On Kindle
Set in Alexandria in AD38 this is a Roman adventure with a difference and most entertaining too.
Aculeo is a merchant living in the small but privileged Roman community in conquered Egypt. However, as the story opens he is being made bankrupt and his possessions removed by the bailifs of the moneylender Gurculio. As his wife leaves for her familly in Rome taking his son with her he is left pondering his future and bemoaning the fact that Corvinus, an old familly friend, persuaded him to invest in two grain convoys both of which sank. Or did they? Teaming up with some other investors in the grain scheme he begins to discover the truth behind the disaster that ruined them. Despite walking down many mean streets Aculeo is no Phillip Marlowe and his chances of discovering more than an early grave are only improved when he meets Sekhet an elderly healer. It is she who points him towards the villains who are not only behind the fraud that ruined him but also a succession of grisly ritual murders.
D.L. Johnstone is a new writer to me and I am very glad that I took a chance on The Furies.
Wednesday 31 July 2013
Friday 19 July 2013
Eye of the Raven by Ken McClure
On Kindle
This is the eleventh McClure thriller that I have read and it is one of his best.
A research scientist is in Barlinnie Prison for the rape and murder of a thirteen year old girl but then a gangland killer who is dying of cancer in a secure hospital confesses to the crime. The case is passed to Dr Steven Dunbar of Sci/Med, a small hi-tec unit within the Home Office. Dunbar arrives in Edinburgh to find the police uncooperative and resentful of his presence. This attitude stems from their mistaken arrest of a mentaly sub-normal man who was later proved to be innocent but by that time he and his mother had committed suicide. The press, who only days previously had been calling the man a monster, turned on the police and several officers were forced to resign. Needless to say they did not welcome the case being re-opened. Despite opposition, sometimes from very senior officers, Dunbar persists and follows a convoluted trail until he solves the case with a surprising but just about believable twist at the end.
This is the eleventh McClure thriller that I have read and it is one of his best.
A research scientist is in Barlinnie Prison for the rape and murder of a thirteen year old girl but then a gangland killer who is dying of cancer in a secure hospital confesses to the crime. The case is passed to Dr Steven Dunbar of Sci/Med, a small hi-tec unit within the Home Office. Dunbar arrives in Edinburgh to find the police uncooperative and resentful of his presence. This attitude stems from their mistaken arrest of a mentaly sub-normal man who was later proved to be innocent but by that time he and his mother had committed suicide. The press, who only days previously had been calling the man a monster, turned on the police and several officers were forced to resign. Needless to say they did not welcome the case being re-opened. Despite opposition, sometimes from very senior officers, Dunbar persists and follows a convoluted trail until he solves the case with a surprising but just about believable twist at the end.
Thursday 18 July 2013
Roma Victrix by Russell Whitfield
On Kindle
A sequel to Whitfield's novel Gladiatrix it follows the main characters of the first story as they leave Asia Minor and head for Rome.
Lysandra of Sparta, known in the arena as Achillia, was at the end of the previous book granted her freedom and inherited the gladiator school from it's former owner. Now in her new role as businesswoman she is struggling against frustration with paperwork and the knowledge that so many people depend on her. Self doubt combined with boredom drive her to a drink problem and quarrels with those closest to her. A letter from Emperor Domitian "inviting" her to fight Rome's top female gladiator in the Flavian Amphitheatre (now better known as the Colloseum) arrives and she departs for the capital. Most of the book from here charts her return to fighting fitness.
Also in the previous book we met Valerian an officer on the staff of Frontinus Governor of Asia Minor, and who is now a Tribune of the Fifth Legion spearheading a punitive expedition across the Danube in retaliation for Dacian raids into the province of Moesia. The Fifth is ambushed and almost wiped out with Valerian one of the few to make it back. As the senior surviving officer he is made the scapegoat for the debacle, his property is confiscated and he is told to commit suicide. Instead he returns destitute to Rome where a former Legionary finds him a job on the security staff at the Flavian thus bringing him again into contact with the gladiatrices.
Whitfield has given us another jolly romp through the blood and guts of Ancient Rome to the delight of those like myself who cannot get enough of this kind of stuff. More please Mr Whitfield.
A sequel to Whitfield's novel Gladiatrix it follows the main characters of the first story as they leave Asia Minor and head for Rome.
Lysandra of Sparta, known in the arena as Achillia, was at the end of the previous book granted her freedom and inherited the gladiator school from it's former owner. Now in her new role as businesswoman she is struggling against frustration with paperwork and the knowledge that so many people depend on her. Self doubt combined with boredom drive her to a drink problem and quarrels with those closest to her. A letter from Emperor Domitian "inviting" her to fight Rome's top female gladiator in the Flavian Amphitheatre (now better known as the Colloseum) arrives and she departs for the capital. Most of the book from here charts her return to fighting fitness.
Also in the previous book we met Valerian an officer on the staff of Frontinus Governor of Asia Minor, and who is now a Tribune of the Fifth Legion spearheading a punitive expedition across the Danube in retaliation for Dacian raids into the province of Moesia. The Fifth is ambushed and almost wiped out with Valerian one of the few to make it back. As the senior surviving officer he is made the scapegoat for the debacle, his property is confiscated and he is told to commit suicide. Instead he returns destitute to Rome where a former Legionary finds him a job on the security staff at the Flavian thus bringing him again into contact with the gladiatrices.
Whitfield has given us another jolly romp through the blood and guts of Ancient Rome to the delight of those like myself who cannot get enough of this kind of stuff. More please Mr Whitfield.
Thursday 11 July 2013
The Swarm by Rob Heinze
On Kindle
There are certain species who, at regular intervals, congregate or swarm in order to reproduce. What would happen if humans should do this? This is the theme of Rob Heinze's book.
On a small vacation island off the coast of New Jersey all of the population who are fertile suddenly walk trance-like to the beach and indulge in mass copulation ( yes I know it sounds like Club Med) What has caused this behaviour? I must admit that even after reading the book I am still not sure. However, I am sure that I found this book to be most imaginative and entertaining to the point where I devoured it at one sitting.
The Swarm is self published which is OK by me as some of the best books I have ever read have been rejected by all the big publishing houses but I do think that it would have benefitted from an independant editor.
There are certain species who, at regular intervals, congregate or swarm in order to reproduce. What would happen if humans should do this? This is the theme of Rob Heinze's book.
On a small vacation island off the coast of New Jersey all of the population who are fertile suddenly walk trance-like to the beach and indulge in mass copulation ( yes I know it sounds like Club Med) What has caused this behaviour? I must admit that even after reading the book I am still not sure. However, I am sure that I found this book to be most imaginative and entertaining to the point where I devoured it at one sitting.
The Swarm is self published which is OK by me as some of the best books I have ever read have been rejected by all the big publishing houses but I do think that it would have benefitted from an independant editor.
Thursday 4 July 2013
The Rise of Robin Hood/The Betrayal of Father Tuck by Angus Donald
On Kindle only
Two very entertaining short novels both prequels to two of Angus Donald's volumes in his Outlaw Chronicles series.
The Rise of Robin Hood preceeds the first book in the series entitled Outlaw and describes - surprise, surprise - Robin's rise to the leadership of the outlaws of Sherwood Forest. To do this he displays not only considerable martial skill but guile and the instinctive empathy that marks out the natural leader.
The Betrayal of Father Tuck describes the defence of Robin's castle of Kirkton by his brither Hugh and Father Tuck against the forces of the dastardly Sir Ralph Mudac whilst he is away on crusade with King Richard. Sir Ralph is besotted with Robin's wife and is determined to have her no matter what the cost and calls out all the forces of Nottingham garrison and the war bands of his friends to beseige her in Kirkton. This story preceeds King's Men book three of the Chronicle.
Though short these stories are well worth reading especialy if, like me, one is a fan of the Outlaw Chronicles.
Two very entertaining short novels both prequels to two of Angus Donald's volumes in his Outlaw Chronicles series.
The Rise of Robin Hood preceeds the first book in the series entitled Outlaw and describes - surprise, surprise - Robin's rise to the leadership of the outlaws of Sherwood Forest. To do this he displays not only considerable martial skill but guile and the instinctive empathy that marks out the natural leader.
The Betrayal of Father Tuck describes the defence of Robin's castle of Kirkton by his brither Hugh and Father Tuck against the forces of the dastardly Sir Ralph Mudac whilst he is away on crusade with King Richard. Sir Ralph is besotted with Robin's wife and is determined to have her no matter what the cost and calls out all the forces of Nottingham garrison and the war bands of his friends to beseige her in Kirkton. This story preceeds King's Men book three of the Chronicle.
Though short these stories are well worth reading especialy if, like me, one is a fan of the Outlaw Chronicles.
Tuesday 2 July 2013
The Jerusalem Puzzle by Laurence O'Bryan
The follow up to the Istanbul Puzzle and featuring many of the same characters.
Sean Ryan of the Institute for Applied Research at Oxford and his partner Isabel Sharp, a curator at the British Museum, learn that Max Kaiser, an American archeologist whom they met in Istanbul, has been found murdered in Jerusalem. At the same time Dr Susan Hunter, who was translating the ancient book that they found in Istanbul, disappears also in Jerusalem. Sean and Isabel set off for Jerusalem to discover what has happened to Dr Hunter. They are lead to a dig in the Old City, that is causing uproar among the Muslim population, where they manage to upset the archeologist in charge who has enough pull to get them thrown out of Israel. They sneak back in through Egypt then Isabel is kidnapped. Behind the plot is Lord Bidoner, who was behind the plot in Istanbul, and whose hedge fund has bought shares in companies that will prosper if a war kicks off between Israel and the Arabs. It all hinges on archeological evidence which the various religions will find sensitive to say the least. The dig in the Old City is hoping to find a transcript of the trial of Jesus for example.
Provided that one suspends ones disbelief (I have a hook behind the door for this purpose) like it's predecessor the Istanbul Puzzle, the Jerusalem Puzzle is a first class page turner, a real fun read. The next Puzzle is due for New York. Bring it on!
Sean Ryan of the Institute for Applied Research at Oxford and his partner Isabel Sharp, a curator at the British Museum, learn that Max Kaiser, an American archeologist whom they met in Istanbul, has been found murdered in Jerusalem. At the same time Dr Susan Hunter, who was translating the ancient book that they found in Istanbul, disappears also in Jerusalem. Sean and Isabel set off for Jerusalem to discover what has happened to Dr Hunter. They are lead to a dig in the Old City, that is causing uproar among the Muslim population, where they manage to upset the archeologist in charge who has enough pull to get them thrown out of Israel. They sneak back in through Egypt then Isabel is kidnapped. Behind the plot is Lord Bidoner, who was behind the plot in Istanbul, and whose hedge fund has bought shares in companies that will prosper if a war kicks off between Israel and the Arabs. It all hinges on archeological evidence which the various religions will find sensitive to say the least. The dig in the Old City is hoping to find a transcript of the trial of Jesus for example.
Provided that one suspends ones disbelief (I have a hook behind the door for this purpose) like it's predecessor the Istanbul Puzzle, the Jerusalem Puzzle is a first class page turner, a real fun read. The next Puzzle is due for New York. Bring it on!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)