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.

Barry's Book Reviews: "Deliver Us from Evil" by David Baldacci

THREE STARS:  The "evil" in Baldacci's novel, "Deliver Us from Evil" included Nazi and Ukrainian mass murderers brought to justice by a vigilante group. The group included murder in their own repertoire of skills. The female lead vigilante, Reggie Campion, was likable even with her use of deadly force, especially once you understand the genesis of her motivation.  The storyline, which included a mysterious agency in competition with the vigilantes to bring the evil Fedir Kuchin to justice is believable to a point, except for the tortured lead protagonist, Shaw's, running away from potential long lasting love because of the death of an earlier lover.  Although human trafficking was a theme, the reader did not feel any of the pain of the dirty business. I think the writer missed a major opportunity to show us some of the evil of that world. Some call the book a "gripping thriller." Although I liked the book well enough, it didn't bring me to the edge of my seat, despite a few twists along the way.

I selected this post to be featured on my blog’s page at Book Review Blogs.