The Road to Jerusalem by Jan Guillou, Harper 2009.
isbn 9780061688539
The Road to Jerusalem, by Jan Guillou, is already an international sensation and the first of the three novels known as The Crusades Trilogy. It is the story of Arn, who grows up wealthy in Sweden and as a monk is taught secret knowledge and warfare.
The Road to Jerusalem is set in the late 12th century and is filled with excellent historical and political detail. It is also rich in spiritual and religious matters while being a wonderful action, adventure novel. But mostly it is the story of Arn, the young hero, as he grown into manhood and sets off for the Crusades. I loved this book and cannot wait for the next two novels in the series, now must reads.
Richard
The Bricklayer, by Noah Boyd, Morrow 2010. isbn 9780061827013
Noah Boyd, a former FBI agent, has crafted an excellent first book that has received great reviews and is already being collected. The FBI is the victim of a covert group of criminals that are extorting money and are killing agents. The FBI bring in Steve Vail, a former agent fired for not being a team player and let him work on the case.
The Bricklayer is a perfect example of the return of the intelligent thriller. It has nonstop action and a complicated, scary plot. The leads, Steve Vail and Deputy Assistant Director Kate Bannon are strong, very cool characters. I look forward to the next book in the series.
Richard
The Poachers Son
Paul Doiron
St. Martin’s, Minotaur
April 2010
Through Game Warden, Mike Bowditch, Paul Doiron introduces us to the wilds of Northern Maine and delivers an intriguing first novel. One muggy August night, Mike gets a phone call from his estranged father. It’s an odd call that only makes sense the next day when Mike is informed that a police officer has been killed and Mike’s father is the main suspect. Mike, is certain his father is mean-spirited, and a loner but not a killer. Mike puts his job in jeopardy by investigating the murder in order to clear his father.
Mr. Doiron plots well, writes well and the story is believable. Mike and his co-workers have a comfortably real feel to them. Most of the outdoor murder mysteries seem to take place out west. Paul Doiron sets The Poachers Son in Maine and proves, in an excellent first effort, that the woods of the east can be just as wild. Give The Poachers Son a read.
Dave Biemann for Mysteryone bookstore.
21 April 2010 Wednesday 7:00 p.m. C.J. Box
C.J Box is making a welcome return to Mystery One, no doubt with his famous cowboy hat. C.J writes the extremely popular Joe Pickett series and has taken on the daunting task of writing a stand alone book between Pickett novels as well. C.J has developed quite a fan base since his first appearance at Mystery One. Come down and join them for Nowhere to Run.
12 April 2010 Monday 7:00 p.m Jesse Kellerman
Jesse Kellerman, son of Dr. Jonathan, and Faye Kellerman is an award winning playwright turned novelist. He joins his parents in the mystery genre. His newest novel, The Executor, is a psychological thriller about a young man hired to be a conversationalist. Come and greet Jesse and welcome him to Milwaukee, and the store.
13 March 2010 Saturday 11:00 a.m. Carrie Bebris
Carrie Bebris returns to Mystery One to sign her newest (5th) novel in her Darcy Mysteries, The Intrigue at Highbury. Based on Jane Austin’s Emma, Intrigue at Highbury, promises more of the wonderful dialog between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy as they once again become sleuths for justice. Carrie’s appearances at Mystery One are great opportunities to meet fellow Jane Austin fans.
We’d Like to thank Carrie, her friends and her family for a wonderful signing.
As we shift some of our content to the blog you may see some changes on the main WEBSITE for Mysteryone. All the older content including book REVIEWS, ARTICLES, links to the AUTHOR’S sites, etc. will remain on the website. We hope you take advantage of the opportunity to interact with each other and the store by commenting here.
City of Dragons
Kelli Stanley
St Martin’s
February 2010
Miranda Corbie is the female Rick Blaine/Sam Spade. She carries a torch for her lover. She followed him to Spain to fight alongside him in the civil war. She projects an outward toughness but is loyal to her clients and has a soft spot for the downtrodden. She chain smokes. She’s a P.I with some notoriety in 1940’s San Fransisco. She takes on the case of Eddie Takahashi, a Japanese – American in a Chinatown S.F. reeling from the Rape of Nanking. Eddie dies in her arms. Miranda is told by the cops not to take the case, to put it down to hysteria, to move on.
But, fortunately for the reader, Ms. Stanley’s Miranda Corbie doesn’t listen to the cops. In the space of about a week Miranda works two cases, links them together and gets her life threatened for doing so.
Tough, beautiful, evocative, are all words that come to mind to describe both the story line and the characters in City of Dragons. This novel fits right up next to the best of 1930’s and 40’s writing. Here’s hoping for more kid.
Dave Biemann for Mysteryone Bookstore
