Hubert Schuze is a potter and mild mannered shop keeper in Albuquerque who is also known to some as “The Pot Thief.” Expelled from the University of New Mexico for digging outside the official dig site (even though –or maybe because, he found some great artifacts), Hubert has none the less, put his knowledge and talent to good use over the years. While selling legitimate pots in one shop, he also sells reproductions he makes in a neighboring shop. And what is Hubert’s side business? That’s where it gets interesting. Because Hubie has been known to “reacquire” pots from collectors and return them to their rightful owners-while making a bit for himself as well.

In The Pot Thief Who Studied Ptolemy, Hubert is approached by Walter Masoir, a professor forced out of the University because he disagreed with the department chair on returning all artifacts back to the native peoples. Masoir believes that when the various artifacts were eventually returned, some very old pots from the San Roque Pueblo were in fact kept by the same department chair who forced him out. He believes that Ogan Gerstner has the pots in his loft and he wants Hubert to steal them so that they can be returned to the Pueblo. That sets up the mystery for Schuze to solve.

Orenduff has created an extremely likeable protagonist in Hubert Schuze. He’s a thief, but for all of the “right” reasons much like Block’s Bernie Rhodenbarr. In fact, this series is very much like the Block series with a couple of interesting twists. The books take place in and around Albuquerque instead of New York City, and all of the crimes deal with the Indian culture of the Southwest. Also, Orenduff has tied each of the books to a mathematician. Sprinkled throughout the book are references to not only what that person is known for, but other tidbits about his life. That element however, was stronger in the first book, The Pot Thief Who Studied Pythagoras than this one, but is interesting none the less.

This book, at a little shy of two hundred and fifty pages, is a fairly quick read, but a highly enjoyable one for sure. Readers who have enjoyed the Bernie Rhodenbarr books will surely dig right in to this series. Fans of books set in the Southwest, among Native Cultures and who like their mysteries to be a bit on the light-hearted side will find these pleasing as well.

Karen Vail, renowned FBI profiler, returns in Velocity, but this time her case takes an ominous and deathly turn. Vail’s boyfriend, Detective Robby Hernandez, has disappeared and little trace of him can be found, except for a blood stain and a very tenuous connection to local suspects already involved in another crime. The tension and stress keep Vail and her task force running as they know that the next forty-eight to seventy-two hours are critical in a missing person’s case.

Just as the pieces of information come together, and they close in on a suspect’s trail, Vail is suddenly called back to Quantico to handle a case of vital importance. Frustrated with the delay and being far from the case, Vail turns to Hector DeSantos, a covert government operative, to help her with the case. DeSantos uncovers confidential information that sends Vail reeling with shock, and sets her and DeSantos on a dangerous path, a path neither one could foresaw at the beginning, one that could threaten many careers, lives, and everything else one holds dear. In order for Vail to save the one she loves, she will have to negotiate the dangerous waters of the drug cartels and learn some shocking truths – truths that will have a profound effect on her life.

Velocity was a pulse-pounding ride that did not stop from beginning to end. The novel was full of twists and turns, shocking secrets and truths, government operations, suspense, and thrills. If you are innocent of the drug cartels and some of their inner workings, you won’t be after reading this book, and I found myself really contemplating the infiltration of the drugs into our society and how deep it really is. Mr. Jacobson held no punches when it came to explaining the drug situation along the U.S./Mexico border and how some of the drugs make it into the United States, and explained it in such a way that it was clear, but frightening. I was impressed at his research and at the list of F.B.I . and D.E.A. and other agencies he made use of in order to gather the information for this book.

The plot was interesting, full of detail and description, definitely full of twists and turns, and suspenseful. I would recommend that you read Crush before reading this novel however, as it took me a while to orient myself with the characters and some of the events as this book picks up pretty much where Crush left off and it can be confusing if you don’t know what’s going on. I also found some of the law enforcement lingo confusing as many acronyms were used and I didn’t know what they meant. I understand that Mr. Jacobson was trying to be true to how it really would be like as a law enforcement officer, but to a normal person, some of the language can go right over our heads, and this does take away somewhat from the story.

I enjoyed the characters, but I can’t say that I totally connected with them at all times. I didn’t always understand Karen Vail, although I did admire her sheer guts and determination to find Robby no matter what the cost. There were some things she did that I did not like, but when I put myself in her place, I wondered if I would have acted the same way, desperate. She was thinking as a woman instead of a F.B.I. Agent many times and this often got her in trouble with her superior officer. There were many other interesting characters, but I didn’t really get to know them well because the action was the main part of the story and not character development. I would have loved to have known more about Hector DeSantos as he seemed so interesting. Perhaps in the next book?

All in all, this was a fun, interesting read, with a depth to it that was surprising. I am looking forward to reading more about Karen Vail and her colleagues in the future.

Reporter Nick Daniels was at the wrong place at the wrong time that particular day when he had lunch at Lombardo’s Steakhouse. He was there to interview the famous, really infamous, retired pitcher for the Yankees, Dwayne Robinson. Robinson at one time had been the best pitcher around, striking out twenty people in a single game against Oakland, a Cy Young winner. But when Dwayne failed to show up to pitch in a decisive game seven in the World Series against the Dodgers, and disappeared for seventy-two hours, only then to be found lying naked on the floor of his apartment barely conscious by his super, he went from being the hero to the goat overnight. Dwayne hated to grant interviews, because he was uncomfortable around a lot of people, so Nick had jumped at the chance to interview him.

Too bad the interview was stopped before it really got started by a violent mob hit. The hired killer came behind his victim, Vincent Marcozza., the consigliere or lawyer of the Mafia don Eddie “The Prince,” Pinero, with a scalpel, and sliced his eyes out, “like a pumpkin.” Bruno Torenzi, the assassin, said he had a message from Eddie, saying into Vincent’s ear as he lay dying of blood loss the words: “Justice is blind.” And Nick was there, capturing it all on his recorder, solid evidence that Pinero had Marcozza whacked because his lawyer had uncharacteristically bombed out in court, resulting in Pinero’s conviction.

This is just the start of Don’t Blink, the latest action-packed, violent, edge-of your-seat thriller by the duo of James Patterson and Howard Roughan. I haven’t read many novels by Patterson, just the Alex Cross books I, Alex Cross and Cross Country, but I enjoyed reading those two very much. He’s one of today’s most talented and prolific authors, and I’ve often wondered how any one man can churn out as many well-written, suspenseful bestsellers as he does so consistently and frequently. I say “one man,” but some of his novels, like this one, are collaborations. This is the first Nick Daniels novel that Patterson and Roughan have written, but they also co-authored Honeymoon and Sail.

Just out in the stores this September, Don’t Blink is already being referred to as “the scariest Mafia thriller since The Godfather.” This is high praise–I haven’t read Mario Puzo’s novel, so I can’t really say how true this statement is, but the movie is one of my (and most people’s) favorites of all time. I can honestly say that the novel grabs you from its Prologue titled “In The Wink Of A Blink Of An Eye,” with the gruesome scene of Marcozza’s eyes getting sliced out, and I was hooked, not wanting to put the book down until I was finished reading it. There are twist and turns to the very end of it that kept my eyes riveted to the pages. Nick Daniels is a likeable three-dimensional character you’ll want to cheer on and root for, and his blind fourteen- year-old niece, Elizabeth, is engaging and steals almost every scene she’s in.

The plot thickens and the intrigue heightens when Nick realizes that, as bad as Pinero is, and as terrible a performance that his lawyer gave in court, Eddie is being set up to take the fall for hiring the hit man to murder Vinnie. What better way to muscle into Eddie’s territory than to frame him, unless it would be to kill him? And, when Dwayne Robinson apparently commits suicide by jumping out of his apartment window and falling to his death, Nick begins to wonder what role Dwayne had to play in it, also. Somebody very well connected, politically or criminally or both, he reasons, must be behind the killings.

That is just the start of the body count that begins to mount up. Nick’s own life is threatened, and no matter where he goes, he can’t get away from whomever it is that’s trying to kill him. Even when he’s placed under police protection, that’s not good enough–Bruno kills the two cops assigned to guard him. It doesn’t seem to matter what Nick does, it’s like he’s being watched, wherever he goes. And there are people who are willing to murder for the flash drive he has, that his friend, the DA Derrick Phalen, had given him posthumously–after having his own eyes sliced out.

Don’t Blink by James Patterson and Howard Roughan will ensure that you won’t want to shut your eyes or put the book down until it’s finished. It has everything that one could want in a great crime thriller, including violence, warring Mafia families, the Russian mob, crooked politicians, and, oh, did I say violence yet? I can’t wait to read more novels featuring reporter Nick Daniels in the future! If you are like me, and enjoy reading fast-paced, action-packed novels in the Crime and Thriller genres, then you’ll want to check out Don’t Blink today!

When teenager Jennifer Maidment is murdered and mutilated, Tony Hill, criminal profiler is called to Worcester to help with the case. It is revealed that Jennifer and her friends are fans of the social network Rigmarole. Jennifer left her friend to meet with someone she had connected with on Rigmarole and was not seen again alive. The person Jennifer went to meet is known as ZZ. Jennifer is the first teenager to disappear but she will not be the last.

Meanwhile back in Bradfield, Detective Chief Inspector Carol Jordan is still heading up the Major Incident Unit but has been put on notice by the new Chief Constable that her team is on a three month trial and at the end of the three months, there might be major changes in the unit. The Chief Constable also informs Jordan that Tony Hill is too expensive and if a profiler is necessary, she needs to request one from the newly trained profiling unit.

A teen-aged boy is reported missing in Jordan’s district. The boy’s body is found and he has been victimized in the same manner of Jennifer Maidment. The boy also has a connection to Rigmarole and has a special friend on the network who goes by just initials. Tony and Carol are both investigating along the same lines but unable to share information with each other.

They are both beginning to believe that there is a violent killer using the social network to attract victims and kill in a way that is very gruesome as well as puzzling. As the victim list gets larger, the two are finally able to put their findings together and go after a killer who is unlike any they have come across before.
While trying to track down the killer, both Tony and Carol are also working on finding out more about Tony’s father. Tony has just recently learned the name of his father and received an inheritance from him.

The hunt for the killer takes front and center but the back-story regarding Tony’s family adds an interesting element. Fever of the Bone is the best Val McDermid novel I’ve read to date.

Nurse Bess Crawford is returning to England with a number of severely wounded soldiers from the battlefields in France. Among them was a severely burned victim, a pilot. His bandages had to be changed every hour and the way he looked would be enough to make anyone cringe due to the fact that he had several open burn wounds. It was believed that the one thing that kept this soldier alive was the photo of his wife that was pinned to his tunic.

While at London’s Waterloo train station, Bess notices a woman and a soldier. The woman appears to be very upset and crying. Bess could not get over the fact that the soldier did not seem to reach out to the woman to provide some kind of comfort. As Bess caught a glimpse of the woman’s face, she could not believe what she saw. There was no mistake about it. This woman is the same person in the photo the burn victim has pinned to his tunic. What is going on?

Almost by accident, Bess discovers that the mysterious woman has been murdered. The murder happened the same day that Bess saw the woman and the soldier at the train station. When her husband is told this tragic news, he commits suicide. Bess is granted leave to give her information to Scotland Yard.

Bess now finds herself involved deeper and deeper in the case. Will she be able to help solve this case?

From the moment I started reading An Impartial Witness, it just had the feel of an eerie story. It is one that is haunting and stays with the reader for a time after one is finished reading the book. The writing team of Charles Todd does an excellent job of presenting the historical facts of the time and this makes for a very interesting read. The storyline moves along at a good pace and keeps the reader intrigued. There are several characters involved in the story and the authors do a good job with their descriptions so the reader can keep track of everyone. An Impartial Witness is a great read from an excellent writing team.

Melanie Cooper, and her long time friend Angie DeLaura have opened Fairy Tale Cupcakes thanks to the financial backing of Tate Harper. They have done everything right. The décor is oh so retro with its pretty pink and gray. They’ve come up with a popular array of signature cupcakes such as Tinkerbells and Blonde Bombshells and are even offering classes in making specialty drink flavored cupcakes (think Mojitos). While more customers by the day are finding the cupcakes irresistible, the owner of the other bakery in town is not a happy. In fact, she is nearly stalking the place in her pink van. Unfortunately, that is not the only problem the girls are going to have.

When Tate convinces his fiancé to have cupcakes for their wedding, Mel and Angie have to work with the control freak perfectionist Christie. Christie wants exclusive cupcakes flavors for her wedding-five different kinds, and she wants samples to evaluate by the end of the week. When Mel goes to the meeting with her, she finds Christie dead. Immediately she becomes the number one suspect. Working to clear her name and save her business, Mel soon finds any number of other viable suspects. Despite her reputation as a top designer, Christie was not a popular person. The problem is, the evidence keeps piling up against Mel-or at least against someone connected to Fairy Tale Cupcakes.

Sprinkle with Murder is a laugh out loud fun book to read. At times the antics of Angie and Mel are reminiscent of another well known couple of friends-Ethel and Lucy. While readers might be tempted to roll their eyes once or twice, it’s sure to bring a smile if not a laugh most of the time.

With mystery series set in every imaginable type of shop or featuring every kind of food popping up these days, it’s hard for an author to carve out an audience and find a niche. Hopefully enough readers will visit McKinlay’s Fairy Tale Cupcakes to make this series successful. In the wide open market of food and shop oriented mysteries, Sprinkle with Murder is one of the best.

In this the sixteenth book with Anna Pigeon as the protagonist, Barr takes a break from the wilds of the National Parks as readers are used to and puts Anna on administrative leave in New Orleans. Before even settling in to her friend Geneva’s guest cottage, Anna becomes involved in an incident retrieving a wayward dog for a strange young man. Jordan, the young man was not at all appreciative of the gesture.

But before readers get too comfortable following this plot line, they are whisked off to Washington State and meet Clare on arguably the worst night of her life. She returns home from a quick errand to find her two girls missing. What follows is not for the faint of heart.

Eventually, the two threads twist together creating a heart wrenching, though grim tale that could only take place in a city like New Orleans. Where costumed people wandering around at all hours are considered perfectly normal and voodoo shops abound.

While this book is certainly well plotted out and a thrilling ride for readers from cover to cover, there are a couple of things that may put faithful readers off this book a bit. Anna’s personal life has been up and down throughout the series. She’s struggled with alcohol, flirted with a possible female relationship, had a rocky long term on and off relationship with one guy and then finally settled in with the minister/sheriff from Mississippi. And now she’s married and Barr doesn’t seem to know what to do with Anna’s husband. In the previous book they were on their honeymoon and in Burn Anna is on leave thus explaining his absence. But at some point, if the series is going to continue, Anna is going to have a long term assignment in a park and then what happens with the husband based in Mississippi?

The second thing that might well leave Barr’s regular readers a little unhappy is really tied to the first. Most of her followers read the Pigeon books because of the National Park settings. They might, as I did, overlook one urban adventure thrown in, but for the most part, they want Anna in a park managing errant wildlife and policing unruly tourists. This is what Barr is so very good at-to the point that the National Park Service uses her in some of their literature! Anna needs to get back in her uniform and the park system.

Richard Dean wants to hire Joe hunter for a job. The job is very personal to Dean since it involves his daughter. Dean believes her very rich boyfriend Bradley Jorgensen is abusing his daughter, Marianne. Hunter works with an ex-Ranger known as Rink.

Hunter decides to accept the job. Dean does not care what Hunter has to do to get Marianne away from Jorgensen. His main goal is for Hunter to accomplish this task any way possible. After a nonchalant meeting with Marianne, Hunter sees a woman who seems happy with no signs of abuse. Even after dropping a few hints that he could help her, Marianne did not appear to need anything from Joe Hunter.

Dantalion, a hired killer, has been contracted to kill Jorgensen and Marianne. Dantalion’s first attempt was unsuccessful because Hunter happened to be there and saved the couple. Who has hired Dantalion to kill this couple and why?

Other questions remain in Hunter’s mind such as is Marianne covering up for her boyfriend? Is he abusing her? What is she hiding?

What appeared to be a simple job is now much more complicated for Hunter. Is he able to find out what is really going on between Marianne and Jorgensen?

Judgment and Wrath is an action packed thriller that will take the reader on a wild chase. It is an excellent follow-up to Dead Men’s Dust. What really makes this story interesting is the way Joe Hunter uses his training as a member of the Special Forces to help him get out of dangerous situations. The chapters alternate between Joe Hunter and the contract killer, Dantalion. This adds an interesting twist to the story as the reader can put the pieces together and end up getting a good idea of what is coming down the pike. Joe Hunter is someone you definitely want on your side!

Miracle Cure is one of Harlan Coben’s earliest novels and it is somewhat different from the books he writes today. The story is about an Aids Clinic and a series of Gay Slasher murders that appear to be tied to the clinic.

The action starts with the brutal beating and eventual murder of one of the heads of the clinic. He had just arrived back in the States from their storage facility in Bangkok. The killer made the murder appear to be a suicide as the body was found outside the motel where the man was to have spent the night. A forced suicide note and busted out window made it look as though the man had taken his own life.

Two good friends of the Clinic’s doctor/owners happen to be a professional basketball player, Michael Silverman and his wife, Sara Lowell, who is a television reporter. They are not only remorseful about the death of the partner but also shocked at the recent deaths of several patients of the clinic. They were killed in what appears to be homophobic murders. And the surviving doctor/owner, Harvey Riker, is completely devastated by the three deaths.
A U.S. congressman and a holier than thou preacher also become quite involved in the dealings as they are attempting to shut down the clinic completely. Although their reasons are different they both are adamant about the hoped for results.

Max Bernstein, the homicide detective assigned to the case, is an acquaintance of both Sara and Michael. As he begins to get into the investigation of the murders/suicide Michael suddenly becomes violently ill and is diagnosed at first with hepatitis. However later testing shows that he has Aids that most probably was contracted from a transfusion that he had to have when he was injured in a boating accident in the Bahamas.

Throughout the story the hired killer is going about his business of “taking care of business” and the police are trying to figure out all the connections.

There are many twists and additional subplots woven into the master theme all of which holds the reader’s attention but doesn’t give up the mastermind behind the endeavor until the end.

Somewhat unusual for Coben is the appearance of a bit more foul language and sex as opposed to his later writings. Perhaps he felt that they were unnecessary and he decided to just write without the use of those tools.

The ending is pretty much a surprise for the reader as of the possible suspects the actual culprit is pretty much a true mystery though an integral part of the story.

A well-written political thriller that brings forth many of the corrupt happenings that occur in the political arena. Hopefully the killings and beatings that happen in this telling do not actually occur on a daily basis. But the other shady dealings do without question and none of us are sure about the more gruesome aspects. Who knows?

Lincoln Bowe is an ex-U.S. senator who is now missing and strangely enough few people seem to be concerned. He is estranged from his wife, Madison, and though she still feels for him she is more concerned about Arlo Goodman and his Watchmen. Arlo is the governor of Virginia and wants to be at least the Vice President of the United States and Madison Bowe believes he will do anything to get that position.

Jake Winter is a published writer of political happenings. Also he is a veteran who was wounded in Afghanistan and now along with his writing he works for Bill Danzig, the President’s Chief of Staff. Jake has a great reputation for knowing his way around Washington. His military background has kept him sharp mentally and physically, despite a limp from shrapnel that ended his military career.

Danzig asks Jake to begin digging into the disappearance of Lincoln Bowe because of the political ramifications. As Jake does so he becomes entwined with Madison Bowe, the estranged wife.

When Lincoln Bowe’s body is found it appears that he was murdered by a gunshot wound but strangely enough he was also decapitated. The decapitation was done after he died.

During the investigation Bowe is discovered to have been homosexual and the usual thoughts then arise as to whether he was killed by a former lover or perhaps by some hardnosed members of the Watchmen. The Watchmen started as a political group but have become somewhat like vigilantes working under Arlo Goodman’s brother. And they have been known to get rather rough at times in getting things done.

Another subplot of the story involves the possibility of a “package” which has some damaging evidence against the Vice President. This package involves some possible kickbacks that came about while he was in Wisconsin politics.

Danzig sends Winter off to get information so that the President can make decisions about the coming elections. During the investigation Jake becomes very involved with Madison Bowe and both she and Jake get involved in much more than they had ever envisioned.

John Sandford as usual has put together a story with a lot of action and limited sex and/or foul language. Just a great read that will hold your attention throughout!