HEAVEN'S PRISONERS (Pol Proc-Dave Robicheaux-Louisiana-Contemp) – 2nd in series – James Lee Burke Vietnam vet Dave Robicheaux has turned in his detective’s badge, is winning his battle against booze, and has left New Orleans with his wife for the tranquil beauty of Louisiana’s bayous. But a plane crash on the Gulf brings a young girl into his life—and with her comes a netherworld of murder, deception, and homegrown crime. Suddenly Robicheaux is confronting Bubba Rocque, a brutal hood he’s known since childhood; Rocque’s hungry Cajun wife; and a Federal agent with more guts than sense. In a backwater world where a swagger and a gun go further than the law, Robicheaux and those he loves are caught on a tide of violence far bigger than them all.
Don – VG – It's obviously early in the character as he reminded Don of someone who doesn't like himself. Thought it was good, but likes the character better in the later books. Liked the setting and the style. Gabriel – Okay – Didn't like it so much. He did like the long, vivid descriptions a lot—that's why he read most of the book. About halfway through, he was impatient for it to be over. Liked the atmosphere of the rural Cajun country—there was a real sense of place. Robicheaux is a fairly nuanced, complex character, but he still didn't like how he's a macho man who goes around beating people up for information (even if he's supposed to have a behavior problem). And why didn't they ask the girl her name? Kathy – VG – Really liked the characters but found it interesting to have this set early in Louisiana. Burke develops atmosphere and characters really well. Katie – Poor - The characters (especially the women) fell too much into noir cliches for me. There were too many bad guys who weren't differentiated enough from one another. I did enjoy some of the lyrical descriptions and the realistic portrayal of someone in early sobriety, but they weren't enough to salvage the book for me. GROUP RATING AVERAGE: Good
BEWARE OF THE PAST (Susp-Matt Ballard-England-Contemp) – Standalone – Joy Ellis When Matt Ballard was starting out his career, three boys were murdered in the same area, the remote and bleak Gibbet Fen. When the main suspect was killed in a hit-and-run, the killings stopped. But Matt was not satisfied that the real murderer had been caught. Over 25 years later, Matt gets a photo in an unmarked envelope. It’s of the Gibbet Fen crime scene. And the picture was taken before the murder took place. More photos arrive, relating to the historic murders, as well as intimate pictures of Matt’s very secret private life. Then another murder happens, with some of the hallmarks of the old case. Has the killer returned or is this just a sick copycat determined to ruin Matt’s life and reputation? Everyone around Matt is in danger as the killer plays mind games with the detective.
Don – Okay – Liked it but realized the protagonist was overdone. He did want to know how it ended, but found he couldn't connect with some of the characters. Charlotte - - Read half and it's keeping her entertained but she doesn't like some of the themes. Christine – Poor – Was half-way through and thought it was okay but then the theme got to her and she thought the situation with the police was bizarre. Liked the first half, really didn't like the second half. Jeanne - - Kept her interested but she didn't care for some of the themes either. She will keep going as the writer does invest the reader with the killer's POV.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: NR – Not Recommended
FLASHMAN (The Flashman Papers) (HistMys-Harry Flashman-Afghanstan-19th Cent) – 1st in series- George MacDonald Frazer Expelled from Rugby for drunkenness, and none too welcome at home after seducing his father's mistress, the young Flashman embarks on a military career with Lord Cardigan's Hussars. En route to Afghanistan, our hero hones his skills as a soldier, duellist, imposter, coward and amorist (mastering all 97 ways of Hindu love-making during a brief sojourn in Calcutta), before being pressed into reluctant service as a secret agent. His Afghan adventures culminate in a starring role in that great historic disaster, the Retreat from Kabul.
Cindy – Good – She read "Flashman on the March" and really liked it. It felt like a spoof of the books from that period which were seriously meant. Don – G+ - Was a decent reflection of the period. Gabriel – DNF – Flashman is a loathsome character and is meant to be. There's something else that made it hard for Gabriel to read, but he couldn't put his finger one it. Katie – Poor - Seemed like this was parodying something - the British adventure story - that doesn't really have any air in it to be parodied these days. And, I know it was written for a different time, but the cavalier treatment of rape was still really off-putting. GROUP RATING AVERAGE: Okay
Vietnam vet Dave Robicheaux has turned in his detective’s badge, is winning his battle against booze, and has left New Orleans with his wife for the tranquil beauty of Louisiana’s bayous. But a plane crash on the Gulf brings a young girl into his life—and with her comes a netherworld of murder, deception, and homegrown crime. Suddenly Robicheaux is confronting Bubba Rocque, a brutal hood he’s known since childhood; Rocque’s hungry Cajun wife; and a Federal agent with more guts than sense. In a backwater world where a swagger and a gun go further than the law, Robicheaux and those he loves are caught on a tide of violence far bigger than them all.
Don – VG – It's obviously early in the character as he reminded Don of someone who doesn't like himself. Thought it was good, but likes the character better in the later books. Liked the setting and the style.
Gabriel – Okay – Didn't like it so much. He did like the long, vivid descriptions a lot—that's why he read most of the book. About halfway through, he was impatient for it to be over. Liked the atmosphere of the rural Cajun country—there was a real sense of place. Robicheaux is a fairly nuanced, complex character, but he still didn't like how he's a macho man who goes around beating people up for information (even if he's supposed to have a behavior problem). And why didn't they ask the girl her name?
Kathy – VG – Really liked the characters but found it interesting to have this set early in Louisiana. Burke develops atmosphere and characters really well.
Katie – Poor - The characters (especially the women) fell too much into noir cliches for me. There were too many bad guys who weren't differentiated enough from one another. I did enjoy some of the lyrical descriptions and the realistic portrayal of someone in early sobriety, but they weren't enough to salvage the book for me.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: Good
BEWARE OF THE PAST (Susp-Matt Ballard-England-Contemp) – Standalone – Joy Ellis
When Matt Ballard was starting out his career, three boys were murdered in the same area, the remote and bleak Gibbet Fen. When the main suspect was killed in a hit-and-run, the killings stopped. But Matt was not satisfied that the real murderer had been caught. Over 25 years later, Matt gets a photo in an unmarked envelope. It’s of the Gibbet Fen crime scene. And the picture was taken before the murder took place. More photos arrive, relating to the historic murders, as well as intimate pictures of Matt’s very secret private life. Then another murder happens, with some of the hallmarks of the old case. Has the killer returned or is this just a sick copycat determined to ruin Matt’s life and reputation? Everyone around Matt is in danger as the killer plays mind games with the detective.
Don – Okay – Liked it but realized the protagonist was overdone. He did want to know how it ended, but found he couldn't connect with some of the characters.
Charlotte - - Read half and it's keeping her entertained but she doesn't like some of the themes.
Christine – Poor – Was half-way through and thought it was okay but then the theme got to her and she thought the situation with the police was bizarre. Liked the first half, really didn't like the second half.
Jeanne - - Kept her interested but she didn't care for some of the themes either. She will keep going as the writer does invest the reader with the killer's POV.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: NR – Not Recommended
FLASHMAN (The Flashman Papers) (HistMys-Harry Flashman-Afghanstan-19th Cent) – 1st in series- George MacDonald Frazer
Expelled from Rugby for drunkenness, and none too welcome at home after seducing his father's mistress, the young Flashman embarks on a military career with Lord Cardigan's Hussars. En route to Afghanistan, our hero hones his skills as a soldier, duellist, imposter, coward and amorist (mastering all 97 ways of Hindu love-making during a brief sojourn in Calcutta), before being pressed into reluctant service as a secret agent. His Afghan adventures culminate in a starring role in that great historic disaster, the Retreat from Kabul.
Cindy – Good – She read "Flashman on the March" and really liked it. It felt like a spoof of the books from that period which were seriously meant.
Don – G+ - Was a decent reflection of the period.
Gabriel – DNF – Flashman is a loathsome character and is meant to be. There's something else that made it hard for Gabriel to read, but he couldn't put his finger one it.
Katie – Poor - Seemed like this was parodying something - the British adventure story - that doesn't really have any air in it to be parodied these days. And, I know it was written for a different time, but the cavalier treatment of rape was still really off-putting.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: Okay