balthazarlawson's reviews
1149 reviews

The Nemesis Program by Scott Mariani

adventurous challenging tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Ben Hope has put his past behind him and is about to get married. Then an old girlfriend turns up seeking help and he drops everything to help after the pair are attacked while talking about her problems. It's the start of a journey that will take them around the world hunting those responsible for the attack. They find they are up against an organization so secret that to even mention it will likely lead to a person's death.

It's clear that nothing can kill Ben, no matter how many people are sent after him to kill him by  whatever method they choose. He always comes out on top. 

This is a bit of a long read, but unfortunately, the ending is short sharp and incomplete. It really felt like the author had reached a certain number of predetermined pages and stopped. Very disappointing conclusion.

Standing in the Shadows by Peter Robinson

emotional informative mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This is a story that goes in a big circle, ending where it started. Read the book and you'll know what I mean.

This book is two stories, one from 1980 and the other from 2019. Of course they merge and in doing so a 40 year old mystery is solved. It begins in 1980 Leed's, at the time of the Yorkshire Ripper, with the death of a university student. DCI Banks and his team become involved in 2019 with the discovery of a skeleton during an archeological dig. The team have to work out who the victim is, not an easy task, but their inquires lead to many questions and hidden secrets.

I really enjoyed this, it was like visiting an old friend. Sad as times as it's the last book before the author's death. I've read the entire series except for one book, which I will read. It took me back to why I really enjoyed this series. I shall miss Alan Banks.

The Shattered Skies by John Birmingham

adventurous challenging slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Although this has an interesting edge, it is a bit a long drawn out tale. Too long. Too drawn out. There is an over abundance of adjectives, especially in conversations, that is distracting and slows down any action and excitement that is building. Just when things start to happen, it slows down and gets side tracked instead of just letting it flow and be engaging.

The start of this was slow and confusing as one tried to understand the competing forces, who were the good guys, the bad guys and the down right nasty bastards. Then there were the sneaky bastards who you couldn't trust. It was all confusing. But this is just a battle in space, set way in the future where one side is trying to take over everything.

If not for the everlasting confusion it was entertaining.

Music to Die For by Andrea Frazer

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

I only read these books as I already own them and they are sitting on the shelf to read. Otherwise I wouldn't bother with them. I didn't really enjoy this at all as it was a long drawn out series of character introductions, police interviews and a sudden end. So much of it was repetitive, as usual, and the main characters feel inconsistent and, basically, totally unbelievable. I wouldn't recommend them to anyone.

A Quiet Flame by Philip Kerr

challenging informative tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Burnie Gunther, a German who was once a police officer, private detective, soldier and hotel keeper, is now in 1950 Argentina having escaped Germany the way SS officers did because he was mis-identifed as a wanted Nazi officer. But he always finds himself in trouble and despite wanting a quiet life he ends up working for the Argentine secret police, being manipulated all the way. There are throw backs to an old case he worked in Berlin in 1932 and he is finally able to put it to rest. But he also finds secrets in his new country that he wished he never knew. He always lands in trouble but somehow escapes them.

This is a bit drawn out and at times I felt it very directionless. It seems as if the author just wanted to highlight the evil that was behind Juan Peron's Argentina. Bernie rubs shoulders with lots of escaped Nazis living in Argentina at the time as well as with ruling elite. It's informative and thought provoking but not a totally enjoyable read.

Black Diamond by Martin Walker

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I'm always slightly confused while reading this series of books when trying to work out Bruno's role as a police officer in the small French town, or is it a village, of St. Denis. But I just try put that to one side and enjoy the read.

Bruno is asked to look into complaints about the truffle market in a nearby town, as an outsider, and he is also shocked by the brutal murder of a local hero and a hero of France. There is also an mayoral election approaching which is causing some unrest in the town. Finally, there are attacks on the Vietnamese community which is just the tip of the iceberg of a much larger problem with huge ramifications for St Denis.

There is much going on the this county town and Bruno has to deal with them all while still coping with is up and down social life.

I really enjoyed this.

High Stakes by Peter Menadue

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The latest installment of Paul Ryder who is currently unemployed. After his last outing as a ghost writer didn't turn out as it should he is now persona non grata in the industry. However, he is offered the job of ghost writing a book about a young cricketer and jumps at the opportunity. At the same time he is also offered the job of locating a missing man who is about to inherit millions. Both seemingly simple jobs but both turn out to be almost as dangerous one another and they both produce death threats.

But things turn out and just in time for Paul to finally marry his partner.

The characters are likeable, people who just want to get on with life. Though it's not a very long book, more a novella, it's still a very enjoyable quick read.

Murder at the Manse by Andrea Frazer

lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.0

An old country house is renovated and turned into a hotel that hosts murder mystery weekends and it's the opening weekend. Naturally, there is a real murder, in fact three. Harry Falconer, and his side kick Davy Carmichael, enter the picture to solve the case.

A nice cosy country murder. 

However, this is so poorly executed. The main characters are caricatures and so bad at their job as police that it's a wonder they solve anything. Just when I think the writing in this series seems to have improved it stumbles and gets convoluted. Why use one word when a whole paragraph will do. There just doesn't seem to be any consistency to characters and just when you think you are getting a clear picture of Harry Falconer the character takes a sharp turn to the left and jump to the right, three steps backwards and falls over. It just gets so confusing.

I don't know if I will complete this series, but I have them on the shelf.

Past Lying by Val McDermid

mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This started out slow. Nothing worse than reading a book in a book in a book. It got confusing and frustrating especially as it seemed that the written words they were reading was taken so seriously without knowing how the story turned out.

Plus there were completely unnecessary story lines in this that could have been left out as I don't feel they added anything. It seemed this was more about life in COVID lockdown than a cold case crime story. It was more like a social commentary about all the social issue of life in Edinburgh.

I like a good crime story and if you take out all the excess this wasn't too bad a crime story in the end. Just bloated.

New Glory by Peter Menadue

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book carries on from where Lost Glory ended, with Glen Tucker, homicide detective, now tasked with finding who is responsible for the death of his partner, and the detective who had previously been looking into the matter, now also dead.

This is set in the future where the American president has been in power for 32 years, there is a war with Canada and memories are public property. The truth about Tucker is about to be exposed and it puts in place a plan that will change everything.

Not as tight as the first book but also enjoyable and both books could really be joined into one. Although this is the second book in the series reading the first book will make things so much clearer to the reader, but, this could be read on it's own.