This book is a novel of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency which has been the inspiration for an HBO series.
It is a charming story of Mma Precious Ramotswe and her assistant Mma Makutsi, as they undertake the investigation of the Kalahari Swoopers. The Swoopers were formerly the number one football (known as soccer in America) team in Botswana. But for the last six months they have been on a loosing streak. The owner of the team, Mr. Molofololo suspects he has a traitor on the team and hires the No. 1 Ladies detective agency to find out who it is.
This will be a tall order for Mma Ramotswe. who has never so much as been to a soccer match. Can she use her gifts as a detective and woman's intuition to find the culprit?
Meanwhile Mma Makutsi has troubles of her own when a former rival , Violet Sephotho gets herself hired as assistant manager in Mma Makutsi's fiance's furniture store. Violet is deturmined to steal away Phuti Radphuti who is Mma Makutsi's husband to be! She will use any means to get what she wants.
Also , sadly Mma Ramotswe's beloved old faithful van is on its last legs but she has formed a bond with the comfort of it and finds it hard to part with.
I found this little book delightful to read and flew through it in a day.The Botswana characters were refreshing and I will read more of these! It points out how all around the world we ladies have the same basic loves and worries. I could really relate to the companionable nature of the women " we are sisters" 8\10
Showing posts with label reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reviews. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
SIX SUSPECTS By Vikas Swarup
This is a 2009 release by Vikas Swarup who is the author of the book called Q & A, The inspiration for Slumdog Millionaire.
This new novel begins with the murder of Vivek "Vicky" Rai,who is the playboy son of the Home Minister of Uttar Pradesh. He is murdered while throwing a party to celebrate his acquittal for the charge of murdering a bartender who refused to serve him a drink.
although the murder was committed in full view of many people, everyone refuses to testify and Vicky is freed. The book then backtracks through the lives of six murder suspects leading up to the time of the murder.
There is Mohan Kumar a corrupt bureaucrat who sees the murder of a famous medium during a seance after which he starts flipping between the personality of Mahatma Gandhi and his own.
He has no memory of one personality while he is in the other. He fluctuates from great acts of kindness into his former brutal nature at the slightest stress. (This part is rather humorous!)
The next suspect is the actress Shabnam Saxena who has a exact look alike no one knows about.
Suspect number three is the man Eketi, who is on a quest to get back his tribes sacred rock which has been stolen.
A thief called Munna Mobile who through the theft of a cell phone has intercepted the drop of a briefcase full of money. He is also in love with Vicky's sister.
The father of Vicky Rai is also a suspect because the police believe his political agenda has been cut short by his sons illegal behavior.
There is also on the list of suspects an American named Larry Page who has come to India to pick up his bride to be and gotten neck deep into trouble.
All six people were found at the party with guns in their possession and have various motives for being there.
I found this book to be very enlightening into India's political system. I felt however it was more difficult to read due to all the jumping around. I lost interest a few times. I enjoyed some characters stories far above the others. 6\10
This new novel begins with the murder of Vivek "Vicky" Rai,who is the playboy son of the Home Minister of Uttar Pradesh. He is murdered while throwing a party to celebrate his acquittal for the charge of murdering a bartender who refused to serve him a drink.
although the murder was committed in full view of many people, everyone refuses to testify and Vicky is freed. The book then backtracks through the lives of six murder suspects leading up to the time of the murder.
There is Mohan Kumar a corrupt bureaucrat who sees the murder of a famous medium during a seance after which he starts flipping between the personality of Mahatma Gandhi and his own.
He has no memory of one personality while he is in the other. He fluctuates from great acts of kindness into his former brutal nature at the slightest stress. (This part is rather humorous!)
The next suspect is the actress Shabnam Saxena who has a exact look alike no one knows about.
Suspect number three is the man Eketi, who is on a quest to get back his tribes sacred rock which has been stolen.
A thief called Munna Mobile who through the theft of a cell phone has intercepted the drop of a briefcase full of money. He is also in love with Vicky's sister.
The father of Vicky Rai is also a suspect because the police believe his political agenda has been cut short by his sons illegal behavior.
There is also on the list of suspects an American named Larry Page who has come to India to pick up his bride to be and gotten neck deep into trouble.
All six people were found at the party with guns in their possession and have various motives for being there.
I found this book to be very enlightening into India's political system. I felt however it was more difficult to read due to all the jumping around. I lost interest a few times. I enjoyed some characters stories far above the others. 6\10
Friday, September 4, 2009
THE FACE OF GOD by Bill Myers
This book is the story about two men with opposing faiths on a quest for the same thing, to hear the voice of God.
This novel opens with the pastor:
Daniel Lawson, the CEO/senior pastor of a 4500 member mega church in Rockford Illinois, is with his wife Jill and a group of church members in Istanbul on a Holy Lands tour.
Daniel and Jill are buying halvah in the spice bazaar when the merchant is suddenly pulled from his shop by two men and taken away. Later they discover he has hidden a green stone with writing on it into their package. That night Jill dreams that Daniel is dressed as a high priest wearing a vest with the stone in the center of it. She tells Daniel about the dream, telling him also that God told her that Daniel will hear Gods voice.
The next morning Jill is killed by a robber as she returns to their room to get a sweater.Daniel then returns to the states, forgetting completely about the stone in his possession. While he is a his wife's funeral, Daniels house is ransacked and it appears the vandals were looking for something specific.
Daniel then realizes they must be looking for the stone and goes to have it analyzed. He learns it is one of the stones from the breastplate of the Hebrew high priest, said to have helped him to hear the voice of God.
meanwhile:
The terrorist:
Ibrahim el-Magd is the leader of a secret terrorist group who is planning a holy-war attack against most of the world. He is seeking the stones so he can consult with Allah before "unleashing his greatest and most final fury" He will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
Daniel then decides with the encouragement of his son that he has lost his way and needs to go in search of the stones(He is also having dreams about the stone) Daniel and his son Tyler head to Jerusalem to meet up with Helen Zimmerman a world renowned archaeologist, who has agreed to help them. On the way there, they meet a young Muslim student, Natra Frazil and she decides to tag along with them. (a spy sent by Ibrahim el-Magd)He will allow Daniel to gather the stones and then steal them from him.
As this story unfold Daniel is forced to evaluate his judgments and prejudices of other people, including his son. He discovers he must try to learn to love as God loves.
Although everyone in this story has their own plans God will work it out how He sees fit.
This book was really excellent and caused me to do some soul searching of my own. The characters were complex with many of the problems we all deal with in our own lives.
It also has a lot of action and is a thrilling adventure to the very end. If you read only one book this year read this!
9/10
Get this Book Here!
The Face of God
Other Books By Bill Myers
Fire of Heaven Trilogy
Angel of Wrath: A Novel (The Voice of God series)
The Presence (The Soul Tracker Series #2)
Invisible Terror: The Haunting/The Guardian/The Encounter (Forbidden Doors 4-6)
This novel opens with the pastor:
Daniel Lawson, the CEO/senior pastor of a 4500 member mega church in Rockford Illinois, is with his wife Jill and a group of church members in Istanbul on a Holy Lands tour.
Daniel and Jill are buying halvah in the spice bazaar when the merchant is suddenly pulled from his shop by two men and taken away. Later they discover he has hidden a green stone with writing on it into their package. That night Jill dreams that Daniel is dressed as a high priest wearing a vest with the stone in the center of it. She tells Daniel about the dream, telling him also that God told her that Daniel will hear Gods voice.
The next morning Jill is killed by a robber as she returns to their room to get a sweater.Daniel then returns to the states, forgetting completely about the stone in his possession. While he is a his wife's funeral, Daniels house is ransacked and it appears the vandals were looking for something specific.
Daniel then realizes they must be looking for the stone and goes to have it analyzed. He learns it is one of the stones from the breastplate of the Hebrew high priest, said to have helped him to hear the voice of God.
meanwhile:
The terrorist:
Ibrahim el-Magd is the leader of a secret terrorist group who is planning a holy-war attack against most of the world. He is seeking the stones so he can consult with Allah before "unleashing his greatest and most final fury" He will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
Daniel then decides with the encouragement of his son that he has lost his way and needs to go in search of the stones(He is also having dreams about the stone) Daniel and his son Tyler head to Jerusalem to meet up with Helen Zimmerman a world renowned archaeologist, who has agreed to help them. On the way there, they meet a young Muslim student, Natra Frazil and she decides to tag along with them. (a spy sent by Ibrahim el-Magd)He will allow Daniel to gather the stones and then steal them from him.
As this story unfold Daniel is forced to evaluate his judgments and prejudices of other people, including his son. He discovers he must try to learn to love as God loves.
Although everyone in this story has their own plans God will work it out how He sees fit.
This book was really excellent and caused me to do some soul searching of my own. The characters were complex with many of the problems we all deal with in our own lives.
It also has a lot of action and is a thrilling adventure to the very end. If you read only one book this year read this!
9/10
Get this Book Here!
The Face of God
Other Books By Bill Myers
Fire of Heaven Trilogy
Angel of Wrath: A Novel (The Voice of God series)
The Presence (The Soul Tracker Series #2)
Invisible Terror: The Haunting/The Guardian/The Encounter (Forbidden Doors 4-6)
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
GREEDY BONES By Carolyn Haines
This book is the latest contribution of Carolyn Haines to her series about Sarah Booth Delaney and the residents of Sunflower County. Sarah Booth is a southern belle who is an actress and also a private investigator.
This book begins with Sarah Booth rushing home to the Mississippi Delta upon hearing the sad news that Oscar Richmond , along with many other residents and friends are coming down with a critical illness. The illness starts with a fever but the most critically ill have lapsed into comas.
Oscar, the first to be infected, is the husband of Tinkie her partner in the Delaney Detective Agency.
The Center For Disease Control is on the case, having sent Peyton Fidellas and Bonnie Louise McRae. Although Bonnie seems just as intent on catching Sheriff Colman Peters as she is on investigating the illness.
along with the illnesses boll weevils are rapidly killing the county's cotton crop. As if one problem at a time wasn't enough. Sarah Booth soon discovers the people who are sick all have one thing in common, they have been on the Carlisle Plantation where a new type of fast growing cotton hybrid is being grown.Could this be what is causing the illness?
And there is also the mystery of the strange accidental deaths of Lana and Luther Carlisle back in the 1990's.
As Sarah Booth investigates, she finds that to save the future she must unravel the past.
I found this book to be filled with lots of southern charm as well as interesting and entertaining characters. There is even a ghost who is Sarah Booths ancestor named Jitty with quite the sense of humor! This is a book that will make you laugh. And I didn't know who did it till the very end!
I give it 7\10
Get This Book Here!!
Greedy Bones (A Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery)
Other Books By Carolyn Haines
Wishbones (A Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery)
Them Bones: A Mystery from the Mississippi Delta
Splintered Bones
Buried Bones
Crossed Bones
This book begins with Sarah Booth rushing home to the Mississippi Delta upon hearing the sad news that Oscar Richmond , along with many other residents and friends are coming down with a critical illness. The illness starts with a fever but the most critically ill have lapsed into comas.
Oscar, the first to be infected, is the husband of Tinkie her partner in the Delaney Detective Agency.
The Center For Disease Control is on the case, having sent Peyton Fidellas and Bonnie Louise McRae. Although Bonnie seems just as intent on catching Sheriff Colman Peters as she is on investigating the illness.
along with the illnesses boll weevils are rapidly killing the county's cotton crop. As if one problem at a time wasn't enough. Sarah Booth soon discovers the people who are sick all have one thing in common, they have been on the Carlisle Plantation where a new type of fast growing cotton hybrid is being grown.Could this be what is causing the illness?
And there is also the mystery of the strange accidental deaths of Lana and Luther Carlisle back in the 1990's.
As Sarah Booth investigates, she finds that to save the future she must unravel the past.
I found this book to be filled with lots of southern charm as well as interesting and entertaining characters. There is even a ghost who is Sarah Booths ancestor named Jitty with quite the sense of humor! This is a book that will make you laugh. And I didn't know who did it till the very end!
I give it 7\10
Get This Book Here!!
Greedy Bones (A Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery)
Other Books By Carolyn Haines
Wishbones (A Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery)
Them Bones: A Mystery from the Mississippi Delta
Splintered Bones
Buried Bones
Crossed Bones
Friday, August 28, 2009
WHERE THE DEAD LAY By David Levien
This novel follows in the steps of Levien's bestseller "City Of The Sun" with more of Detective Frank Behr. Frank is "a six foot plenty ,two-fortyish ,ex cop turned private detective." He is also devoted to the practice of martial arts, which makes him one tough guy.
This story opens with Frank on his way to meet his friend and Jui-Jitsu instructor Aurelio Santos. When he arrives at the gym, he finds the place covered with cops. His friend Aurelio has been the victim of a brutal shooting. With no suspects and nowhere to look, Frank vows to avenge Aurelio's death.
As he is trying to come up with leads to his friends murder, The Caro Group, an exclusive investigation firm, approaches him to, very quietly find two of their missing detectives. Caro Group doesn't want to give him any information to help him know where to look, as they consider it all confidential, so he turns them down.Then he is encouraged by his old boss, police captain Pomeroy, to take the case with the possibility of reinstatement to the force.
Frank learns from Pomeroy that the missing private detectives were investigating pea-shake houses, low rent transient gambling houses around the city. He soon learns the pea-shake houses are being busted down by a ruthless crime family, trying to shut them all down and take over. Getting nowhere on his friends murder, He begins to follow their trail and makes some gruesome discoveries along the way.
Meanwhile Franks girlfriend Susan has just told him she is pregnant, and true to his lone wolf nature, he shuts her out.
This book is gritty and dark and shows a crime family in the Schlegels that is truly horrifying. They give the Sopranoes a run for their money with their ruthlessness.
with all the twists and turns, you begin to wonder if anyone will survive. Will Frank be swallowed up by the darkness he's trying to fight?
This novel shows the reader a dark side of life most of us pray never to encounter. Levien takes the effort to lay out graphic and detailed fight scenes. I'm sure fight enthusiast will love it!
I give it a 7\10
Get this Book Here!
Where the Dead Lay
More Books by David Levien
City of the Sun
Swagbelly: A Novel for Today's Gentleman
This story opens with Frank on his way to meet his friend and Jui-Jitsu instructor Aurelio Santos. When he arrives at the gym, he finds the place covered with cops. His friend Aurelio has been the victim of a brutal shooting. With no suspects and nowhere to look, Frank vows to avenge Aurelio's death.
As he is trying to come up with leads to his friends murder, The Caro Group, an exclusive investigation firm, approaches him to, very quietly find two of their missing detectives. Caro Group doesn't want to give him any information to help him know where to look, as they consider it all confidential, so he turns them down.Then he is encouraged by his old boss, police captain Pomeroy, to take the case with the possibility of reinstatement to the force.
Frank learns from Pomeroy that the missing private detectives were investigating pea-shake houses, low rent transient gambling houses around the city. He soon learns the pea-shake houses are being busted down by a ruthless crime family, trying to shut them all down and take over. Getting nowhere on his friends murder, He begins to follow their trail and makes some gruesome discoveries along the way.
Meanwhile Franks girlfriend Susan has just told him she is pregnant, and true to his lone wolf nature, he shuts her out.
This book is gritty and dark and shows a crime family in the Schlegels that is truly horrifying. They give the Sopranoes a run for their money with their ruthlessness.
with all the twists and turns, you begin to wonder if anyone will survive. Will Frank be swallowed up by the darkness he's trying to fight?
This novel shows the reader a dark side of life most of us pray never to encounter. Levien takes the effort to lay out graphic and detailed fight scenes. I'm sure fight enthusiast will love it!
I give it a 7\10
Get this Book Here!
Where the Dead Lay
More Books by David Levien
City of the Sun
Swagbelly: A Novel for Today's Gentleman
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
THE MAZE by Catherine Coulter
This book is the second book of The F.B.I. series by Catherine Coulter. from way back in 1997
However I find this series to be a good read, and the author continues to add volumes which is a good thing if you are an avid reader.
The central character is Lacey Sherlock, who is a new graduate special agent for the F.B.I.
Lacey begins her career for the wrong reason (revenge) but manages to keep the fact hidden. (or maybe just overlooked since this is the F.B.I. we're talking about.
Lacey's sister Belinda was killed 7 years earlier by the" String Killer", a serial killer who puts his victims through a maze, lead by a ball of string, before killing them.
Lacey is obsessed by her sisters murder and has nightmares in which the killer has her trapped in one of his mazes.
Fate then puts her in the right place when Dillon Savich picks her for the newly formed Criminal Apprehension Unit. When the killer strikes again Lacey betrays Dillon's trust and goes off on a one woman manhunt that gets her nowhere. Instead of dropping her from the team Dillon begins to help his wayward agent and in the process teach her a little about trust.
This novel has the vindictive ex girlfriend Hannah, who's always trying to cause trouble.
And there is Douglas, the brother in law , who seems to care for Lacey just a little too much.
Lacey and Dillon plan a daring trap to catch the killer but, when the killer is apprehended and brags about all his victims ,he fails to name Lacey's sister. Is this just more games for him or did he kill Belinda? before they can figure it out, he escapes police custody. Lacey's life is in danger once again. Dillon realizes things don't add up and he must untangle a web of lies that might bring the whole family down and destroy the woman he loves. They discover together Lacey's nightmares are more than just dreams and in the process find true love.
Parts of this book are expected and sweet, but this is part of the joy in reading them. I enjoyed it very much!
Buy this Book here!
The Maze (FBI Series)
Other Books By Catherine Coulter.
KnockOut: An FBI Thriller (FBI Thrillers)
TailSpin (FBI Series)
Riptide (FBI Series)
However I find this series to be a good read, and the author continues to add volumes which is a good thing if you are an avid reader.
The central character is Lacey Sherlock, who is a new graduate special agent for the F.B.I.
Lacey begins her career for the wrong reason (revenge) but manages to keep the fact hidden. (or maybe just overlooked since this is the F.B.I. we're talking about.
Lacey's sister Belinda was killed 7 years earlier by the" String Killer", a serial killer who puts his victims through a maze, lead by a ball of string, before killing them.
Lacey is obsessed by her sisters murder and has nightmares in which the killer has her trapped in one of his mazes.
Fate then puts her in the right place when Dillon Savich picks her for the newly formed Criminal Apprehension Unit. When the killer strikes again Lacey betrays Dillon's trust and goes off on a one woman manhunt that gets her nowhere. Instead of dropping her from the team Dillon begins to help his wayward agent and in the process teach her a little about trust.
This novel has the vindictive ex girlfriend Hannah, who's always trying to cause trouble.
And there is Douglas, the brother in law , who seems to care for Lacey just a little too much.
Lacey and Dillon plan a daring trap to catch the killer but, when the killer is apprehended and brags about all his victims ,he fails to name Lacey's sister. Is this just more games for him or did he kill Belinda? before they can figure it out, he escapes police custody. Lacey's life is in danger once again. Dillon realizes things don't add up and he must untangle a web of lies that might bring the whole family down and destroy the woman he loves. They discover together Lacey's nightmares are more than just dreams and in the process find true love.
Parts of this book are expected and sweet, but this is part of the joy in reading them. I enjoyed it very much!
Buy this Book here!
The Maze (FBI Series)
Other Books By Catherine Coulter.
KnockOut: An FBI Thriller (FBI Thrillers)
TailSpin (FBI Series)
Riptide (FBI Series)
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
The Cove by Catherine Coulter
I recently discovered on the bookshelf, another good series for those of you who are like me and like to spend time getting to know the writing style and characters as an author grows in his or her abilities.
The F.B.I. Thriller series by Catherine Coulter is one such opportunity. This series began many years ago (1996) with a book titled "The Cove". This book begins with Sally St.John Brainerd fleeing for her life, having escaped a mental institution. When she begins to receive phone calls from her dead father you begin to wonder if the institution might not be the best place for her.
In to her life steps James Quinlan F.B.I. , pretending to be a private detective in search of two long missing travelers.His real target is Sally. But you can tell from the moment he meets her, his fate is sealed.All he wants to do is protect her,but from what?
She hears strange screams in the night that no one else hears. Then the following day they stumble upon the body of a woman washed up on the rocks of the cove.
Soon its clear to James that every one of the sweet elderly people in the postcard like town, is covering up something.
This story then becomes a two for one mystery as they solve who's after Sally? and why are people disappearing in front of the "Worlds Greatest Ice Cream Shop"?
I thought the characters were charming and a little scary in this book. I didn't know who the ringleaders were till the very end. (Okay, maybe I just didn't want to admit it to myself!)
Buy this book here.The Cove (FBI Series)
The F.B.I. Thriller series by Catherine Coulter is one such opportunity. This series began many years ago (1996) with a book titled "The Cove". This book begins with Sally St.John Brainerd fleeing for her life, having escaped a mental institution. When she begins to receive phone calls from her dead father you begin to wonder if the institution might not be the best place for her.
In to her life steps James Quinlan F.B.I. , pretending to be a private detective in search of two long missing travelers.His real target is Sally. But you can tell from the moment he meets her, his fate is sealed.All he wants to do is protect her,but from what?
She hears strange screams in the night that no one else hears. Then the following day they stumble upon the body of a woman washed up on the rocks of the cove.
Soon its clear to James that every one of the sweet elderly people in the postcard like town, is covering up something.
This story then becomes a two for one mystery as they solve who's after Sally? and why are people disappearing in front of the "Worlds Greatest Ice Cream Shop"?
I thought the characters were charming and a little scary in this book. I didn't know who the ringleaders were till the very end. (Okay, maybe I just didn't want to admit it to myself!)
Buy this book here.The Cove (FBI Series)
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Slumdog Millionaire Q & A
This debut novel by a writer named Vikas Swarup is the inspiration for the blockbuster movie Slum dog millionaire
This book starts with the main character Ram Mohammad Thomas finding himself in jail being accused of cheating on India’s quiz show ‘Who Will Win a Billion”
And take the reader on a journey through the complex life of an orphan who through his need to survive, gains a well rounded education through the school of life.
This book is full of twists and turns and it will make you laugh and cry. I was hooked from the moment I read how Ram Mohammad Thomas got his unusual name until the very end.
It gives a glance at the life few of us ever think about but probably need to.
I say read it you wont regret it! (Then see the Movie)
Get This Book Here!!
Slumdog Millionaire: A Novel
This book starts with the main character Ram Mohammad Thomas finding himself in jail being accused of cheating on India’s quiz show ‘Who Will Win a Billion”
And take the reader on a journey through the complex life of an orphan who through his need to survive, gains a well rounded education through the school of life.
This book is full of twists and turns and it will make you laugh and cry. I was hooked from the moment I read how Ram Mohammad Thomas got his unusual name until the very end.
It gives a glance at the life few of us ever think about but probably need to.
I say read it you wont regret it! (Then see the Movie)
Get This Book Here!!
Slumdog Millionaire: A Novel
John Grisham has done it again with “The Associate”
This gripping thriller takes the reader through the dark underbelly of corporate mega law firms. The central character Kyle Mcavoy is the editor of the school paper for Yale Law. He has hopes of making a difference by doing legal-aide work for migrant workers before immersing himself into the corporate jungle of Scully & Pershing.
His perfect world soon comes crashing down around him when a man named Bennie begins to blackmail him. He is forced to become a spy and learns what it means to fear for his very life and the lives of those around him. He doesn’t know who to trust and begins to form his own plan to out smart Bennie. Will he survive or become the scape goat for Bennies boss, (whoever that is) read it and see!
Get This Book Here!!
The Associate
Other good reads by John Grisham.
The Rainmaker
Ford County: Stories
The Rainmaker
The Innocent Man
His perfect world soon comes crashing down around him when a man named Bennie begins to blackmail him. He is forced to become a spy and learns what it means to fear for his very life and the lives of those around him. He doesn’t know who to trust and begins to form his own plan to out smart Bennie. Will he survive or become the scape goat for Bennies boss, (whoever that is) read it and see!
Get This Book Here!!
The Associate
Other good reads by John Grisham.
The Rainmaker
Ford County: Stories
The Rainmaker
The Innocent Man
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