REVIEW: Delusion In Death by J.D. Robb

Title: Delusion In Death (In Death #35)
Author: J.D. Robb
Publisher: Putnam
Publication Date: September, 2012
Genre: Mystery / Thriller

Description: After years on the force, Eve Dallas didn't think she could be shocked anymore... until now.

It was just another after-work happy-hour bar downtown, where business professionals unwound with a few drinks, complained about the boss, maybe hooked up with someone for the night. Until something went terribly wrong. At first it was just a friction in the air. The noise intensified. The crow seemed oppressive. some sharp words were exchanged, some pushing and shoving.

Then the madness descended. And after twelve minutes of chaos and violence, eighty people lay dead.

Eve Dallas is trying to sort out the inexplicable events. Surviving witnesses talk about seeing things—monsters and swarms of bees. They describe sudden, overwhelming feelings of fear and rage and paranoia. When forensics makes its report, the mass delusions make more sense: it appears the bar patrons were exposed to a cocktail of chemicals and illegal drugs that could drive people to temporary insanity—if not kill them outright.

But that doesn't explain who would unleash such horror—or why. Eve's husband, Roarke, happens to own the bar, yet he's convinced the attack wasn't directed at him. It's bigger than that. And if Eve can't figure it out fast, it could happen again, anytime, anywhere. Because it's airborne....

My Thoughts: Well, bless your cotton socks, Eve Dallas! After 35 books, I was pretty much convinced that there wasn’t a case or crook out there that Eve wasn’t shocked by. Angered, enraged, yes; determined to solve and catch, absolutely. Shocked, never, but she definitely is shocked with this case. In addition, she’s worried and a little frightened by the turn of events her new case has brought down on the city of New York. That’s what made this book so enjoyable for me. The plot was believable and frightening in its realistic delivery. Day to day activities like going to happy hour or grabbing a bite to eat at lunch time takes on a whole new apprehensive angle. Nobody is safe, nobody is exempt and the killer is virtually invisible.

If you have been with Eve and her crew from the beginning, you already know that she doesn’t let a lot of people get close to her. You have to be invited into her inner circle, which is where you get to see the real Eve. The woman cares about her friends, family, cat and yes, even Summerset. Go ahead and pick your jaw up off the floor; I’ll wait. As much as Eve and Summerset enjoy getting under each other’s skin hurling insults and looks of disgust toward one another, I loved seeing this side of Eve and Summerset. In Delusion in Death, Eve and Summerset sit down together to a meal, having polite and civilized conversation and sharing a bond over this case. A truce has not been called and they will probably be right back at each other’s throats in the next book, but this was my favorite part of the book. I enjoyed seeing two adversaries come together over a common goal to work together to achieve successful results.

We also see Eve being proactive trying to protect Mavis, Leonardo, Bella and Dennis Mira. Most of the time, she reserves her worry exclusively to Roarke, usually because he is neck deep in the case with her. I got an excellent sense of how deeply Eve feels for the people she truly cares about, though she has a hard time expressing it most of the time.

As usual, Eve quickly figures out who is responsible, though she is in store for a few twists and surprises near the end. I thought the twists were brilliantly executed. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly Eve deduces who the responsible parties are for each case. She must have some kind of a super computer brain instead of the thought patterns of a mere human. By the time I come even remotely close to being comfortable with just a guess, Eve has already identified her suspect and taken steps to bring them to justice.

My Final Verdict: If you are already a fan of this series, you will not be disappointed by this very good installment. If you are new to this series or have never read the series, I highly recommend it and not trying to sound like a broken record, but starting at the beginning of the series is the best place to begin. Meeting Eve for the first time and seeing how her relationships with Roarke, Mavis, Mira, Peabody and everyone else all began is a treat. J.D. Robb has done a brilliant job of creating characters you get to know and care about in a series so rich with detail that illustrates vividly in my mind’s eye what it truly is like living in New York City in the mid-21st century.

REVIEW: Love You To Death by Melissa Senate

Title: Love You To Death
Author: Melissa Senate
Publisher: Red Dress Ink
Publication Date: January, 2007
Genre: Chick-Lit

Description: When did Abby Foote's life become an episode of "Law and Order?" First, a former boyfriend (who dumped Abby in the most humiliating way imaginable) is found murdered the day his engagement is announced.

Then two other ex-boyfriends report attempts made on their lives right after breaking up with her. Coincidence? Detective Benjamin Orr, of the Portland Police Department (and Very Probing Questions and Incredibly Delicious Face), doesn't think so. Neither do Abby's friends, family, coworkers and other exes--who are suddenly shaking in their shoes. Soon everyone is sucking up to her as though the Abby they know and supposedly love to death is capable of poisoning their drinks....

Is someone trying to frame her?

Who? And why? She has to find out fast. Because by-the-book Ben is bound to break her heart.

Which makes him next on someone's list...

My Thoughts: Could Abby Foote’s day get any worse? She already has the worst luck with men and discovers that her ex-boyfriend has been found murdered. The cop investigating the murder happens to be the guy she had a major crush on in high school. She soon learns that attempts were made on two other exes and she is the prime suspect for all three crimes. It’s bad enough that you’re being investigated by your high school crush for crimes you did not commit, but adding insult to injury, he doesn’t even remember you! Your family claims they believe in your innocence but they start acting strange, don’t want you around your newborn nephew and even insist you be accompanied by a police escort to your bridesmaid’s dress fitting for your sister’s wedding!

I completely understand that Ben is just doing his job, but I started to get annoyed at his insistence that she “could” have done it and “it’s possible” instead of not appearing to look at anyone else as the suspect. Even when there’s evidence that someone Abby knows is committing the crimes, Ben still asks Abby if she planted it! If it wouldn’t have made her situation worse, I would have cheered Abby slapping him a good one!

The list of possible suspects is large. It could be anyone starting with the dead ex-boyfriend’s new fiancée, to Abby’s family, to her co-workers and even her friends. Sadly, everyone seems to believe it’s Abby and people are walking around on eggshells around her, which I found highly insulting, but there isn’t much to be done to help the situation except prove her innocence. It was next to impossible for me to figure out who did it as I was likely to believe any of the people in Abby’s life were capable. When the culprit is revealed, I was surprised and a little disappointed that I didn’t pick up on it sooner.

The story moved very slowly for me until Ben starts to entertain the possibility that someone close to Abby could be responsible for the crimes. By then I was pretty frustrated at Abby’s insistence of innocence falling on deaf ears and more agitated that there were no signs of interest in Abby coming from Ben, except as a perp. Probably a good thing as there is a killer watching and Ben could have ended up on the killer’s list of targets.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a good book. I really enjoy the mix of chick-lit and mystery. As frustrating and annoyed I as I was at the lack of passion in this story, I have to applaud Ben’s ethics and integrity. Fortunately, he steps up when Abby finds herself face to face with the killer so all ends well. I recommend this to fans of both the chick-lit and cozy mystery genre that are looking for something light to read and don’t mind the lack of passion and romance for our heroine.

At The Movies: The Call

The Call

In Theaters: March 15, 2013

Starring: Halle Berry, Abigail Breslin, Morris Chestnut, Michael Eklund, Michael Imperioli

Director: Brad Anderson

MPAA Rating: R (for violence, disturbing content and some language)



Plot Summary: When veteran 911 operator, Jordan (Halle Berry), takes a life-altering call from a teenage girl (Abigail Breslin) who has just been abducted, she realizes that she must confront a killer from her past in order to save the girl's life.

My Thoughts: As soon as I saw this trailer, I knew this movie was going to be intense. Halle Berry delivers a remarkable performance as Jordan, a 911 operator for LAPD who at first glance appears to love her job and is quite good at it. She is in a relationship with Officer Paul Phillips (Morris Chestnut) and seems to be at the top of her game. Everything changes suddenly for Jordan one evening when she takes a call from a frantic teenager who calls 911 to report an intruder. Jordan takes the call very calmly and professionally walking the girl through the steps to hide while awaiting police arrival. Everything appears to be going well and the intruder is leaving the home when the call is disconnected and following procedure, Jordan calls the number back, alerting the intruder to the girl's presence in the house. Of course, the intruder (Michael Eklund) locates the girl's hiding place and grabs her taking the phone from her. Jordan begs with him to leave the house and not to hurt the girl, but he states "It's already done" and disconnects the call. Several days later, the girl's body is recovered. Jordan blames herself and decides she can no longer do the job.

Six months later, Jordan is now a trainer of 911 operators and is in the process of giving a tour to a new batch of trainees when a call comes in from a frantic girl who says she has been kidnapped. Jordan is forced to take over the call from the frazzled call-taker and though it's painfully obvious she is on the verge of losing it herself, her instincts kick in and she begins to offer assistance to the young girl, Casey (Abigail Breslin), who is inside the trunk of a car calling on an untraceable cell phone.

The majority of this movie revolves around Jordan on the phone with Casey, trying to help her remain calm and figure out ways to get help to her, including kicking out the tail light and waving her hand through the hole and pouring paint out of the same hole in the hopes of leaving a trail. Up until this point, the movie is very fast paced suspense but when a fellow motorist sees the paint and tries to get involved, the movie skyrockets into terrifying when we see several times how far the killer is willing to go. Michael Eklund delivers a very gripping performance as the disturbed and psychotic kidnapper.

This movie gives a very good sense of realistic and true events, which is what makes the subject matter so frightening. It can and does really happen to real people and the 911 operator is holding someone's life in their hands. Like most 911 operators, Jordan can handle herself very well and periodically gets calls that are very difficult and emotionally painful but she has to hold herself together the best she can to help the person on the other end of the line. Lives depend on it.

Unfortunately, that is where all common sense and reality ends. When the call with Casey ends, Jordan is ordered to go home by her supervisor but instead starts listening back to the call trying to figure out where the killer took Casey. Then Jordan takes it upon herself to get in her car and drive up into the hills to look for her by herself! Unarmed and no police officers backing her up, she only has a cell phone with no signal! I found myself asking repeatedly, "What the bloody hell is she going to do when she finds this lunatic?!?" In addition, we never got a good understanding of the killer's background and why he's kidnapping and murdering young blonde girls. There's a hint of an explanation involving the killer's sister, who appears to be a cancer patient and has been deceased for a very long time, but we are never told or shown if she died from the cancer and he's doing this trying to cope with her death or if he killed her himself.



My Rating: For a movie that starts out quite well and holds up with the adrenaline and suspense, this film takes an abrupt nose-dive in the last 20 minutes leaving me with more questions than answers. I don't recommend spending the big bucks to see this at the theater. Wait until it goes to the dollar theater or wait for the DVD instead.

A Bookworm's Passion

I've always been a bookworm and I was outed at a very early age when I was caught reading (or trying to anyway) the newspaper.  Back then, I read anything, anywhere or anytime.  Cereal boxes, road signs, the newspaper; didn't matter really.  Always reading and if I couldn't read the word, I was asking my parents what a specific word was.

For the most part, they indulged this habit, as they should since it's their fault I'm this way.  Trust me people, genetics don't lie.  There were times, however, threats of corporal punishment were issued when I was caught reading in bed with a flashlight when it was supposed to be lights out.

On my 8th birthday, I was introduced to my new best friend, Nancy Drew.  She introduced me to her friends, The Hardy Boys, though we never really hit it off like Nancy and I did.  I loved Nancy and hanging out with her, Bess and George always made my day better.

Almost 40 years later and I don't hang out with Nancy anymore but I will always cherish those times.  It got me to thinking about what motivates me as a bookworm when I choose the books I read.  I still love a good mystery and over the years I became a romance junkie and I devoured most historical romances.  If they featured a kilt wearing Highlander with a Scottish accent, I was sure to pounce on it.  My romance reading branched into many paranormal sub-genres like time travel, vampires, werewolves and ghosts.  One of my all time favorite time travel series was The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.  As all fans of this wonderful series have done, I have often pictured Jamie in my mind's eye and my mind hasn't let me down yet.

A kilt wearing vampire with a Scottish accent...yes, it's been done, probably overdone, but I don't care.  I can't get enough of them.  I adore chick-lit, both British and U.S.  I love cozy mysteries and the more whimsical the theme, the better.  Urban fantasy have been a favorite for a while and it turns out a lot of the books I have loved for a while fall under that category.  Thriller and suspense like James Patterson and Harlan Coben also top my list.

One genre that surprised me is the Young Adult.  I admit it.  I was a snob when it came to reading those kind of books.  I thought, quite incorrectly, that I was not going to be interested in something for the younger set.  I had even turned my nose up to Harry Potter for many years.  I have thankfully seen the light and enjoy the young adult / teen genre too.  There are many great reads and several authors I love have crossed over to this genre as well.  Just to name a few are The Chronicles Of Nick Series by Sherrilyn Kenyon or The Darkness Rising Series by Kelley Armstrong and The Princess Diaries Series by Meg Cabot.

The important thing for any serious bookworm to remember is our love of reading.  It crosses time and space and yes, even genre.  So, my fellow bookworms, the next time you find yourself in your favorite bookstore perusing the shelves and contemplating your choices, don't dismiss any or you may be missing a wonderful opportunity to find something spectacular.

Women Of The Otherworld Series Optioned For Television

Fans of Elena Michaels and her werewolf pack can now rejoice as the series is being brought to the television screen! The 13-part series is currently shooting in Toronto and will air on Canada's Space channel in 2014. I have never heard of any of the actors but fans of Smallville should recognize Laura Vandervoort who has been cast as Elena Michaels.

Laura Vandervoort

I am so excited about this as I have been a long time fan of the books. I am hoping fervently that the show will be picked up here in the U.S. Please join me in praying to the television gods to make it so!

The Hollywood Reporter

REVIEW: Deadly Legacy by Robin Burcell

Title: Deadly Legacy (Kate Gillespie #3)
Author: Robin Burcell
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: January, 2003
Genre: Mystery / Thriller

Description: San Francisco P.D. Homicide Inspector Kate Gillespie's investigation into a bizarre apparent murder/suicide is threatening to careen out of control. A dead man might not be dead. The families of the deceased are hiding something. And there are blood-soaked threads reaching into some very lofty places. But most perplexing of all are the shocking revelations of one of the "victims" dark and dangerous history -- the more Kate learns, the less she knows. It's a case that has placed Kate Gillespie on the hot seat as her investigation gets bigger by the moment -- and puts her perilously high on a rabid killer's hit list.

My Thoughts: When I first met Kate Gillespie in Every Move She Makes, I knew I would like her and I have not been disappointed. With the follow-up book Fatal Truth, I was even more intrigued by this character. In the third installment, Robin Burcell reveals a side to this character that I enjoyed. The human side. Gillespie is not just a cop; she's human and comes with all of the imperfections we all have within us. Gillespie makes a poor choice, showing a lapse in judgment that could have cost her the badge and career she loves. She's not a bad cop, she's human and she made a choice rooted in her human emotions. It's sad when good cops make bad decisions but it happens all the time. I enjoyed this plot dynamic because Robin Burcell wrote it with such stark clarity that the reader can't help but feel bad for the position Kate has put herself in. The good news is that Gillespie has a high moral code and is ethical so she does the right thing and comes forward with her transgression. She then spends the majority of the rest of the story trying to get past it while wondering if she will have a career waiting when this case is completed. Add into the mix that Torrance is assigned to Internal Affairs and it makes for some very awkward and uncomfortable encounters. I certainly am not alone in wondering if Kate's career will survive this cloud and if she and Torrance will find their way to one another.

This case was quite interesting as Kate learns that one of the victims used to be a good friend of hers. Kate is obviously shocked but it doesn't end there as Kate learns more about the dark side of the double life the victim was living and the people involved. I enjoyed this story line as it once again showed me Kate's human side as she tries to put aside the past and focus on the investigation. Kate's old partner, Scolari, briefly comes out of retirement to lend a helping hand and I quite enjoyed their interactions. I like to be surprised and maybe a little shocked when the bad guy's identity is finally revealed in a book. Of course, I am trying to figure it out as I go along, but having the plot twist out of nowhere is a lot of fun and keeps me on my toes. I was beyond shocked at who was behind the killings and maybe a little more shocked that I was happy that my guess was wrong.

For me, the toughest part of this book were the nails I was chewing in anticipation of what would transpire with Torrance. I think he and Kate are great together and belong with one another but his announcement that he is leaving to take a position with the FBI really deflated me. There are a lot of loose ends with these two and I hope to get some closure in the next book, as it appears to be the last book in this series.

My Final Verdict: Though I am quite bummed that this series is nearing the end, I am still intrigued with the characters and absolutely love that the author draws on her own personal law enforcement knowledge to make this series and the characters realistic and believable. I felt completely drawn into the story and connected with the characters. This is a very good book that will appeal to readers who enjoy romantic suspense, mysteries and thrillers, but I really recommend the complete series.

New Additions To The TBR Pile In March

I was alot more productive on the acquiring side of things in March than I was in the reading side of things, unfortunately. One-third of 2013 has now passed and my reading slump continues. Maybe it's just spring fever but I'm surprised at how long it is taking me to finish a book these days. Here are the new arrivals that I welcomed into my home in March...

Title: Skipped Parts by Tim Sandlin
Description: Banished to the hinterlands of Wyoming, rebellious Lydia Callahan and her thirteen-year-old son Sam have no choice but to cope. But while Lydia drinks and talks to the moose head on the wall, Sam finds a friend in local girl Maurey Pierce.

One of the wildest, raunchiest, most heartfelt coming-of-age novels of the past thirty years, Skipped Parts puts Tim Sandlin in the upper echelon of contemporary comic novelists.

Title: Girls That Growl by Mari Mancusi
Description: Rayne McDonald thought getting into the Blood Coven was the hard part. But now there's a new breed of trouble in town...and the former slayer and her vampire boyfriend may be the only ones who can stop it.

Now that she's an official vampire and full-fledged member of The Blood Coven, Rayne assumes her vampire slaying days are over. Sure, she doesn't have any vampire powers, thanks to a mutated blood virus, but she and Jareth can go out in the sun, which is a pretty good trade-off.

But just when Rayne's starting to enjoy her afterlife, she's contacted by Slayer Inc once again. It seems that a member of her high school's football team has disappeared—and the powers-that-be think the cheerleaders had something to do with it. Now Rayne has to infiltrate the squad before the cheerleaders have a chance to sink their teeth into someone else...

Title: Allison Hewitt Is Trapped by Madeleine Roux
Description: "One woman's story as she blogs - and fights back - the zombie apocalypse"

Allison Hewitt and her five colleagues at the Brooks and Peabody Bookstore are trapped together when the zombie outbreak hits. Allison reaches out for help through her blog, writing on her laptop and utilizing the military's emergency wireless network (SNET). It may also be her only chance to reach her mother. But as the reality of their situation sinks in, Allison's blog becomes a harrowing account of her edge-of-the-seat adventures (with some witty sarcasm thrown in) as she and her companions fight their way through ravenous zombies and sometimes even more dangerous humans.

Title: Delusion In Death by J.D. Robb
Description: After years on the force, Eve Dallas didn't think she could be shocked anymore... until now.

It was just another after-work happy-hour bar downtown, where business professionals unwound with a few drinks, complained about the boss, maybe hooked up with someone for the night. Until something went terribly wrong. At first it was just a friction in the air. The noise intensified. The crow seemed oppressive. some sharp words were exchanged, some pushing and shoving.

Then the madness descended. And after twelve minutes of chaos and violence, eighty people lay dead.

Eve Dallas is trying to sort out the inexplicable events. Surviving witnesses talk about seeing things—monsters and swarms of bees. They describe sudden, overwhelming feelings of fear and rage and paranoia. When forensics makes its report, the mass delusions make more sense: it appears the bar patrons were exposed to a cocktail of chemicals and illegal drugs that could drive people to temporary insanity—if not kill them outright.

But that doesn't explain who would unleash such horror—or why. Eve's husband, Roarke, happens to own the bar, yet he's convinced the attack wasn't directed at him. It's bigger than that. And if Eve can't figure it out fast, it could happen again, anytime, anywhere. Because it's airborne....