The Châtelet Apprentice by Jean-François Parot

The Châtelet Apprentice by Jean-François Parot

A Nicolas Le Floch Investigation, Book 1

Publisher: Gallic Books (February 2008)

417 pages, eBook (provided by the publisher for review)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Content Note: Includes Violence and Implied Sexual Situations

Young Nicolas Le Floch has arrived in 1760’s Paris to embark on a career with the city’s police force, his naiveté and inexperience, with not only the city but life in general, make his first investigation more difficult, but his assistant and acquaintances help him along the way as he learns the ways of the city. Entertaining detective mystery set in a particularly seedy time period of Paris’s past. The investigation was interspersed with details of Nicolas’s personal life and detailed descriptions of gourmet food as well as the preparations thereof. The way in which this story was told reminded me a bit of the The Hangman’s Daughter series. Great mystery and I look forward to reading other books in this series!

The Guise of Another by Allen Eskens

The Guise of Another by Allen Eskens

Publisher: Seventh Street Books (October 2015)

274 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $8.33)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing, Sexual Situations and Violence

Amid a corruption scandal, Detective Alexander Rupert has fallen from grace and finds himself hidden away in the Frauds Unit, spinning his wheels while his fellow officers ostracize him, until an identity theft case falls in his lap that turns out to be a great deal more involved than it would first appear—dragging Alexander into something much bigger than he’d ever imagined. The sole link between this book and the previous one by this author is the secondary character, Max Rupert (Alexander’s brother), who appears in a limited role in both stories. For the most part, this story is told from Alexander’s point-of-view as he moves through the investigation, struggling along the way with the possibility of his wife’s infidelity. Fast-paced, intricately woven mystery that keeps you guessing all the way through. I liked that some of the characters, Alexander included, had concealed motivations that weren’t revealed until near the end of the story. Great read, and I hope to see more stories featuring Detective Max Rupert!

Through the Narrows by Nathanael Green and Evan Ronan

Through the Narrows by Nathanael Green and Evan Ronan

Tomahawk and Saber Series, Book 2

Publisher: Calhoun Publishing (September 2015)

272 pages, eBook (borrowed from the Kindle Owner’s Lending Library)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing, Implied Sexual Situations
and Graphic Violence

Hugh Pyke and Wolf Tongue are off on another thankless mission, this time investigating reports of indian attacks on Millers Town, a shady out-of-the-way place where they encountered scalpers the last time around. Hugh’s strong sense of duty can’t leave the townspeople to their fate when he finds a few good people do in fact reside there. Great story of battling against the odds and steadfast loyalty to a friend even when things get rough. So many interesting, complex characters fill the background of this story. This is a brutal, fast-paced adventure that keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole way through—I couldn’t put it down! Great story and I look forward to the next installment!

OtherWorld by Evan Ronan

OtherWorld by Evan Ronan

Publisher: Calhoun Publishing (August 2015)

309 pages, eBook (provided by the Author for review)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Aoife enjoys slipping off into her own imaginary world, where her imagination can make anything real—that is until someone hijacks her world and starts to change it for their own purposes. Fun, fast-paced fantasy adventure featuring an unlikely crew of quirky friends to help Aoife along the way. The originality of the characters reminded me a little bit of Harriet the Spy. The mystery/adventure side of the story was very enjoyable and really keeps you on your toes! Good read, with a great message!

Paper Towns by John Green

Paper Towns by John Green

Publisher: Speak (October 2008)

321 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $3.99)

Book Rating: 3 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing and Sexual Situations

Separated by social strata and the many others reasons childhood friends grow apart, Quentin receives a surprising late night visit from his estranged neighbor, Margo, which takes them on an adventure that lasts into the wee hours of the next morning and hints that a renewal of their childhood friendship may be possible—that is until Quentin discovers the next morning that Margo is missing (and has likely runaway from home). This leads Quentin to become obsessed with finding Margo—a girl I found manipulative, self-important and just generally didn’t like. It may be that my age colored my perception of this story, but I found nearly all of the characters to be both selfish and immature, doing reckless things that I found unimpressive, yet they termed adventurous—but, I think that was kind of the point of this story. This is a book about teens (specifically teens with only one month or less left of high school—kids on the brink of adulthood) and the realization that people are not always who we think they are—a close look at most anyone is likely to disappoint. This delved a little further into teen drama and antics then I found interesting, but I absolutely loved the road trip (broken down hour-by-hour in Part III of the book)—hilarious! The road trip alone, is worth the read! Quick read and I think anyone who enjoyed The Fault in Our Stars  and The Perks of Being a Wallflower may enjoy this.

Movie Adaptations:

Paper Towns (2015)

Nat Wolff, Cara Delevingne, Austin Abrams

Movie Rating: PG-13

The Circle by Mario Escobar

The Circle by Mario Escobar

Publisher: Mario Escobar (March 2015)

145 pages, eBook (provided by the Author for review)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing and Graphic Violence

After years of humanitarian work in India, Solomon returns to London with his family to take up a prestigious role at a mental health facility, and as he is familiarizing himself with the files he is drawn to the seemingly forgotten case of a young woman named Maryam, who still resides in the facility. This book is described as a dark psychological thriller, and it certainly is that. If I were to describe this book in a just a few words, I would say creepy and uncomfortably sinister. I wasn’t sure about the beginning, but it really got rolling after a while. Throughout much of the story you are unsure how much of Maryam’s psychosis is an act and how much of it is in fact genuine, while Solomon just keeps digging himself deeper and deeper into the mess she is involved in, ultimately bringing the threat down upon his family as well. Despite its short length, this story is very well-developed, and delivers a suspenseful ride as the mystery unfolds. Entertaining Read!

Language of the Bear by Nathanael Green and Evan Ronan

Language of the Bear by Nathanael Green and Evan Ronan

Tomahawk and Saber Series, Book 1

Publisher: Calhoun Publishing (May 2015)

320 pages, eBook (provided by the Author for review)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing  and Graphic Violence

Hugh Pyke, a British officer, is forced into an unsavory mission and takes Wolf Tongue, a young Susquehannock warrior, as his guide through the wilderness. This story reminded me of a combination of Last of the Mohicans and the movie Cold Mountain. We are following two men as they make their way through a gritty, unforgiving world full of people who are less noble than the heroes we are following, but at the same time, our heroes are forced to wade into the muck themselves at times, navigating vast grey areas in which it is hard to discern what is right and wrong. Pyke started out very idealistic and a bit naive, but he grew along with the friendship between Wolf Tongue and himself, and it was fun to see their relationship evolve. I loved the constant banter between the two men, and thought it put a nice accent on the action.  I’m usually not too much for battle scenes (which this had in plenty), but with this one I was happy to go along for the ride. The story is fast-paced and really sucks you in from the beginning. You are never sure what is going to get thrown at them next, or how they will get themselves out of the latest dilemma. Great story and I look forward to further adventures with Pyke and Wolf Tongue!