Deception Cove by Owen Laukkanen; 2019; $28.00;372 pages; Mulholland Books, New York, NY; 978-0316-44870-3; checked out from Multnomah County Library, Woodstock; 6/14/19-6/18/19
I am looking forward to someday reading more by Owen Laukkanen, I really like his style.
Mason Burke was the getaway driver in a robbery in which someone was killed. He was charged with murder, pled guilty and served his sentence. One thing he did prior to his release was help train a rescue dog, Lucy, to be an emotional support dog for a Marine suffering from PTSD.
Lucy went to Jess Winslow, a female Marine, who lives on the Washington coast. Her late husband had gotten involved in something illegal and the bad guys are coming after her.
Mason finds out where Lucy has gone and goes there to check on her and gets involved in the fight between Jess and the bad guys. The interplay between good and bad and shades of grey is amazing. Almost every character has multiple sides to them and the author really brings them to life. The relationships ebb and flow like real relationships do.
10/10
Spearhead, An American Tank Gunner, His Enemy and a Collision of Lives in World War II by Adam Makos; 2019;$28.00; 393 pages; Ballantine Books, New York, NY; 978-0-8041-7672-9; checked out from Multnomah County Library, Gregory Heights; 6/5/19-6/13/19
This is the story of two tank gunners from WWII, one from the United States and the other from Germany. There are a few supporting characters another US tank gunner and a US infantryman. These men and several other people who were involved were interviewed and those interviews are the book, with some historical information added. The main battle is in Cologne at the end of the war. The conclusion of the story is the two gunners meeting and becoming friends at the start of this century.
A well told tell that avoids most of the cliches and tropes of a war story.
10/10
Marvel Comics, The Untold Story by Sean Howe; 2012; $26.99; 484 pages; Harper, New York, NY; 978-0-06-199210-0; checked out from Multnomah County Library, Central; 5/23/19-6/2/19
The story of how Timely Comics became the Marvel juggernaut. The author has interviewed many of the people who had something to do with the growth of the company. Stan Lee, Jim Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, The Revlon Guy, Joe Quesada, John Byrne, Chris Claremont are all represented. Even Jim Shooter, Rob Liefield (boo, hiss) and Todd McFarlane. The chronology goes from the 1940's to 2012, as the Marvel Cinematic Universe is gaining ground.
'Nuff Said
9/10
If She Wakes by Michael Koryta; 2019; $28.00; 393 pages; Little, Brown and Company, New York, NY; 978-0-316-29400-3; checked out from Multnomah County Library, Midland; 6/2/19-6/5/19
Abby Kaplan a former stunt car driver turned insurance investigator is assigned the case of college student Tara Beckley. Tara was escorting a visiting engineer to a speaking engagement when they were involved in a horrific accident that killed the engineer. Tara is now suffering from locked in syndrome, conscious and aware but unable to move any part of herself to let the doctors and family know she is aware. As Abby investigates she begins to realize the significance of what happened as does Tara from the conversations going on around her. Abby fights against those who don't want her to uncover the truth as Tara fights against her own body to prevent further suffering and death among her family.
This is a gripping thriller on at least two levels. Michael Koryta is a great thriller writer.
10/10
