A MIND FOR MURDER:  The Real-Life Files Of A Psychic Investigator

By Noreen Renier

I really enjoyed my conversation with Noreen.  She is fascinating and so is her book.  I hope you will listen to the interview.

Noreen is a well-known psychic detective.  The book describes her first "psychic" experience and traces her career as she developed her abilities.  She has assisted law-enforcement agencies all over the world and been consulted on more than 500 cases.  She describes her role in cases from missing persons to homicide.  You will recognize some of the more widely publicized cases like the Zodiac Killer in New York and more recently, the Laci Peterson case.

This is a fascinating book, whether you believe in psychics or not!  What do you think?   

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THE ASSASSIN

By Stephen Coonts

Admiral Jake Grafton, now a spy for the CIA, is approached by a group of international billionaires who want to fund a private army to fight terrorism.  He gets a "Mission Impossible" clearance   (if anything happens, we disavow any knowledge of the operation) to work with the group and is drawn into battle with an old nemesis, Abu Qasim.

The rich and powerful often feel untouchable, but there is an informant within the billionaire's midst and the body count begins rise.  Who is behind the leak?  How does Qasim manage to stay one step ahead?  Has the hunter become the hunted?

Jake Grafton and Tommy Carmellini are caught in a web of danger, intrigue and non-stop action trying to anticipate Qasim's next move.  Carmelline infiltrates the ranks of the rich and famous by tracking an old flame who is a gorgeous, seductive woman who may  or may not be Quasim's daughter.  Is she trying to protect Qasim or kill him herself?  Carmellini must rely on all of his wits and street smarts if he and Grafton are to get to the bottom of who is actually behind the methodical killings of the wealthy and powerful vigilante team before the chameleon Qasim slips through the net again.  

Fabulous read ... fun, exciting, a real page turner!  What do you think?    

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THE SECRET SCRIPTURE

By Sebastian Barry

The word "beautiful" keeps coming into my head to describe this work.

The story is a dark one set in rural Ireland in the 1930's and 1940's. It is the story of Roseanne McNulty, a one hundred-year-old resident of Rosecommon Regional Mental Hospital. Roseanne decides to write the story of her life and keeps it a secret by hiding it under the floorboards of her room. She writes an account of her youth in Sligo, Ireland and what happened that brought her to the asylum so many years ago. She has lived almost all of her adult life within the walls of Rosecommon.

The reader also hears Roseanne's story from the point of view of her psychiatrist, Dr. Grene. He has been asked to evaluate the patients in the institution and to decide whether or not they can return to society when Rosecommon closes it doors within a few months. Dr. Grene feels somehow compelled to discover the story of Roseanne and as her life is brought into focus, two very different versions of her past emerge. In addition to the personal journal Roseanne is keeping, Dr. Grene uncovers a deposition written by the local parish priest that paints a very different story.

Sabastian Barry has written a novel that rings with the beautiful flow of the Irish. His use of language in the novel is an unidentified, powerful character. Barry is a master at painting the scene and making the characters fairly jump off of the page. I was deeply moved by the beauty of the story and the beauty of Sabastian Barry's writing. This is an amazing slice-of-life novel and a thoughtful read. What do you think?

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THE DISORDER OF LONGING

By Natasha Bauman

This is a lush, intricate, well-written and thought provoking novel.  Natasha Bauman has done her research to give the reader a glimpse into the world of Victorian Boston where women were property and not regarded as highly as a prized stallion.

Ada Caswell Pryce is a young, beautiful, educated woman who has been involved in the Suffrage movement during her days as one of the few female students  enrolled in Boston College.  She finds herself gently pushed into marriage by her mother.  Ada's husband is a man of his times.  He deems Ada as "hysterical" (in the Victorian sense of the word) because she speaks her mind and doesn't suppress her sexual appetite.  Edward restricts Ada to the house and limits her access to books, friends and the outside world.  

Edward also develops an obsession for collecting orchids because they are rare, exotic and expensive.  To help her survive her imprisonment,  Ada develops an interest in the orchids that leads her on a wild adventure.

This novel is fascinating.  I found myself cheering for Ada and wanting to take a baseball bat to Edward.  Natasha Bauman has written characters the reader cares about.  The novel is filled with surprises, both good and bad.  I really enjoyed it.  What do you think?

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DEJA DEMON:  The Days and Nights of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom

By Julie Kenner

Author Julie Kenner has created a fascinating urban myth, fantasy series of Demon Hunter books featuring Kate Connor.  Kate is just your run-of-the-mill busy Mom, who happens to save the world on a regular basis from the forces of darkness.

In the latest novel, Kate's husband, Stuart, is running for public office.  Between attending gala fund-raisers, training her teenage daughter to wield a crossbow and stiletto (the knife, not the shoe!), and potty training her toddler son, Kate's life is spinning slightly out of control, especially considering that the handsome Stuart has no idea what his wife does as a "hobby!"

Keeping the local kids in line will take all of Kate's skills as she prepares for the impending chaos:  a neighborhood Easter party that has her buried in eggs!  An old enemy has descended upon tranquil San Diablo (Don't you love the name of the town?  I thought this was a terrific touch.).  Zombies and a powerful demonic ally once again have Kate multitasking to save the world.

This is a really fun read.  Kenner writes terrific action sequences, but her portrayal of daily life is equally insightful and fun.  I really enjoyed the novel and want more!  What do you think?

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RECORD OF WRONGS

by Andy Straka

This thought provoking novel reads like it was pulled from today's headlines. College security guard Quentin Price was convicted of the rape and murder of Gwen Crawford ten years ago. After serving nine years in prison, he finds himself a free man after DNA testing shows another man's DNA is present. Quentin is confronted by his past and asked to help find the real killer. But is Quentin really innocent?

This suspenseful thriller crackles with loss, uneasy truths and unlikely allies. The novel made me think differently about those who are freed as a result of the DNA test. How do they feel after being convicted of a crime they didn't commit?  What must it be like for the victim's families when the person they thought was guilty is let go?  How do the police responsible for putting the wrong person in jail feel?  Straka exlores all this and more.

This is a compelling novel that made me really stop and think.  So, what do you think?

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