It's been a rough month. If it wasn't raining and humid it was sunny, hot, and humid. I would go out early and get back home by 9:30 AM because my Cardiologist doesn't want me to be out in this heat. So, I've been home most days working on a few things and reading a few books. Here's what I got through this month.
Series
The Unquiet - John Connolly ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2007, 515 pages, Paperback)
I've read several of Connolly's Charlie Parker books over the years. He is an ex-New York Police Officer now working as a Private Investigator because he handled a personal loss badly. While chasing the killer of his wife and daughter, he hires on to help Rebecca Clay, a young mother, to chase away Frank Merrick (a stalker who calls himself "Revenger") who wants to know where her father is. Everything leads Parker to Gilead, Maine, where a cult has been suspected of child abuse. This book is a bit dark and there are some supernatural elements that I didn't care for. Also, Connolly spends a lot of time allowing Parker to wallow in his private sorrows. And, in my opinion, it's about 100 pages too long. Still, Parker is a great character, and his supporting cast - including Louis (a large black man and ex-hit man) and Angel (a skinny, white ex-thief) who happen to be lovers back him up and bring some comic relief. It took me a while to get through this but I have to admit that Connolly can write and I enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous
Gone For Good - Harlan Coben ($7.99/$.50, copyright 2002, 417 pages, Paperback)
I'm a big fan of Coben's work. He writes a series about a Sport's Agent named Myron Bolitar who has an interesting past and some quirky friends. But he's also written several stand-alones all centered in New Jersey. The main character here is Will Klein who grew up idolizing his older brother Ken. Ken was the fierce Tennis Player who palled around with John Asselta the Wrestler, and Mcguanne the Student Council President. Everything seems idyllic until one night a young woman was found brutally murdered in her family's basement. The Prime Suspect - Ken Klein. With the evidence mounting against him, Ken vanished. Now, eleven years later, Will finds proof that Ken is still alive and he must face some startling truths about his brother, his brother's friends, and himself. Coben has created an interesting mystery and populated it with characters that ring true. He placed all this in a suburb of Livingston - a bedroom community of well-watered lawns, Little Leagues, and Soccer Moms. I'm guessing that when Coben wrote this he thought that a murder set in this kind of setting would be shocking but now, 16 years later, it isn't. Still, the suspense level is maintained throughout and it had a great ending. I enjoyed it.
Off The Shelf
The Vicar of Christ - Walter F. Murphy ($2.95/$2.95, copyright 1979, 760 pages, Paperback)
You know how it goes, I was looking for one thing and found another. My Brother-in-law recommended this book to me back in the early '80's and I went right out and bought it. It's a bit far-fetched but it is conceivable. The main character is Declan Walsh and the author's approach to the story is interesting - he sets it up as 3 separate interviews conducted by a Reporter. He's looking for some background on a man who was a Medal of Honor winner from the Korean War, then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court ho resigned that post when his wife dies. He joins a Monastery as a Monk and ends up being elected Pope. (I did mention that it was far-fetched). The man in question is Declan Walsh. The first interviewee is a former Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant who liked Walsh. He speaks about Walsh's time as a Battalion Commander and the difficult decisions that he had to make. Murphy does a great job of depicting what Walsh and his men went through during that conflict. The second interviewee is a fellow Supreme Court Justice who didn't like Walsh. Murphy gives us some insight into the Court's decision-making process and gives us a depiction of Walsh giving serious attention to situations that don't really matter anymore. The Third interviewee is a Cardinal who was indifferent to Walsh. This section doesn't address any serious issues but does bring us into the Vatican and shows us some of the infighting and ideological differences that happen there. (Side Note: when Walsh is elected Pope he chooses the name Francesco I. Remind you of anyone?). Murphy's writing style is simple and entertaining and he's created some great characters. I enjoyed it.
It's late August and we're in another heat wave. Hopefully we'll get some relief soon. The Labor Day Weekend is up next. Enjoy whatever you do and …
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