Monday, March 20, 2017

Review of "Deep Extraction" by DiAnn Mills

The second in the author's FBI Task Force series, "Deep Extraction" introduces us to FBI Agent Tori Templeton and Deputy US Marshall Cole Jeffers. They are both connected to the Moore family - Nathan Moore is a wealthy oil magnate who has recently been murdered. His wife Sally was a close college friend of Tori's, and prior to his death Nathan was a friend of Cole's. Is Nathan's death tied to a recent bombing of one of his oil rigs? Or is it more personal?

Both Tori and Cole are heavily invested in finding the truth and hope to remove Sally as a suspect. They quickly become frustrated when the investigation seems to go in a million different directions, and the bodies keep piling up. Complicating matters is Tori's partner Max who is not being himself; one the Moore teens is not immediately forthcoming with some important information, and it's clear that Nathan had some big secrets.

The mystery is well done (I had a tiny suspicion of who, but not a clear picture of how everything fit together until the very end). The "why" is more vague - very glossed over, even now that I have finished the book. I do think there are a lot of people who will love this book; yet the somewhat choppy style of the character's conversations isn't my personal preference. The dialogue doesn't always read as complete, and I found it challenging to follow. It felt like there were gaps, multiple times where things were left out. I went back to re-read certain sections and still did not find clarity. I also found very little chemistry between our two main characters. And to be fair I can't say exactly why, so again we will chalk that up to a preference. However, the action seems realistic and the topic is interesting.

Please check out the book trailer at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-0h2iT3pQg&feature=youtu.be

I was given a copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Saturday, March 11, 2017

Review of "Without Warning" by Joel Rosenberg

It's here! The third and final installment in the author's J.B. Collins series. The book opens with a meeting between J.B. and the President of the United States - in the Oval Office, no less. Just moments before the President will give a triumphant homecoming speech at the State of the Union address, J.B. challenges him on the depth of his willingness to see Abu Khalif taken out once and for all. However, it soon becomes clear that the President is not committed to this vision as clearly as J.B. is - and although they don't know it yet, they are both only moments away from a huge attack led by the ISIS emir.

Reeling from the tragedy and several other events where he barely escapes with his life, J.B. realizes this is even more personal than he once knew; now his family is at risk, and no one is safe. Still wrestling with all of his past life choices, he becomes determined to track Khalif himself. From there it's truly a roller coaster of events, where J.B. will learn who he can trust and just how far he will go to see justice served.

I have to say that I found it pretty difficult to write this review; not only is a great book series coming to an end, but so much happens that I felt was a spoiler, that it was a struggle to just give the highlights. All that to say, I recommend this book and series highly. If you are looking to up your game in knowledge of geography, this is your book. If you are interested in being forced to stay up past your bedtime to finish it, because you just have to know what happens, this is your book. If you want to laugh and cry and have an adrenaline rush all at the same time, this is your book.

I was provided a copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.