A review of A Spy by Nature, by Charles Cumming. @@@@ (4 out of 5). A Spy by Nature, Charles Cumming’s first novel, is the semi-autobiographical precursor several subsequent espionage stories that have caught the attention of reviewers and the reading public alike. A Spy by Nature is an entirely worthy antecedent of Cumming’s later, more fully realized spy stories.
Read More
A review of Broken: A Novel of Suspense, by Karin Slaughter. @@@@ (4 out of 5). Broken, last year’s entry in Karin Slaughter’s decade-long series of crime thrillers set in her native Georgia, brings together two of her leading characters, Dr. Sara Linton and Will Trent.Karin Slaughter, just 40 years old now, has been publishing best-selling thrillers for little more than a decade. I’m looking forward to a lot more from this talented Southern writer.
Read More
A review of The Trinity Six, by Charles Cumming. @@@@@ (5 out of 5). Much of the latter-day literature of espionage is based, directly or indirectly, on the notorious “Cambridge Five” who spied for the Soviet Union during World War II and later defected. This excellent novel is the story of the long-rumored “sixth man” and his even more consequential career.
Read More
A review of Then Everything Changed: Stunning Alternate Histories of American Politics, JFK, RFK, Carter, Ford, Reagan, by Jeff Greenfield.
@@@@@ (5 out of 5). There is a subspecies of the human race that is afflicted, usually from birth, with an insatiable thirst for politics. This book was written for them — and, to this political junkie, what a book it is!
You can tell from the title that Kate Atkinson is reaching for another literary prize with this well-written crime novel. Once you find yourself immersed in the story, you know that for a fact. Although Started Early, Took My Dog, is from one perspective a mystery story, though one that’s...
Read More
Mysteries & Thrillers Tuesday includes my latest mystery and thriller book review,
with links to other science fiction content.
Nonfiction Wednesday includes my latest nonfiction book review,
with links to other nonfiction content.
The Weekly includes summaries and links to all the previous week’s three to five book reviews, including some that don’t appear in any of the other newsletters.
Mysteries & Thrillers Tuesday includes my latest mystery and thriller book review, with links to other science fiction content.
Nonfiction Wednesday includes my latest nonfiction book review, with links to other nonfiction content.
The Weekly includes summaries and links to all the previous week’s three to five book reviews, including some that don’t appear in any of the other newsletters.