Intricate yet accessible plotting and near-Arctic winter weather mark the 10th Harry Dresden adventure from bestseller Butcher (after 2007's White Night).A friendly snowball fight opens the Chicago-based wizard-detective's latest tale, but it's not long before a host of more dangerous foes are out for Harry's blood. A missing human mobster is said to be seeking greater influence among Chicago's extranormal population, but the true threat proves both more subtle and of much greater consequence. Butcher smoothly manages a sizable cast of allies and adversaries, doles out needed backstory with crisp efficiency and sustains just the right balance of hair's-breadth tension and comic relief... Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Fun book. Philip Marlowe + Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Hard to believe it's on book 10. Just started reading them last year. Recommended.
Rex Mundi: Book 2: The River Underground.
"Doctor Julien Saunière follows the trail of conspiracy that extends all the way to the walls of Jerusalem during the first crusade. Rex Mundi is a quest for the Holy Grail told as a murder mystery.
In a Europe where sorcerers stalk the streets and the Catholic Church reigns supreme, Julien pursues a truth that could change the world forever. Powerful forces have dedicated themselves to ensuring he does not succeed. It is a tale of sin, murder and magic in an alternate-history Europe where magic is real and the Catholic Church never lost its grip on power."
I'm a sucker for a good religious conspiracy. They've done some fascinating world building in this series too. Rolling out a little slow for my tastes, plot wise, but I'd be lying if I didn't say the journey is pretty damn fascinating.
The Street Lawyer: John Grisham:
"Looking for a romantic, hardboiled legal drama with a social conscience? Look no further....Brock's charmed life and his decision to quit the firm after being held hostage by a disgruntled homeless man. Moved by a crisis of conscience, Brock seeks out the gravel-throated, streetwise legal aid counselor Mordecai Green. Green shows him the ropes, and Brock soon becomes part of the scenery he used to look down on from his plush 14th-floor office. Meanwhile, our hero is on the lam for stealing an important file that holds the secret to an illegal eviction--one that may lead to a murder charge. Faced with a failing marriage, a client on crack, and the threat of disbarment, Michael has plenty to think about as he and Mordecai negotiate a fair settlement for the victims of an inexcusable crime."
Like most Grisham books, an extremely quick read. [2 days, maybe?] A good thriller though. Set around DC, so that was kind of nostalgic. Interesting legal and philosophical machinations. If you dig Grisham, you'll dig this. I did.
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Black Dossier: Alan Moore,Kevin O'Neill:
"...the latest installment of Moore's pastiche of public domain literary figures is finally here and it's worth the wait. In 1958, two mysterious figures steal the Black Dossier, a compendium of information and articles relating to the league's most renowned incarnation, the group headed by the intrepid Mina Murray.
The theft launches a tense chase as the thieves fight to stay one step ahead of thuggish government agents while reading the contents of the dossier, pieces that shed light on centuries-worth of secret and bizarre intrigues.
Moore and O'Neill are in top form, crafting a virtually flawless fusion of prose and visuals that's an overwhelmingly dense and exhaustive nod to pre-existing works in media ranging from literature, legends, television and film, teasing the reader in the know with appearances by Orwellian totalitarianism, Lovecraftian abominations, Jeeves and Wooster, Bulldog Drummond, Ian Fleming's famed double-o operative, lusty Fanny Hill and a host of others, capped with a section requiring 3-D glasses (included). Too loaded with content to be fully absorbed in one reading, this is a challenging, adult volume that's a delight for fans of pop culture and lovers of heroic adventure. (Nov.) Copyright © Reed Busines"
The summary is spot on. Complex, dense, highly enjoyable. Parts I struggled with, other parts were absolutely tremendous. Sure there's a lot I missed that I won't pick up until the next read.
Nextwave: Agents Of H.A.T.E Volume 1: This Is What They Want TPB: Warren Ellis,Stuart Immonen:
"Action!Excitement! Explosions! The Highest Anti-Terrorism Effort, or H.A.T.E. (a subsidiary of the Beyond Corporation) put Nextwave together to fight Bizarre Weapons of Mass Destruction. When Nextwave discovers that H.A.T.E. and Beyond are terrorist cells themselves, and that the BWMDs were intended to kill them, they are less than pleased.
In fact, they are rather angry. So they make things explode. Lots of things. Starring Monica Rambeau (formerly Captain Marvel and Photon), Aaron Stack (Machine Man), Tabitha Smith (X-Force's Meltdown), monster-hunter Elsa Bloodstone and the Captain! Guest-starring Fin Fang Foom!"
Nextwave: Agents Of H.A.T.E. Volume 2 - I Kick Your Face TPB: Warren Ellis,Stuart Immonen:
"What? You haven't been reading Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E.? HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND? Here's a quick rundown of what you missed: SuperheroesfightingexplosionsexAvengersFinFangFoomgiantflyingsubmarinemonstrositiesformerX-ForcebabeexplosionskickingMachineManpunchinggiantevilcoprobotshotEnglishchicksecretterroristorganizationsEXPLOSIONS! Whew! And that's only the beginning!But don't worry! It's never too late to join the party! First up, the Nextwave Squad faces an army of Mindless Ones!!! Yes, insanely powerful stone men without faces! You cannot miss it!"
NEXTWAVE is the funniest comic in years. Deftly skewers the genres, the characters and the medium itself... All while being just madly funny. Absolutely fu***in hilariously funny. Highest possible recommendation. Ever. If you don't like it, you hate puppies and America. And I'll send people to your home to give you a right kicking. Yes, I will.
NEXTWAVE: Healing America By Beating People Up.
Enjoyed your comments on the Grisham book. I find him quite uneven (or maybe it's my liking of his books that are inconsistent). I've tried a number of different thriller authors lately, including "Some Kind of Angel" by Melvin Harter. Starts out with some biazarre mass murders, and then blackmail from a terrorist. "Sneetz and Muldoon" -- a forensic doctor and an investigative journalism are charged with distroying the terrorist and disarming the WMD to avoid catastrophe. It's an interesting look at 21st century terrorism, and the ingenious weapons terrorist use. (THat part can be frightening, if you think about it too much.)
ReplyDeleteYeah, I've also been up and down with Grisham. Some of his books I've really enjoyed, others not so much.
ReplyDeleteIf you're looking for good suspense, thriller books, I can't recommend the books of Greg Rucka enough. His Atticus Kodiak series, and Queen and Country series are great.