RebeccasReads

The Price of Guilt

Revenge is one of the most popular themes in the history of literature --- dating back to pre-biblical times. Readers are consistently drawn to a good revenge story because, if done well, they can identify with the protagonist/antagonist seeking the revenge and vicariously enjoy when they are successful in this endeavor.

Often times, stories of revenge are predictable and trite, and readers may give up caring about the outcome long before the final page is turned. The latest novel by author/Professor Patrick M. Garry, "The Price of Guilt," falls somewhere between these two extremes.

Attorney Thomas Walsh attends his high-school reunion with great reluctance. The reluctance is not over any embarrassment he has about his life or fear of mingling with colleagues who have become unrecognizable since he last saw them. Walsh’s trepidation lies in the fact that he does not wish to relive a tragic event that he and some classmates were involved in back when they were thirteen. This accident that Walsh still feels heavy guilt for resulted in the permanent blinding of schoolmate, Donavon Killerman. Donavon was successively orphaned and Walsh and his reunited school-mates had not seen him since that fateful event.

Walsh is at a crossroads in his life. His marriage to wife, Sarah, has been on the down-turn for a long while and his legal career has recently taken a hit when a client of his became involved in a political scandal that threatened to ruin his career. Walsh could certainly use some good karma --- so he decides to look up Donavon Killerman after nearly thirty years. Donavon runs a dilapidated fishing resort that has seen better days. Arriving there with Sarah, and signing in under her name so as to not rouse suspicion, Walsh decides to spend a mini-vacation at Donavon’s resort and get to know him in the progress.

Walsh’s guilty feelings instantly get the best of him as he finds the blind Donavon struggling to keep the resort running (Walsh is his only customer) and entangled in various legal problems. Walsh figures this is the perfect opportunity to make amends while never revealing his true identity or actual purpose in being at Donavon’s resort. I only it were that easy. Walsh quickly finds himself mixed up in drug deals, an extra-marital affair and the target of an eager private investigator. Things start to spiral out of control as Walsh’s life and marriage begin to crumble around him --- with no sign of light.

"The Price of Guilt" begins with a decent enough premise and Garry clearly has a command of the written word. However, the novel begins to lose steam about half-way through and the inevitable ending will not come as a surprise to any shrewd mystery/thriller fan. The continuous jumping back in forth in time throughout the narrative, from Walsh’s present position as an inmate in Orono Prison to the events that led him there, becomes a distraction and I found much of the information unnecessary. A decent and quick read but not a memorable tale of guilt and revenge.


The Price of Guilt
Patrick M. Garry
Kenric Books (2011)
ISBN 9780983370307
Reviewed by Ray Palen for RebeccasReads (12/11)

Soldiers’ Letters Home: A Family’s Saga 1863-1919

In the Preface to “Soldiers’ Letters Home: A Family’s Saga 1863-1919,” Eugene Arundel Miller writes that “Among the family keepsakes preserved and passed along to me were collections of letters and photographs from three family members who had served in the armed forces of the United States.  The letters home from Judson Elliot Miller (Civil War), Arundel Miller Hull (Spanish-American War), and Glenn Eugene Miller (World War I) are not startlingly dramatic but they provide a non-glamorized insight of the experiences of three soldiers in three different wars.”

Miller tells each of the three different men’s stories throughout the three parts of the book utilizing these letters and photographs.  Additional text detailing the background and historical facts are mixed in making the book quite a cohesive compilation.  I especially liked the inclusion of a photograph of each soldier so that there was a face to put with the name of each letter writer.

I really enjoyed this look at the soldiers’ correspondences with loved ones back home.  It was a neat glimpse into how these individuals felt about things and how they viewed the events that were happening.  Although the letters were adjusted for clarity (which I appreciated after seeing the sample handwriting of the original) these are the actual letters written.  It is wonderful that these letters had been saved and preserved for so long and then shared with others through this work.  I recommend “Soldiers’ Letters Home: A Family’s Saga 1863-1919” to those interested in history or those who want a more personal, non-textbook view of the events that took place during these three wars.


Soldiers’ Letters Home: A Family’s Saga 1863-1919
Eugene Arundel Miller
Antelope Press (2011)
ISBN 9780972851121
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (12/2011)

Half Past Dawn

Richard Doetsch has turned his career as a real estate executive on its ear, and as his hobby is writing terrific historical-based thrillers which has now propelled him to the upper echelons of this genre.  With two of his prior novels already being optioned for major motion pictures, his latest release "Half Past Dawn"is a stand-alone thriller that pulls out all stops and continues his successful streak of addictive novels.

Jack Keeler’s world slowly comes to life at half-past dawn one morning and he finds himself placed within a situation that he cannot explain.  He gazes in the mirror to find a seriously wounded face, a poorly stitched up shoulder wound and an intricately designed tattoo of indecipherable script covering his forearm.

He also does not find his wife, Mia, where she should be in bed beside him.  Mia is an FBI agent and as he limps towards his phone to call her he is met with the shock of his life.  The daily paper features a front-page story exclaiming that New York City District Attorney Jack Keeler is dead.  The article is accompanied by a photo of a mangled guard-rail, highway covered in skid marks and the bridge that Jack and Mia’s car supposedly tumbled off of.

When Jack’s friend and mentor, Frank Archer, stops by he is met by a frantic Jack who shows him the newspaper story. Together, Jack and Frank attempt to jog Jack’s memory of the prior evening and piece together the short-term amnesia filled moments that are just out of Keeler’s reach.  With Mia being a CIA agent and Jack a prominent D.A., the list of those who might want to harm them is endless.  Where to begin?

Jack and Frank begin their own private investigation under the radar of authorities and taking full advantage of the fact that everyone thinks Jack is dead.  As more and more memories become clear to him, Jack starts filling in the missing pieces of the previous night and at one point confronts the man whose actions caused their near-fatal car crash.

The only problem is that, once Jack kills this mysterious villain, he rifles through his jacket to find an ID along with a badge claiming the stranger to be one Steven Gallagher, FBI agent.  What have Jack and Mia gotten themselves into?

Jack’s world is further turned upside down when he receives a phone call from Mia’s alleged kidnappers.  The frightening thing is that the voice on the other end of the phone belongs to Nowaji Cristos --- a convicted terrorist that Jack prosecuted.  Unfortunately for Jack, knowing the identity of his enemy does not help him in this case as he watched as Cristos was executed via lethal injection the previous year.  Cristos at one point says to Jack: ‘Nothing is as it seems.  Remember this, death is not always final, not always permanent; death is never the end.’

I advise all readers of this twisting Pandora’s Box of a novel to keep that quote in mind as a very real quandary is laid out.  Is Jack dealing with a villain who can indeed cheat death or is he himself suffering from a mass delusion brought on by a brain tumor he has been battling?  Once this realization is proposed nothing is truly as it seems and "Half Past Dawn"  will take you into situations you will not see coming.  A fine job by Richard Doetsch as he once again has written a fast-paced thriller sprinkled with international intrigue and historical mysteries that keep things hopping until the very last page.

Half Past Dawn
Richard Doetsch
Atria Books (2011)
ISBN 9781439183977
Reviewed by Ray Palen for RebeccasReads (11/11)

The Night Eternal

Having already become one of the top director’s in the world with his dark visionary masterpieces such as: “Pan’s Labyrinth”, “The Orphanage” and “Hellboy”, auteur Director Guillermo Del Toro boldly enters the world of horror/thriller fiction.  To make matters even more difficult, he has chosen to enter the currently overexposed genre of vampire fiction.  With assistance from crime/thriller writer, Chuck Hogan, the pair have penned a new vampire trilogy that started with the first two releases "The Strain" and "The Fall" and now finishes with "The Night Eternal."

The initial problem, and the same that is found with any trilogy, is the ultimate let down that is felt when the third novel or film does not measure up to its’ predecessors. This is especially challenging when the first two installments in the trilogy are top notch.  That being said,  "The Night Eternal" is a decent read and does indeed tie up all the loose ends and pose a finale to the saga.  Unfortunately, it does not have the break-neck pace or interesting confrontations that filled the pages of the first two novels.

We are once again drawn into the battle of a small group of rebellious humans who are attempting one final run at bringing down the leader of the vampire plague; the nefarious one known simply at the Master.  The leader of the human rebels is Dr. Eph Goodweather, former head of the Center for Disease Control and one of the first people on earth to uncover the vampire epidemic.  He has special motivation as the Master has captured his thirteen-year-old son, Zack, and attempted to turn him against his father and the remaining humans (much in the same fashion as he did to Eph’s ex-wife and Zack’s mother in the prior novel).

The challenge that the human ‘freedom fighters’ face is all but insurmountable in scope.  There is only night left on the earth as nuclear winter blankets the land with sun filtering through the poisoned air for a mere two hours each day  making the propagation of the vampire species that much easier.  However, Eph and company have a secret weapon on their side.  They have teamed up with a half-breed offspring of the Master, known to them as Mr. Quinlan, and he knows the secret to stopping the Master for good.

This will involve the possession of an ancient text and artifacts that the entire group must risk their lives to find --- if it even exists.  Who among them will be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to save their race and do they even stand a chance against such mighty odds?  The vampire clan, known as the strigoi, is fearless and the proposal of turning the tide against them and the darkness they have instilled across the planet is what keeps the pages of "The Night Eternal" turning until the final climatic battle..

The Night Eternal
Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan
William Morrow (2011)
ISBN 9780061558269
Reviewed by Ray Palen for RebeccasReads (11/11)

Emeralds Never Fade

World War II is looming, but two German boys only know their shared love of playing the piano. Soon, forces beyond their control or understanding, separate them as Germany becomes an unsafe place for Jews. Leo Bergner’s parents see themselves as German, not just Jews, and refuse to believe Hitler will go as far as the rumor mill suggests. After family begs them to see the writing on the wall, Leo’s parents ultimately send him to safety in Palestine.

Bruno’s parents force him to quit teaching the Jewish pupil, and he ends up joining Hitler’s troops. Thanks to a bum foot, he is spared getting his hands too dirty in the war, but he gains valuable knowledge while working in an administrative capacity at a concentration camp. Knowledge he later uses to his advantage.

The story continues to unfold. Leo ends up fighting the Germans in the British army while Bruno escapes to Argentina just before the Allied Forces close in. Leo feels the burden of his past, of his lost loved ones, even when he marries and moves into a career in banking. Bruno uses information gathered during the war to survive.
 
Leo ultimately uncovers a bank conspiracy involving stolen Jewish possessions. His family’s lost emerald heirloom, stolen during the war, brings the two men back together in an explosion of emotions and fate.

The author intricately weaves together the stories of Leo and Bruno throughout the novel. Each man is affected by the war, but uses different means to cope and move on. From the moment Bruno steals the emerald, we know their fates are intertwined. With each page turn, we eagerly anticipate how the two stories will collide. The author leaves us guessing until the very end.

Although the novel is a thrilling page-turner, it is still steeped in emotion. Both men are victims of circumstance. I found Leo’s letters from his mom particularly touching, and Bruno grew up under the thumb of selfishness and judgment. Neither man’s character is clear cut, both are just men held strongly in the often cruel hands of fate. You will enjoy this rich story, and its well-crafted characters, from beginning to end. An amazing cover seals the deal.

Emeralds Never Fade
Stephen Maitland-Lewis
Glyd-Evans Press (2011)
ISBN 9780983259633
Reviewed by Tia Bach for RebeccasReads (11/11)

Searchial Marketing: how social media drives search optimization in web 3.0

This is an extremely helpful and easy-to-follow book about online marketing or “searchial” marketing, a term coined by the author, representing an intersection between social media and internet search engines. After discovering Facebook, the author, a medical doctor, realized the capabilities of such powerful tool. Building business relationships and spreading your name and your business became easier than ever, and most importantly – practically free. The times are changing, and old marketing strategies like direct mail, print advertisements are much less powerful now. People obtain much of their information online. Plus, almost everyone participates in the online social world, being introduced to new people, not just for fun and giggles, but also for business. It is no surprise that LinkedIn appeared soon after Facebook bringing professionals together and allowing everyone to built unique networks with people around the globe.

Today, most people are not searching their giant Yellow Pages books if they need a professional to do something for them, but typing their request in a search engine instead. It is especially crucial for small businesses to have a significant presence online, where new customers can be reached.  Many times consumers do not even trust businesses, which are not listed online, since no feedback can be found, etc. It is absolutely necessary for a business to show up in a search. This book gives practical advice and specific pointers on how to optimize such searches to business owner’s benefit, how to conquer the online world.

There are boundless opportunities to spread information about a business using online resources like Twitter, blogs, review sites, and lots more. Dr. Glazier touches on all of these valuable tools with much detail and real-world applicability. If one wishes to know more about these modern marketing strategies to help their business, this book is an extremely valuable asset.

Since the author is an eye doctor, he specializes in applying searchial marketing strategies to the medical and health care fields. There a number of appendices at the end of the book describing specific advice to medical professionals, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies.

I would recommend "Searchial Marketing" to anyone interested in gaining more costumer or fan base through web-based resources. The process is not as easy as it seems, but with necessary information, it becomes very doable and useful.

Searchial Marketing: how social media drives search optimization in web 3.0
Dr. Alan Glazier
AuthorHouse (2011)
ISBN 9781456738921
Reviewed by Andrey Bilko for RebeccasReads (11/11)

Currents of Deceit

Recently I was asked to review “Currents of Deceit” by author Ronald Perkins. After reading the provided synopsis I immediately agreed as “Currents of Deceit” sounded like it would be a good book to say the least. When my copy arrived I scanned the front and back before sitting down with it a day or so later.

The premise of “Currents of Deceit” is as follows: Scott Simmons, a marine biologist who hails from a small town in Indiana now works with the Florida Fisheries Commissions and lives in Key West. Once a week Scott visits the local fish market to examine the freshly caught ocean fish looking for harmful parasites or anything else that might cause these fish to be unfit for human consumption. The vendors are never happy to see Scott because they know if he finds any sort of contamination he has the legal authority to stop their sales.

Linda Stevens, a marine biochemist and Scott’s girlfriend decides to run some tests on Scott’s latest samples and look for POPs: Persistent Organic Pollutants. Neither of them expects her to find anything; they both know she’s just killing time while waiting for Scott to finish his own tests. However, when her tests are done the results are…sobering. Linda has definitely found high concentrations of PCBs in Scott’s deep water fish samples. PCBs are polychlorinated biphenyls; things like pesticides that don’t degrade quickly and don’t stay in one area. Needless to say both Scott and Linda are horrified by her discovery and they quickly work on finding experts to verify their findings and help them figure out what they need to do from this point.

I’m not going to give away any more of the book; suffice it to say that “Currents of Deceit” is a great book and well worth reading. While “Currents of Deceit” is a fictional story, in today’s world of seemingly endless oil and other contaminant spills, this book hits home hard.

Kudos to Perkins for a fast-paced, well-written and interesting book. The plot / storyline is realistic; the characters are believable and the message contained within “Currents of Deceit” is one that we all need to hear.

Currents of Deceit
Ronald Perkins
Independent Publisher Services (2011)
ISBN 9781450724791
Reviewed by Charline Ratcliff for RebeccasReads (11/11)

Sleeper’s Run

“Most people ignore the homeless man stumbling along the boardwalk.  The few that notice him do so with usual disdain.  But to the most observant, it soon becomes clear that there’s something out of place about this man.  His tall body looks strong and athletic, instead of the usual emaciated bag of bones one can find perched on a street corner asking for spare change.  The man’s wrinkled shirt and jeans aren’t ill-fitting donations, but quite stylish; just like his watch and shoes.”  (p.1)

This man turns out to be Eric Caine, who has been reported missing for eight days after a car accident.  He is a veteran suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  Shortly after he is found, he has an encounter with a gentleman in a bar that will change his life forever.  The employment offer he receives from this meeting has him eventually relocate to Venezuela, his former homeland.  From here, the action begins as he discovers he is being tailed.

I found “Sleeper’s Run” to have an interesting plot and intriguing characters. Mosquera does a good job with character development, most particularly with the main character, Eric Caine.   I was drawn in right away to the story in the opening pages and my interest was held throughout.  I did find some areas of the book to be a little choppy though.  There just seemed to be some hiccups in the smooth flow of the plot.  Other than that minor distraction, “Sleeper’s Run” is a book that fans of suspense and espionage should enjoy.

Sleeper’s Run
Henry Mosquera
Oddity Media LLC (2011)
ISBN 9780615505442
Reviewed by Kam Aures for Rebecca’s Reads (11/11)