he do it in time?

I have to say, it was rather difficult to write that plot paragraph.  Normally, I have no trouble writing the plot summaries of books that I review, but this was a challenge.  Why, you may ask?  Well, Bacchus’ style of writing is unlike anything I’ve ever read before, and I don’t mean that in a good way.  I’ll admit, perhaps he was going for a retroactive point of view, or attempting a different style, but for some reason everything seemed incredibly disjointed and in the passive voice.  Fragmented plot lines were interjected with snippets of dialogue which were out-of-place and didn’t add to the overall conversation.  For example, here is a conversation between Chandler and his friend Arnold:

“Can we subdue Falconer?”  Kennedy reared up and walked off a few steps.  ”T-the night’s old.  I’m off duty.  I was forgetting.  I’m doing a ten-minute stand-up late tonight at The Comedy Club.”

“I’ll call them tomorrow about the milk.  They drink American ‘Macarthur’ only, and every morning.”

“Power to America!  Forward march, out!”

“Just a minute.”  Chandler stepped over to his parents’ bedroom to check on them and on the snake.

“Al, the good boy.  Mother’s boy!”

This is just one small example of the odd conversations that permeate the work.  It seems as if there is a lot of backstory to this particular conversation, i.e. what is behind the mentioning of milk and a snake, but they are only briefly explained beforehand, with the reader left guessing as to what Bacchus means when he inserts these dialogue points.  It’s as if we’re reading only parts of a complete story, missing the parts that connect the dots of these rapid-fire conversations that are apparently here to move the plot forward.  Additionally, there is a ton of 70′s era verbiage, with the words “daddy-o” and “pigs”, as well as “heavy” appearing repeatedly.  I doubt this story was supposed to take place in the 1970′s, as I wasn’t given any more clues to this effect, but the dialogue sure was from this time.  In all, despite these flaws, Bacchus has the skeleton of a good murder mystery.  After some serious revision of the dialogue, and descriptive paragraphs, there actually could be a workable novel underneath this current work.  On the positive side, Bacchus does highlight corruption in medicine and shines light on a problem that affects us all, whether it be directly or through increasing insurance costs due to fraud.  This is definitely a noteworthy cause to highlight.

1 out of 5 stars

Do No Harm by Cliff Bacchus, MD
Abbott Press (2011)
Paperback: 228 pages
ISBN:  1458200965

Many thanks to Jessie at Author Solutions for sending me this copy for review!