FMAM MOSTLY MYSTERY REVIEWS
 |
THE FMAM MOSTLY MYSTERY REVIEW is the place to come
to find out what to read next. Want to know what readers are saying
(as opposed to critics) about the books you see around you? You’ve
come to the right place! And, if you appreciate a critical review
we’ll have those, too. Come in, sit down and see what’s
write with the world! (Or, right in the world of write!) New reviews this month from: |
 |
|
|
||
July 2009
Behind the Polygamy Veil
Kenneth Brown
XLibris Publishing
195 pages
ISBN: 1-4257-2181-8
Greg Forman is a PI not known for his gentle side. So when a thirteen year daughter is kidnapped he turns to his dog Keiko for help. Keiko is special – he has one nose on him that can distinguish scents like no other dog! And that is a necessity in finding this child. Greg’s journey takes him into the world of polygamy where girls are everywhere and spread from Canada through the US and into Mexico. What a journey!
As his search progress he finds himself in a strict Fundamentalist Mormon sect. His journey to rescue the teenager becomes a dual adventure as he learns much about the group dynamic of this sect. One scary thing though, if you disagree with them, they may consider death the penalty.
BEHIND THE POLYGAMY VEIL is an interesting look into a Fundamentalist Mormon sect as Mr. Brown is the grandson of a polygamist. And as such he has a unique perspective on it.
On a scale of 1 to 5, I give is a 3.8.
Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D., MHt
Mr. Monk Goes to Germany
Lee Goldberg
An Obsidian Mystery
280 pages
ISBN: 978-0-451-22099-8
Lee Goldberg continues his extension of the MONK television series with MR. MONK GOES TO GERMANY. I need to say that as it takes time for books to be published, for those who follow the series the book may be slightly behind it. Keeping that in mind, Mr. Goldberg paints a perfect written picture of MONK. It is as if you are there with MONK, Natalie, and in this case Dr. Kroger. I do love, yep I am a true fan, and Mr. Goldberg does not let me down! He is MONK perfect!
Now, to MR. MONK GOES TO GERMANY – Monk calls the police to investigate his missing sock. He has been called to a crime scene but he can’t go until he finds the matching mate. Randy Disher is assigned to the sock task force, which Disher takes seriously freeing Monk up to solve a case. When Monk returns Randy is talking to the new upstairs tenant who had to remove a limb and eat to survive. This is worse than the missing sock for Monk, who now can’t stay in his home. He fears the cannibal upstairs. He talks to Dr. Kroger but doesn’t have time to deal with it for Dr. Kroger informs him that he is on the way to Germany for a psychiatric convention. Dr. Kroger tells Monk the one armed psychiatrist will take care of him while he is away. Of course that just will not work for Monk because everything in Monk’s world must be symmetrical. Monk’s world falls apart, not only can’t he solve murders, he can’t remember how to swallow. With careful consideration, Monk tells Natalie to buy tickets he’s they are on the way to Germany so he can continue with his regular sessions with Kroger. Of course Monk can’t fly, so he takes the meds that make him another person, the Monkster. Murder follows Monk. But it’s when Monk and Natalie reach quaint town that could have been Snow White’s home, that Monk sees a man with six fingers. The Dale the Whale told Monk a man with six fingers on one hand had Trudy (Monk’s wife) murder. This sets Monk on a mission. Not to mention the shock Dr. Kroger feels when Monk shows up.
And that is just the beginning. If you like MONK, you’ll love MR. MONK GOES TO GERMANY. It is well written, easy to read, and a great escape. Lee Goldberg has written another wonderful novel. Excellent!
On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 5.
Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D., MHt
Mr. Monk is Miserable
Lee Goldberg
An Obsidian Mystery
277 pages
ISBN: 978-0-451-22515-3
Lee Goldberg has done it yet again! MR. MONK IS MISERABLE is a sequel to MR. MONK GOES TO GERMANY. As MR. MONK GOES TO GERMANY ends Natalie blackmails Monk into taking a few more days and spending them in Paris. On the flight to Paris there is a murder. To anyone else it may have just been a death, but Monk knew it was murder and he impressed the Parisian Police Captain with his skills. As a thank you, the police captain gives Monk a CSI like suit so he can visit the sewer museum, something he has always wanted to do. Yes, Monk has been in awe of the fact that they designed a cleaning system. In checking out the sewer, there is a maze of tunnels and bones. Immediately, Monk finds a skull that does not belong. Before long it is identified as a San Francisco man who supposedly died many years earlier in a wood chipper – only a tooth had survived. And here was a skull missing that tooth. Natalie and Monk go to dinner in a swank dinner place where everyone dines in darkness and the waiters are blind. The lady who joins their table is murdered.
Stottlemeyer and Disher fly over to check it out the skull and Disher learns that his one song is a cult hit. The dead man, a former con man must have been up to something, he always was so what? And why was the woman stabbed with Monk’s steak knife? As they foursome, well trio, Randy Disher is off to meet his fans; investigate they discover a network of people who live off the trash of others and many who live underground.
Monk, garbage, and murder what a combination! It works! Again, as I said in the review above MR. MONK GOES TO GERMANY, Mr. Goldberg has the nuances, the mannerisms, and the style down pat. His writing is so real and so vivid that Monk is right there with you, cleaning up after you and making sure you are holding Lee’s book at the correct angle! Excellent!
On a scale of 1 to 5. I give it a 5.
Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D., MHt
Treasure of Eden
S.L. Linnea
St. Martin’s
$6.99, 368 pages
ISBN: 978-0-312-94216-8
The Eden series continues with THE TREASURE OF EDEN. Army Chaplain Jamie Richards also an envoy of Eden takes a leave of her Army duties to escort a precious Eden cargo, Dr. Farmer to an Economics Summit. A summit, Jamie is also looking forward to attending. However, Jamie is unaware of a special gold box encrusted with jewels having come on the market nor is she aware of ex CIA agent Frank McMillan hunting both the box and her.
Before the summit is in full swing Dr. Farmer barges into a secret meeting yelling that she will expose those in attendance for their frauds. This puts Jaime in overdrive making her not only rescue Dr. Farmer but find a way out of the not only the heavily guarded summit but the heavily televised one. She spots an old friend, a rock star who happens to be an economic genius. He helps Jamie and Dr. Farmer elude both security and the media. His reward, dinner with Janie at his estate. Both nothing is easy and these very old friends are interrupted and Jamie is tortured. All of this is going on while far away a young girl is preparing to marry. Her husband to be has put the gold box on the market.
Frank McMillan is convinced that Jamie, the box, and Eden are all connected. But are they? Where did the rock star go? Where is Yani, Jamie’s love from the earlier books? What is about the gold box?
THE TREASURE OF EDEN is an easy to read, fast paced story. It is true to the series and keeps the excitement going. Ms. Linnea has created and developed a series of characters that are enjoyable and fun. She makes you route for the good guys and clap when the bad guys get their due. I recommend reading the entire series.
On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 4.8.
Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D., MHt
Main Book Reviews Index
All rights reserved.
Contact Lida: publisher@fmam.biz
Website contact: webmaster @ fmam.biz