Edge of Danger, by Jack Higgins

Sean Dillion, the Irish clandestine agent working for the British government, and his American counterpart, Blake Johnson, are up against the rich and powerful Rashid family in this latest thriller from Higgins.  The family, part British, part Arab, is enraged about a joint American and Russian plan to develop oil in the Middle East--without cutting in the Rashids as part of the deal.  Paul Rashid, the head of the family, hires an assassin to kill the American president as a warning to both countries to drop their plans.  When the American assassination attempt fails, the Rashids are not deterred and they focus on the Russian premier, hiring an Irish terrorist to do the job.  Dillion and Johnson are alerted to the plot and they must join forces to protect the Russian premier on his visit to London.  This was a pretty good international thriller but I'd like to see Higgins occasionally write a novel with different characters than those of this series.  I think he and his readers would benefit from a change of pace.
 

A Traitor to Memory, by Elizabeth George

I look forward to a new Elizabeth George novel almost more than any other author.  She has a terrific London mystery series going with two main characters--Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and his partner Constable Barbara Havers, one of my all-time favorites.  In this latest installment, they are investigating, along with the help of Winston Nkata, the hit and run death of sixtysomething Eugenie Davies.  They soon discover that her death was not an accident but murder.  As the mystery unfolds, we are introduced in alternate chapters to the diary of Gabriel Davies, Eugenie's son and a celebrated concert violinist.  Gabriel has lost the ability to play the violin and has sought the help of a psychiatrist--who has urged him to write the diary as part of his therapy.  As the Lynley team looks into why someone would want to murder Eugenie, they discover a previous mysterious murder in the Davies family from twenty years ago.  Is there a link between the two murders that will help them solve the case?  I loved this book and especially enjoyed the intricate plotting, the dual mysteries, and George's wonderfully interesting characters.
 

Point Deception, by Marcia Muller

Ok, I have to confess that Ms. Muller hasn't been one of my favorite authors.  I think I read one or two of her Sharon McCone mysteries but maybe because I didn't get in on the ground floor with the series the characters left me underwhelmed and I haven't gone out of my way to seek out a new McCone book.  Happily, that's all changed with her latest book--which introduces a brand new character.  Rhoda Swift is a deputy sheriff in fictional, coastal Soledad County of California.  Thirteen years ago, as a rookie, Rhoda was the initial investigator of a mass murder at a remote estate in the county.  Perhaps due to some mistakes in the investigation, the horrific crime was never solved and Rhoda has always felt partially responsible.  Now, as another anniversary of the crime approaches, a young woman is found murdered on the coast near Point Deception.  Rhoda is determined to solve this murder and put to rest some of her demons.  Also fighting internal demons is New York author Guy Newberry, who has come to town to investigate the mass murder for  a book he is writing.  Rhoda is initially uncomfortable with Guy stirring up the past but soon they are joining forces in an attempt to solve both murder cases.  I very much enjoyed this nice departure from the McCone series and I hope Muller has a sequel planned.
 

Hollywood Wives--The New Generation, by Jackie Collins

Well, the "new generation" is a lot like the old one.  Which is to say, Hollywood women making either poor career moves or poor choices in men. Or, possibly both in some cases.  Let's roll the credits.  Getting above the title billing is Lisa Roman, a film and singing superstar married to her fourth husband, an abusive freeloader who is also cheating on her.  Co-starring is Nicci Stone, Lisa's wild nineteen-year-old daughter who is engaged to filmmaker Evan Richter but secretly attracted to his brother, Brian.  Also featured is fortysomething Taylor Singer.  Taylor pretty much gave up her film career when she married her powerful movie producer husband, Lawrence Singer.  Now she is trying to get a script she wrote made into a movie.  When she gets no help from her husband, she becomes romantically involved with Oliver Rock, an up and coming screenwriter.  There is usually a nasty non-Hollywood player in most Collins novels and making a loathsome guest appearance in this one is Eric Vernon, a lowlife who plots the kidnapping of Nicci for a huge ransom.  Jackie's latest Tinseltown tale is a lot of fun but you may find yourself wanting to give these women a good talking to.
 

Valhalla Rising, by Clive Cussler

A brand new ship.  A brand new ship that is supposedly unsinkable.  A brand new ship that is supposedly unsinkable on its maiden voyage.  And, it is sinking. Sound familiar?  No, not another Titanic book.  This sinking ship is a twenty-first century marvel with revolutionary engines being tried for the first time. Sinister forces have sabotaged the ship in an effort to discredit the new technology before it gains a foothold in the marketplace.  Dirk Pitt, our intrepid marine explorer, spearheads the rescue of the sinking ship's passengers and discovers the sabotage.  Another new ship using the same revolutionary engines--this one a submarine built for cruise passengers--will soon be launched.  Dirk believes the submarine will be the next target and he is determined to find the saboteurs.  Great suspense and adventure and there's some interesting history thrown in, too.

 

Back to the Library Home Page

Comments to Bill McCleary