Books The Last Viking This book was nowhere near as interesting as I thought it was going to be. There is a heavy reliance on dates and people that override the narrative that I think was meant to be told. While Harold led an intriguing life, it is lost in the multitudes of historical details.
Books Star Wars The Fallen Star I am honestly not sure if this series is written for young adults, but it feels like it. The plot is set before you and the book never deviates from it. No real surprises, but there is some decent character growth. It might be forced, but it isn't bad.
Books Lay Them to Rest This was an outstanding book and I applaud Laurah Norton for her ability to bring a lay mans understanding to an extremely technical process. Follow her as she works with her friend to solve a cold case from 30 years ago where the only item they have of the decedent is a head.
Books Die Trying I read this and honestly was more surprised by how plausible it could be with some notable exceptions as compared to others. There are a lot of things that would stop someone like Jack from helping with an investigation like in the first book, but not much would stop someone from trying to escape.
Books Bind, Torture, Kill This story is so much more than the history of serial killer and his victims. In fact, it is more about the police who investigated and the city the suffered under his terror. You do learn more than enough about his acts of evil, it focuses on those that put in the work to capture him.
Books Red Notice Bill Browder tells an excellent story about how his passion for Eastern Europe lead him to learn about exceptional opportunities in the newly independent Russia. However, his money making leads to corrupt government individuals working to take him down which includes the death of Sergei Magnitsky.
Books The Art of War The Art of War was on the Commandant's reading list, when it still existed when I was in the Marine Corps, however I never read it. Figured I should, and I finished another book while on my run within the first half hour, I needed a short book.
Books Assassin's Apprentice My "Book in 1 Sentence" is dead on. I have never been so looking forward to something to happen, and it never did. This kid grows up in a keep where half the family hates him, the other half is ok with him or loved his dad, and so he is given a modicum of freedom and support.
Books The Devil in the White City "The Devil in the White City" claims to link the Chicago World's Fair and H.H. Holmes, but it's mostly about the fair's architects and history. I expected more on Holmes, but got 70% fair details and only 30% on him. It was disappointing, too focused on biographies and not enough on the crime aspect
Books Shadow of Doubt The action is high, the tradecraft is high, and you get scenes of heart thumping suspense. There are some issues of Deus Ex Machina (plot armor), but that might be the worst part of the book.
Books Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets The continuation of a solid story that shows the growth of J. K. Rowling. You will see the cementing of characters personalities. This cementing also is what allows this to continue. Knowing how it ends, you can see the groundwork of where the book story is going.
Books Haunting Adeline It's a terrible book. Rape, sexual assault, and degrading material are outrageous and the author should be ashamed at an attempt to make it ok because the stalker is in "love" with the victim. This feel of crap is also added by the overwhelming amount of juvenile writing
Books Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone This is a really great start to a very good series. Even as a kid I was so excited about the next book and that feeling still sits with me even today. I know the story and still find things that I have forgotten or Easter Eggs to future books/additional storylines we get in the future.
Books The Evil That Men Do This book was interesting without the gruesomeness that you get from other books about serial criminals. This is also a little more informative and clinical then other books as it is talking about what investigators should look for, the pitfalls of certain investigations.
Books A Dance of Dragons This book has to be the longest book that serves no purpose other than to be long. Characters are introduced that die, others are given a more prominent story section than in previous books, but play no big part. 900/1000 pages of nothing.
Books The Main Enemy I wish I had started with this book for my spy history series that I have stumbled into. It covers so much information with such clarity. The writing of the book is so well presented that you get to feel the headaches and frustrations as well as the triumphs of each team, both the CIA and KGB.
Books The Terminal List This book is such a well written piece of fiction that I am really surprised it took so long to become a TV Show. What I think slowed it down and in turn brings the book down is how depressing and callus the bad guys and friends are.
Books American Predator What a crazy book that tells a story I have never heard of. The name doesn't sound familiar, his actions don't sound familiar, and the tales of corruption don't ring a bell. The fact that this dude was hunting for over 2 decades is crazy and for him to get caught like Al Capone is even better.
Books Batman and Psychology Travis Langley does a fantastic job of describing Batman through the ages, from Adam West to Christian Bale. Both dispelling myths about homoeroticism and Batman's psyche then enshrining and elevating the relationships and responsibilities of both the Bat Family and the most popular enemies.
Books Ikigai I am really not sure how to review this since it was so superficial. Most of the entry point of the book, we will say the first half, are very surface level items have been said in other places.
Books Running Blind Jack Reacher is once again caught in the middle of a situation that plunges him into the investigation of a killer using ritualistic patterns to kill their victims. Lee Child does a much better job in this book telling a story that makes you think about how it is unfolding.
Books The Cuckoo's Egg This book was recommended to me when I first started my career in cyber security. However, I didn't read it for the first time until a couple years ago (I wasn't a big reader back then) and have now reread it for the second time as I continue to find books to recommend for those that I mentor.
Books Red Rising Pierce Brown provides a great example of what a future society of interstellar travelers who rule with rules, lies, and deceit that Hunger Games attempted to do. However, it is highly predictable, boring, and plot hole ridden book.
Books Crash Test Girl Kari tells a crazy story about how her life choices made her the weird, spunky, and highly intelligent co-host of MythBusters. A part of the "triplets" that had such great chemistry that their departure from the show was one of the saddest parts of it ending.
Books The Martian Andy Weir is masterful in his first novel that writes in small segments of immense imagery. I don't know of another book that is told in a log type format. While this is true, for a new reader, that it can be difficult to read and get into. I know, I first read it while stationed overseas.
