I Shall Wear Midnight-Terry Pratchett

I Shall Wear Midnight

Terry Pratchett

Harper, Sep 28 2010, $16.99

ISBN: 9780061433047

Trained in witchcraft by experts like Nanny Ogg (unofficially in this case that is), Tiffany Aching has become the Witch of the Chalk.  Being young and wanting fun with and without witchcraft, Tiffany understands her responsibility to perform the spells to help those in need although she gains no acclaim as she does her work diligently in secret.  Adding to her discomfit is reactions of the normal are rarely what she expects them to be.

However while at a fair feeling like a fool tied to her broom; just like the little kids with balloons, Tiffany senses something is not right.  Soon people begin to assault witches for no apparent reason beyond their normal fear of the witches.  She and her miniscule belligerent intoxicated pals, the Wee Free Men, begin to search what is playing on the trepidations of people towards witches.  Needing help, she journeys to Ankh Morpork to meet with Roland, the baron’s heir and with a shopkeeper before returning to confront whatever evil is stalking the Chalk.

Targeting teens, the fourth Aching fantasy (see The Wee Free Men, A Hat Full of Sky and Wintersmith) is a terrific entry that will have readers fully engrossed in the exciting story line.  Yet the tale also ponders deep philosophical issues of esteem, fitting in (or not) and it’s okay to be different and to a degree alone while making a strong case to speak up if you are domestic abuse victim.  All that and more without decelerating and linked to the Discworld saga; fans of that great satirical series will also relish Tiffany’s coming of age final test escapades

 

Harriet Klausner

The Rebel Prince-Celine Kiernan

The Rebel Prince

Celine Kiernan

Orbit, Oct 18 2010, $14.99

ISBN: 9780316077071

Though young in years, the trio matured rapidly from a harrowing experiences while on their quest (see The Crowded Shadows and The Poison Throne).  Now the cat whisperer Wynter Moorehawke, the illegitimate Prince Razi Kingsson and the musician Christopher Garron feel the worst is over as they finally believe they have found the hidden camp of the rebellious Prince Alberon who welcomes his half-brother and his traveling companions.

Wynter, Razi and Christopher try to persuade Alberon to make peace with his father for the good of the kingdom.  Instead Alberon ignores the pleas of the teens as he has BHAG to ally with his country’s enemies in order to build a military that will enable him to take the throne.  Those with Alberon in his encampment are an eerie lot as they proclaim being his supporters while encouraging death and destruction to anyone not allied with them.

The final tale in the Moorehawke Trilogy is fast-paced, loaded with action and blood, but clearly character driven.  The three teens are stunned (as will be readers) as the Alberon they envisioned (over the first two books) is nothing like the real flesh as he has hardened his heart and turned rigid in regards to his enemies who are anyone not overtly friend.  Although the ending seems rushed, fans of the saga will appreciate this terrific political military fantasy as the final tale like its predecessors is a wonderful entry to a strong series.

Harriet Klausner

Trio of Sorcery-Mercedes Lackey

Trio of Sorcery

Mercedes Lackey

Tor, Oct 2010, $24.99

ISBN: 9780765328519

“Arcanum 101”.  Diana Tregarde is just starting college, but also is a Guardian witch dedicated to keeping mortals safe from nasty supernaturals.  She makes friends with four other students who reside in the same building she does.  They saw her banish a dybbuk; but rather than fearing her, they offer to assist her in finding a kidnapped little girl.  There only clues come from the fortune teller advising the distraught mother, but the Harvard freshman Guardian believes the woman practices the dark arts.

“Drums”.  Nathan Begay, the new client of private investigators Jennifer Talldeer and David Spirited Horse, hires them to follow his girlfriend Caroline.  She does not want to see him or any of her friends.  Caroline seems lifeless as of her soul has been drained from her.  Jenny observes Caroline dancing with a ghost; a raging evil spirit who died without honor or love and has chosen Caroline as his death bride.

“Ghost in the Machine”.  Tom Bishop was intimately involved with the MMORPG (multi-player online game); he helped create another zone to the game.  Dark Valley is very popular, but the programmed Wendigo is doing things outside the coding and Tom cannot stop him doing what it wants.  The programmers hire Ellen McBridge to fix the flaw.  She uses shaman magic to try to get the ghost out of the machine.

The returns of Diane Tregarde (early 1990s; see Children of the Night and Burning Water) and Jennifer Talldeer (mid 1990s; see Scared Ground) will elate fans of Mercedes Lackey.  While this is Ellen McBridge’s first tale, she holds her own with the other two paranormal investigators.  The three novellas are well written and entertaining while starring strong females with similar traits but different scenarios confronting the supernatural.

Harriet Klausner

Russell Wiley is Out To Lunch-Richard Hine

Russell Wiley is Out To Lunch

Richard Hine

Amazon Encore, Oct 12 2010, $14.95

ISBN: 9781935597148

The Daily Business Chronicle Assistant Sales Director Russell Wiley wonders which will collapse first.  He ponders whether the near bankrupt newspaper will file before his even more bankrupt marriage to Sam is filed.  Making him unhappy at work is the new owner of the mega media company that includes the Daily Business Chronicle shopping cart magnate Larry Ghosh plans to shut down the failing paper.

Russell ponders how he will survive amidst the sharks who devour the unconfident for lunch.  He knows the consultant needs scalps to prove his value and his attraction to a peer Erica who leaves him speechless (except below the waistline) whenever she is near.  Worst of all is Cindy the survivor superstar at getting all the credit for success and Teflon for failure while doing nothing more than paint her nails.  Deciding if need be to wear rubber underwear, Russell decides if he goes down it will be with a fight.

With a nod to the zany Office Space and the song Backstabber by the O’Jays, readers will enjoy Russell Wiley’s efforts to save his career; he has pretty much given up on his marriage.  Filled with interoffice relationships, some of which feel forced, but most will remind the audience of a place where they have worked.  Readers will root for Alan as he follows the advice of Playboy magazine that to hit a home run you need to swing the bat though that also could mean a strike out. 

Harriet Klausner

Law of Attraction-Allison Leotta

Law of Attraction

Allison Leotta

Touchstone (Simon and Schuster), Oct 12 2010, $25.00

ISBN: 9781439193846

In Washington D.C. idealistic rookie Anna Curtis has become an Assistant U.S. Attorney.  She works domestic violence cases that have required her to remain distant and aloof from the brutality she sees on the faces of the victims.  However, on Valentine’s day, Anna loses her detached objectivity when battered Laprea Johnson files a complaint against her boyfriend former con D’Marco Davis, who is defended by Curtis’ Harvard Law School classmate Nick Wagner.

In the courtroom, to Anna’s shock, Laprea, under oath, recants her previous testimony allowing her boyfriend who is also the father of her twin preschoolers to avoid jail.  Not long after the case is dismissed, Laprea’s pregnant corpse is found amidst trash as if someone threw out the garbage.  Assigned to work with chief homicide detective Jack Bailey, in a case against Davis; Anna is shocked that her boyfriend Wagner since the abuse trial, is representing the accused again.  She must choose between her career and her personal life as both teeter; but remains unaware that her life is in peril if she gets to close to the truth.

This is a super legal thriller, which reads very fresh due to the star being a rookie playing in the big leagues.  The story line is fast-paced from the first complaint until the final resolution with a nice late twist that diligent readers will see the clues.  However, even though the men in her life (her lover the opposing lawyer, the homicide chief, and the accused) are fully developed, this is the tyro’s tale as she works the perilous halls of justice.

Harriet Klausner

Roman Games-Bruce Macbain

Roman Games

Bruce Macbain

Poisoned Pen, Oct 2010, $$24.95

ISBN: 9781590587751

In 96 AD in Rome, Senatorial Informer Sextus Verpa is found viciously stabbed to death in his home.  The household slaves of the deceased are the only suspects; with no rights they will be executed for his murder once the Ludi Romani Games are over; as no one is killed by the state during the fifteen days of contests.

Meanwhile Emperor Domitian could not care less about slaughtering some slaves in an inferno, but wants to insure his enemies are not behind the stabbing murder.  He orders Senator Gaius Plinius Caecillius Secundus, better known as Pliny the Younger, to investigate. Pliny enlists the help of starving author Martial in order to enter places he would have no cooperation.  Soon the pair begins to unravel a convoluted conspiracy starting with a horoscope reading that predicts the death of the Emperor is near with tentacles reaching from Jewish and Christian sects, supporters of the Roman pantheon, and Egyptian cultists; but the most dangerous locale for the detecting duet is the palace where the brutal emperor wears no clothes.

Ancient Rome has been used as the backdrop for several mystery series by Steven Saylor, Robert Harris and John Robert Maddox for instance and more so Albert Bell whose lead is Pliny the Younger.  However, Bruce Macbain keeps his saga fresh with a strong look at the decadence at the end of the first century in which an ethical hero struggles to keep his morality and his head.  The story line is fast-paced as the two opposite ins status and outlook sleuths unite following clues that are religious and political dangerous as separation of state denotes separation of one’s head.  This is an enjoyable whodunit due to the Roman background interwoven throughout the historical mystery.

Harriet Klausner

Stranglehold-Ed Gorman

Stranglehold

Ed Gorman

Minotaur, Oct 12 2010, $24.99

ISBN: 9780312532987

In Aldyne, Illinois Ben Weinberg, the campaign team chief to reelect incumbent Congresswoman Susan Cooper, knows his candidate’s bid for another term is in deep trouble.  He turns to his colleague who got him the job in the first place, former army intel officer turned political consultant Dev Conrad to straighten out the sinking ship.  Dev is concerned because they have worked together for eight years and Ben never asked for his assistance.

Besides the ineffective husband David with his alibis for his wife and rumors of sniffing cocaine, the biggest issue is the money bags, Susan’s stepmother Natalie Cooper, better known as the “Dragon Lady”.  Adding to the problems is the philosophy of the opponent Steve Duffy’s consultants, Monica Davies and Greg Larson who believe the end justifies the mean regardless of who they harm in the process.  Meanwhile in spite of low percentile of public interest concerned with Susan’s mysterious past, she tries to conceal her secrets which hurt her election chances.  However, all hell breaks loose when someone murders Davies.

The whodunit is fun to follow, but what makes the second Dev Conrad political consulting thriller (see Sleeping Dogs) super is the dirty tricks played by so called ethical people.  Ed Gorman nails the concept that adheres diligently to Leo Durocher’s philosophy of “win at all costs” as the innocent are disregarded as expendable pawns as much as the politicians.  For instance Dev points out that the unemployed receiving assistance has paid into the system when they were employed, which is irrelevant when you’re making political points of lazy on the dole people.  Stranglehold is a strong political thriller as Mr. Gorman makes a case that elections are contact sports with no rules except “win at all costs”.

Harriet Klausner

Velocity-Alan Jacobson

Velocity

Alan Jacobson

Vanguard, Oct 5 2010, $25.95

ISBN: 9781593156213

In Napa Valley, undercover Police Detective Robby Hernandez vanishes as he was closing in on John Wayne “Crush Killer” Mayfield.  Robby’s lover FBI profiler Karen Vail fears she may have unwittingly caused the disappearance.

Robby was part of a DEA team investigating drug kingpin Carlos Cortez and his cartel.  Part of the operation involved close scrutiny of Cesar Guevara, the CFO of a wine bottling company.  Evidence pointed to Guevara drug trafficking with the Crush Killer as his hit man.  Knowing at a minimum she owes Robby and praying her beloved is alive, kick butt Karen targets Cortez, Cesar and Crush.

Alan Jacobson does a remarkable job to tell the direct prequel (see Crush) without slowing down this exhilarating Karen Vail police procedural (see 7^th Victim).  The story line is action-packed from the moment a guilt laden Vail believes what she wrought to her lover and never slows down yet the story line shows another side of the heroine; she has a heart.  The intense profound look at drug trafficking enhances a powerful California thriller as Mr. Jacobson scores big time with this super detective tale.

Harriet Klausner

The Disappearance-Bentley Little

The Disappearance

Bentley Little

Signet, Sep 7 2010, $7.99

ISBN: 9780451231031

Five UCLA students drive from California to Nevada to attend the tribal gathering Burning Man in the Black Forest Desert.  After a couple of fun filled days, on the second night Gary feels drugged and is knocked out along with his four friends.  When he looks for his companions he finds Reyn, Stacy and Brian, but his girlfriend Joan is missing.  The police don’t take the disappearance seriously; the four students return to the college to work on a plan to find Joan.

They learn someone tampered with Joan’s files so it looks as if she never attended the school; her Facebook and My Space pages are gone.  Teri Lin, the student who gave Joan’s family number, is killed by a man wearing hAmish like homespun clothing that.  Gary is kidnapped by three men who wear the identical clothing as Teri’s killer wore.  When he escapes he finds himself in New Mexico.  He learns Joan is being held in the religious cult’s compound in Bitterwood, Texas where she grew up.  Gary and his friends arrive to spring her but hundreds of worshipers of Father surround her.  Joan knows she F Father will hunt her and her friends until they are dead.

This will leave chills inside the readers’ hearts as the audience will be spellbound with fear yet horrified with this powerful human horror thriller.  Gary is a mature person who knows his love for Joan is not a youthful game but much more.  Resolute though some would insist foolish, he risks his life for his beloved knowing the cult will try to kill him to prevent one of theirs leaving.  Bentley Little will appear on bestseller lists as he mesmerizes his fans with the Disappearance.

Harriet Klausner

Nightshade-Andrea Cremer

Nightshade

Andrea Cremer

Philomel (Penguin), Oct 19 2010, $17.99

ISBN: 9780399254826

The Keepers have already ordained the joining of two Guardians from different werewolf packs Calla Tor leader of the Nightshade clan and Ren Laroche leader of the Bane clan once she graduates from the Mountain School.  Everyone wonders who between these two alphas will be top dog. 

While on patrol looking to insure their enemy the Searchers are not lingering nearby, Callie breaks a key law of the Guardians when she rescues a human boy from a bear attack that meant certain death.  Callie and Shay break a second rule when they become friends.  However, though forbidden, Callie abetted by her human friend Shay ignores another taboo when she investigates the secrets of the Keepers.

Much more complicated than the above, Nightshade is a fabulous young adult romantic mountain fantasy in which the triad of species (in addition to the humans) seems genuine as werewolves and others roam Colorado.  In some ways a coming of age tale, but more a rebel with a cause, Calla is terrific as she holds the plot together while suddenly breaking the laws of the Keepers after her whole life dedicated to strict adherence.  Attracted to the fully developed key two males in her life, fans will wonder how far she will go between her desire for Shay and Ren. 

Harriet Klausner