Barry's Book Reviews: The Cloud Pavilion (A Sano Ichiro Novel) by Laura Joh Rowland

FIVE STARS. "The Cloud Pavilion"by Laura Joh Rowland is a historical mystery novel that is set in seventeenth century feudal Japan in the Genroku period. Chamberlain Sano Ichiro is one of the two lead investigators working at the behest of the Shogun to solve all manner of crimes within and against his empire. Sano, together with the main antagonist, Yanagisawa and their samurai brethren work together to solve the mystery of the abduction and rape of a nursing mother, elderly nun and a young girl.  Sano's estranged uncle, Major Kumazawa, reluctantly asks Sano for help in finding his missing cousin, Chiyo who is one of the rape victims. The main story is artfully woven within several subplots that keep the reader engaged. Rowland enriches the story with information about the Japanese culture, politics and structure of the empire, as well as elements of the mystical.  Several strong women characters, including Sano's wife, Reiko who helps with the investigation, provide grace and balance to the story. The book is a good, steady read. Although there are some surprises, the main strength of the book is the tapestry of characters, images and plots. This was a thoroughly entertaining read for me. I kept going back to it as though I was spending time, comfortably with a good friend.

Barry's Book Reviews: Alex Cross's TRIAL by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo

FIVE STARS. "Alex Cross's TRIAL" by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo is an historical fiction novel written by the famous author of crime mysteries and one of his co-authors. It is a departure from his normal works that I must say I thoroughly enjoyed. The characterization of Teddy Roosevelt gave him life in my mind's eye. The tale involves the murder trial of a group of "white raiders" in the deep south.  Eudora, Mississippi is the home town of Ben Corbett, who relocated to Washington, DC where he is an attorney with a conscience.  He helps defend poor black clients without prejudice, perhaps due to an incident in his youth when a young black boy helped him when his mother was ill. The raw and vicious treatment of blacks in the deep south is portrayed vividly. The Ku Klux Klan are uncovered as just "regular" folks that Ben grew up with as a child.  The tension created by his wife's reluctance to support his charity cases, the friction with his previous neighbors and conservative father, and the evil Klan members helps to keep the storyline moving well.  The images of hangings and the vicious treatment of innocent black folks will remain with me. Fortunately, most of the hatred towards black people in this country has been extinguished over time. This book reminds us to be on guard against the smoldering prejudice that still may exist in the hearts of some people. Intolerance breeds monsters, and these monsters live in this book.

TWISTED PARADISE IS FREE THIS WEEKEND

"Twisted Paradise-A Jake Chinelli Mystery is free for Kindle on January 26 and 27, 2013

Storyline: 

Jake Chinelli, a man in his mid thirties, never married, is a paparazzo, photographer and would-be author doing research for his non-fiction book, “A Guide to Women and Lovemaking.” As he is doing research he meets many women but three of them become central to his life as he uncovers a conspiracy involving trafficking in young women, puppy mills and a drug company whose master plan is to dominate the illicit trafficking trade. The novel follows the exploits of an unlikely trio of impromptu private investigators that include Chinelli, his best friend Parson Smith (a Shinnecock Native American) and a dog rights enthusiast, Kerrie Graham, as they attempt to unravel the mystery of the identity of the evildoers. The book is set in the beautiful east end of Long Island in the village of Sag Harbor and its surrounds.

Click here to go to Amazon for your free copy

Attention All Soulsearchers

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

From:         Reflections from the Other Side of the Silvered Glass

       Autumn Four PM

 Overcast autumn, some hours past noon,

the wind heads for nightfall,

but first,

to toss the leaves,

multicolored vestiges of chlorophyll havens,

and my now straw hair.

This nature calls to me,

as if to ask for solemn remembrance,

that summer is now gone,

and we had better collect fruits and vegetables

at roadside stands

to party with apple drained cider,

and pumpkin light brown pie,

as if to celebrate

the approach of car stuck parking lots,

and snow hemmed streets.

When celebration ends,

I find myself walking alone,

collar high,

comfortably solemn.

"Reflections from the Other Side of the Silvered Glass" by Barry Terenna has been published.

"Reflections from the Other Side of the Silvered Glass" by Barry Terenna is now available on Amazon in Kindle Format. The paperback edition will be available shortly.


https://www.amazon.com/author/barryterenna

Barry's Book Reviews: "The Dogs Of Devonshire" by Demetrius Sherman

FOUR STARS: "The Dogs Of Devonshire" by Demetrius Sherman is a short story that grabs you as tightly as one of the Devonshire dogs from  the very beginning of the story. Fortunately you are not left mangled and broken as are the victims in the woods but nonetheless you are transformed by the message that Sherman delivers. The storyline is a classic Holmes and Watson type of plot set in modern day London. If you enjoy reading but have no time for full length novels, Sherman's short stories are sure to please. The writing is straight forward and although not as elegant as some, is still entertaining in its delivery.

Barry's Book Reviews: "The Inventors Game-A221B Sheridan Hope Case" by Demetrius Sherman

FOUR STARS: "The Inventors Game (A221B Sheridan Hope Case)" by Demetrius Sherman is an entertaining short story. It is amazing how much the writer packs into twenty something pages. For those who can't get enough of Holmes and Watson-ish stories, with non-traditional main characters in modern England, then this one is pleasing. The writing is crisp and although a bit rough at times gives a good sense of the characters and plot. If you want a quick romp through a mystery over a lunch hour, this story is for you.

Barry's Book Reviews: Plague (A Medical Thriller) by Victor Methos

TWO STARS:  For me, Victor Methos' novel, Plague (A Medical Thriller) plodded along until I thought that I would have to abandon further reading. However, I like to complete things, so I stuck with it through endless scenes of black bile spewing across the pages and dark patches of blood surfacing under the skin of victims of the plague. This novel was not novel, nor did it always have its facts straight which soured its believability for me. However, there is some intrigue which was satisfying although it took a long time to unfold. Character development for the major players was fair but the real bummer was the long list of characters that made it somewhat difficult to track the players.