THE NOWHERE MAN (Supp-Evan Smoke-Unk-Contemp) - 2nd in series - Gregg Hurwitz Taken from a group home at twelve, Evan was raised and trained as part of the Orphan Program, an off-the-books operation designed to create deniable intelligence assets—i.e. assassins. Evan was Orphan X. He broke with the Program, using everything he learned to disappear and reinvent himself as the Nowhere Man. But his new life is interrupted when a surprise attack comes from an unlikely angle and Evan is caught unaware. Captured, drugged, and spirited off to a remote location, he finds himself heavily guarded and cut off from everything he knows. His captors think they have him trapped and helpless in a virtual cage but they don’t know who they’re dealing with—or that they’ve trapped themselves inside that cage with one of the deadliest and most resourceful men on earth.
Corona – Okay – She read Orphan X (the first of the series) and though it was VG. She really enjoyed it because of the humor in it. So she was very disappointed in Nowhere Man because of its lack of humor. She also gets tired of superheroes. Don – G+ - He liked it although it went on too long. He did like the action, but it's certain he'll read another in the series. Gabriel – Poor – A story with a superhero could work. This one didn't. Jeanne – Okay – She liked that they handled the question of what the protagonist did for money, but the book was very sexist. She did like the relationship with the neighbors and learned that Dorito's are flammable. Linda M – Good – She had read him before. She liked that the killer had a heart of gold, but this was too serious. The action sequences really bothered her. But it did keep her attention all the way through.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: OKAY
THE ASHES OF LONDON (Hist Thriller-James Marwood-London-1666) – Standalone – Andrew Taylor Oakland Public Library has 3 copies, so you might want to reserve it early. London, 1666. As the Great Fire consumes everything in its path, the body of a man is found in the ruins of St Paul’s Cathedral – stabbed in the neck, thumbs tied behind his back. The son of a traitor, James Marwood is forced to hunt the killer through the city’s devastated streets. There he encounters a determined young woman who will stop at nothing to secure her freedom. When a second murder victim is discovered in the Fleet Ditch, Marwood is drawn into the political and religious intrigue of Westminster – and across the path of a killer with nothing to lose…
Don – NR – He couldn't get beyond the first 50 pages Gabriel – Poor – The city on fire was the most impressive part. Katie – Okay – This read this the most recently of the three books but it made the least impression on her. She did like Cat and how she dealt with things. LJ – VG – Although I wished there was more included about the actual fire, I really enjoyed this. The two protagonists, James Marwood and Cat, were both wonderful characters, as was Cat's aunt. There was a lot of history about which I'd previously known very little, especially the regicide of Charles I, and the Fifth Monarchists, and we see some of their characteristics in groups today. I also enjoyed the inclusion of actual historical figures such as Christopher Wren, and information about the planning for the rebuilding of London after the Great Fire. It was tantalizing the way Taylor would bring the two protagonists close to one another, then apart, then close again. Marcy S – VG – She is nearly finished with it and is enjoying it. She doesn't feel it provides a strong sense of the 17th Century, though. She was very interested to learn how long Bedlam has been around (since the 1200s).
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: Good
OAKLAND NOIR (Akashic Noir)(Anthology-various-Oakland, CA-Contemp) - Standalone - Jerry Thompson (Editor), Eddie Muller (Editor) Brand-new stories by: Nick Petrulakis, Kim Addonizio, Keenan Norris, Keri Miki-Lani Schroeder, Katie Gilmartin, Dorothy Lazard, Harry Louis Williams II, Carolyn Alexander, Phil Canalin, Judy Juanita, Jamie DeWolf, Nayomi Munaweera, Mahmud Rahman, Tom McElravey, Joe Loya, and Eddie Muller.
Corona – VG – She has read two of the stories, so far, and really liked them. She will definitely be reading more of them. Don – VG+ - He likes the format and has read a few of the "Noir" anthologies. He liked that there are different styles, settings and even that some stories are mysteries while some are not. However, they all give you a real taste of the City. Gabriel – Good – Liked some of the stories more than others. He particularly liked the historical ones. In "Survivors of Heartache," the twist wasn't set up by the story, and she felt "The Huntsman" was over-the-top in its horrific-ness. Jeanne – VG – She likes this format, being a big fan of noir. Some of the stories are better than others. "The Murder of Saviors" felt as though it could have been stretched out; she wanted more. "A Town Made of Hustle" was her favorite. Katie – VG – Really liked it. She's not usually a short story reader, but these she enjoyed. The first, "The Bridge Tender," seemed like a snapshot of the moment. LJ – VG – I loved the introduction. It made me think "This is why I've lived in Oakland for 40 years!". I read "The Bridge Tender" as I frequently go across that bridge—"This bridge is important—she connects us to California. Don't diminish her."--and although the story broke my heart, the writing was superb. I shall definitely be reading more of these stories bit-by-bit. March G – VG - thought it a very good selection for the group. I liked some stories better than others and thought the book on the whole was very good. Marcy S – VG – She has so far read three of the stories. She's not usually a short-story fan, but the first story "The Bridge Tender," was powerful. She also enjoyed the one set in Alameda, "The Handyman." She didn't care for "The Wishing Well" as she didn't like the character. She really enjoyed the description of the series and the conversation between the two editors.
Taken from a group home at twelve, Evan was raised and trained as part of the Orphan Program, an off-the-books operation designed to create deniable intelligence assets—i.e. assassins. Evan was Orphan X. He broke with the Program, using everything he learned to disappear and reinvent himself as the Nowhere Man. But his new life is interrupted when a surprise attack comes from an unlikely angle and Evan is caught unaware. Captured, drugged, and spirited off to a remote location, he finds himself heavily guarded and cut off from everything he knows. His captors think they have him trapped and helpless in a virtual cage but they don’t know who they’re dealing with—or that they’ve trapped themselves inside that cage with one of the deadliest and most resourceful men on earth.
Corona – Okay – She read Orphan X (the first of the series) and though it was VG. She really enjoyed it because of the humor in it. So she was very disappointed in Nowhere Man because of its lack of humor. She also gets tired of superheroes.
Don – G+ - He liked it although it went on too long. He did like the action, but it's certain he'll read another in the series.
Gabriel – Poor – A story with a superhero could work. This one didn't.
Jeanne – Okay – She liked that they handled the question of what the protagonist did for money, but the book was very sexist. She did like the relationship with the neighbors and learned that Dorito's are flammable.
Linda M – Good – She had read him before. She liked that the killer had a heart of gold, but this was too serious. The action sequences really bothered her. But it did keep her attention all the way through.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: OKAY
THE ASHES OF LONDON (Hist Thriller-James Marwood-London-1666) – Standalone – Andrew Taylor
Oakland Public Library has 3 copies, so you might want to reserve it early.
London, 1666. As the Great Fire consumes everything in its path, the body of a man is found in the ruins of St Paul’s Cathedral – stabbed in the neck, thumbs tied behind his back. The son of a traitor, James Marwood is forced to hunt the killer through the city’s devastated streets. There he encounters a determined young woman who will stop at nothing to secure her freedom. When a second murder victim is discovered in the Fleet Ditch, Marwood is drawn into the political and religious intrigue of Westminster – and across the path of a killer with nothing to lose…
Don – NR – He couldn't get beyond the first 50 pages
Gabriel – Poor – The city on fire was the most impressive part.
Katie – Okay – This read this the most recently of the three books but it made the least impression on her. She did like Cat and how she dealt with things.
LJ – VG – Although I wished there was more included about the actual fire, I really enjoyed this. The two protagonists, James Marwood and Cat, were both wonderful characters, as was Cat's aunt. There was a lot of history about which I'd previously known very little, especially the regicide of Charles I, and the Fifth Monarchists, and we see some of their characteristics in groups today. I also enjoyed the inclusion of actual historical figures such as Christopher Wren, and information about the planning for the rebuilding of London after the Great Fire. It was tantalizing the way Taylor would bring the two protagonists close to one another, then apart, then close again.
Marcy S – VG – She is nearly finished with it and is enjoying it. She doesn't feel it provides a strong sense of the 17th Century, though. She was very interested to learn how long Bedlam has been around (since the 1200s).
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: Good
OAKLAND NOIR (Akashic Noir)(Anthology-various-Oakland, CA-Contemp) - Standalone - Jerry Thompson (Editor), Eddie Muller (Editor)
Brand-new stories by: Nick Petrulakis, Kim Addonizio, Keenan Norris, Keri Miki-Lani Schroeder, Katie Gilmartin, Dorothy Lazard, Harry Louis Williams II, Carolyn Alexander, Phil Canalin, Judy Juanita, Jamie DeWolf, Nayomi Munaweera, Mahmud Rahman, Tom McElravey, Joe Loya, and Eddie Muller.
Corona – VG – She has read two of the stories, so far, and really liked them. She will definitely be reading more of them.
Don – VG+ - He likes the format and has read a few of the "Noir" anthologies. He liked that there are different styles, settings and even that some stories are mysteries while some are not. However, they all give you a real taste of the City.
Gabriel – Good – Liked some of the stories more than others. He particularly liked the historical ones. In "Survivors of Heartache," the twist wasn't set up by the story, and she felt "The Huntsman" was over-the-top in its horrific-ness.
Jeanne – VG – She likes this format, being a big fan of noir. Some of the stories are better than others. "The Murder of Saviors" felt as though it could have been stretched out; she wanted more. "A Town Made of Hustle" was her favorite.
Katie – VG – Really liked it. She's not usually a short story reader, but these she enjoyed. The first, "The Bridge Tender," seemed like a snapshot of the moment.
LJ – VG – I loved the introduction. It made me think "This is why I've lived in Oakland for 40 years!". I read "The Bridge Tender" as I frequently go across that bridge—"This bridge is important—she connects us to California. Don't diminish her."--and although the story broke my heart, the writing was superb. I shall definitely be reading more of these stories bit-by-bit.
March G – VG - thought it a very good selection for the group. I liked some stories better than others and thought the book on the whole was very good.
Marcy S – VG – She has so far read three of the stories. She's not usually a short-story fan, but the first story "The Bridge Tender," was powerful. She also enjoyed the one set in Alameda, "The Handyman." She didn't care for "The Wishing Well" as she didn't like the character. She really enjoyed the description of the series and the conversation between the two editors.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: Very Good