Reader Views

The Masada Stones: A Novel

E. W. Bonadio brilliantly combines ancient history, fast-paced adventure, mythology, and deception in his novel "The Masada Stones." Aaron Skorsky, an American professor and archeologist, has spent his entire career intrigued by the story of the Masada stones and the legend purporting that Josephus, the Jewish first-century historian had written a retraction of his account regarding a Roman plan for the annihilation of Hebrew zealots and the alchemy of the Masada stones.

Tension, excitement, academic rivalry, terrorism, and romance move the plot forward as Aaron seeks to find and proclaim the truth behind the myth of the power of the stones.

Bonadio weaves his plot around a politically-charged environment of the Middle East and a specific period of Israeli and Roman history. He intricately and realistically brings to life the possible explanations for the effort to change the veracity of the reporting of an historical event.

The great non-stop action and strong character development take the reader on an archeological student dig at Masada. A bright, young, American coed uncovers scrolls that lead to the discovery of a box containing the mysterious Masada Stones. The Israeli Army, the government secret service, a Palestinian spy, and a terrorist cell group in Jerusalem compete to retrieve the stones to use in surreptitious operations as weapons against their enemy.

A rich widow, and benefactor of the Masada dig, mother of the coed that made the discovery of the scrolls, is kidnapped by the Palestinians. Skorsky saves her life and becomes emotionally and romantically involved. He discovers that he has missed an important purpose in life in his pursuit to resolve the myth of the Masada stones.

Bonadio’s writing is creative and ingenious. He takes the reader on a wonderful, imaginative, and vicarious journey. His dialog is strong and intelligent. The descriptive settings are vivid and realistic. The quest for the academic truth is convincing and challenging. The dramatic climax is thought provoking haunting, and memorable. The message behind the "Masada Stones" will linger, long, in the subconscious mind of the reader.

"The Masada Stones," by E. W. Bonadio, is a truly great read.

The Masada Stones
E.W. Bonadio
iUniverse (2008)
ISBN 9780595527564
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (9/08)

Vampyres of Hollywood: A Novel

A maniacal serial killer, aka the Cinema Slayer, is on the loose in Hollywood. The first three deaths draw attention to the legendary screen queen Osvanna Moore because they were affiliated with her production studio. Five-hundred-sixty-year-old, beautiful Osvanna, who also happens to be the vampire Chatelaine of Los Angeles, does not want this attention. Neither do some other very powerful vampires. When more bodies start piling up, and I mean that literally, it appears that Osvanna is being targeted. The vampires let her know that she has 48 hours to figure out who is doing the murders or they will have to take action against her.

Handsome Beverly Hills Detective Peter King is assigned to the case. He finds himself both drawn to Osvanna and suspicious of her. He knows that she is hiding something and he is determined to find out the truth. Little does he know how much he is about to discover about Osvanna and her kind.

I loved this book! It combines all of my favorite elements into a great novel; mystery, adventure, romance, sex, and the paranormal. An alternate history is created that has had vampires influencing our mundane world for centuries. These influences range from altering major historical events to allowing the secret vampires in Hollywood to give us false beliefs about vampirism. This made the book so much more fun because their powers are much greater than can be imagined, which also makes them harder to destroy.

Another positive aspect of the book was the inclusion of famous Hollywood actors as characters, including some of those who have passed on. Or who have supposedly passed on. This special touch brought forth the magical feeling of Tinsel town. It is very interesting to note that a beautiful Hollywood actress, who does not appear to be aging, is writing about a vampire actress who also is not aging. Hmmh, kind of makes me think, "What if?" Adrienne Barbeau and Michael Scott have formed a winning writing team with "Vampyres of Hollywood.". I truly hope that they continue to collaborate together.

Vampyres of Hollywood
Adrienne Barbeau and Michael Scott
Thomas Dunne Books (2008)
ISBN 9780312367220
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (9/08)

Killrod: The Cross of Lorraine Murders

"Killrod: The Cross of Lorraine Murders" is the first novel written by author Bill Ison. If this book is any indication of the quality of his work, then I am really looking forward to future novels. This well-written page-turner had my complete attention from the beginning to the end.

Sculptor and loner Hart St. James is given an opportunity to work for the mega movie star, Kelly Moran. While working on his project, he and Kelly discover that they really enjoy each other’s company. Hart has a compatibility with her that he has not had with any other woman and is surprised that she is taking such an interest in him. With her, he has his first glimmer of hope to a happy future. With a cruel twist of fate, after his first full night with her, he wakes up in the morning to discover he has a head injury and that she has been savagely murdered next to him. Hart, a Vietnam veteran, with unique tracking skills, decides to find the murderer himself.

As Hart and the hired assassin play a game of cat and mouse, they discover that their pasts are actually very similar. This leads him into a plot that is far more sinister than just Kelly’s murder. Finding the truth becomes important to his survival. Surprisingly for Hart, as he unravels this mystery and deals with his sadness over Kelly’s death, his eyes are opened to the old life that he used to lead. No longer happy living in a broken down store front and driving a beat-up old van, he begins making healthy changes in his life.

Overall, "Killrod: The Cross of Lorraine Murders" by Bill Ison was a great read and I would highly recommend it to people who enjoy thrillers. This is the type of story that would make a great movie or mini series. I look forward to the author’s future works and hope that this is not the last Hart St. James’ story.

Killrod: The Cross of Lorraine Murders
Bill Ison
Outskirts Press (2007)
ISBN 9781432713997
Reviewed by Cherie Fisher for Reader Views (8/08)

Scattered Leaves

Following a spectacular explosion on a drilling rig, from which he escaped unscathed, Ben McCord returns home only to find his beloved wife June brutally raped and murdered. The main suspect at first, he is cleared of any suspicion after the police verified his presence at the explosion site, yet he quickly nearly becomes the next victim. After several more direct attacks on his life it becomes abundantly clear that somebody is out to get him. Ben rapidly discovers that this somebody is obviously a government agent, but the motives remain unclear. He decides to pursue justice on his own, wanting to avenge June’s death and if possible, stay alive in the process. The following events develop briskly, and Ben is soon thrown together with another victim of the same gang, a young dentist, nicknamed PJ. Although it’s been only a few short days since his wife’s death, it is obvious that Ben immediately becomes preoccupied with PJ and his quest for his wife murderer really becomes secondary. He is much more focused on staying with PJ and helping her avenge the terrible fate she suffered at the hands of this unsavory bunch. Will they succeed and will the mystery of June’s killer ever be revealed?

There is absolutely no doubt that Richard E. Roach can write. His prose hits you right in the stomach, and it hits hard. I felt totally desensitized. The violence never stopped. The main story, the one of June’s murder and Ben’s quest for vengeance, was graphic. When PJ entered the story, the description of what happened to her at the hands of the sleazy guys was vivid. The addition of several scenes from her past, involving ongoing sexual abuse of a child by a family member, pushed me over the edge. Yet the violence never stopped. There was much more to come, from castrations to recounting of news stories involving different horrible crimes, other rapes, even one of a child, marital rape and more. Although this is all probably very close to the realities of today’s world, the reader needs to be warned of the content. And while we all mourn in different ways, I found it disturbing that one would remarry so quickly after the death of a beloved spouse who died in such a violent way. Undoubtedly well written, "Scattered Leaves" by Richard E. Roach is a book I would recommend to anybody who loves scenes of death, destruction, violation and obliteration.

Scattered Leaves
Richard E. Roach
Multi-Media Publications Inc. (2008)
ISBN 9781591461463
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (8/08)

Blinded by the Light: A Tess Camillo Mystery

Amateur sleuth and breast cancer survivor Tess Camillo is off on her third adventure when she investigates a murder that happens while she is visiting the Lightning Field with a friend in New Mexico. The victim is made to appear like she was hit by lightning; however, it is quite obvious to the authorities that she was not. Tess’s pregnant friend is one of the prime suspects. Concern for her friend's welfare puts Tess into overdrive on the case. While all the investigating is going on, Tess is also following matters of the heart. She has met a woman online she immediately feels drawn to. This makes Tess vulnerable.

I really enjoyed reading "Blinded by the Light." The author, Morgan Hunt, does such an excellent job of developing her characters and describing her scenes in such vivid detail, my imagination did not have to do much work. Instead I was able to sit back and enjoy the story. There is a ton of humor in her writing; however, she does not go overboard with it because the main character Tess also has depth, especially in regards to matters of the heart. At her core, Tess wants to be in a loving, complete relationship. The crazy stuff that happens around her, especially with some of the eccentric suspects, makes for a really interesting story.

I am in awe of Morgan Hunt’s creativity in writing. The method of murder and the motives behind it were totally unique. She also has the character encounter interesting people with unique jobs. I like that she incorporated an unusual place that really exists into the story. I enjoyed googling Lightning Field on the Internet to learn more about it. Hunt’s journey takes her to several unique, interesting places within the southwest area. "Blinded by the Light" ranks high on my recommendation list, especially for my friends who enjoy bizarre, humorous murder mysteries.

Blinded by the Light: A Tess Camillo Mystery
Morgan Hunt
Alyson Books (2008)
ISBN 9781593500856
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (8/08)

Damien the Man: The Son of Perdition

As an avid "Left Behind" series reader, I was really looking forward to reading "Damien the Man." The author did an excellent job condensing the end-times concept into one book, versus the many of the "Left Behind" series. And because it is a shorter story he does not go into the biblical interpretations as deeply, which enhances the appeal of the book to a much broader audience than most books of this type.

The main character in the story is Dr. Michael Abbott Nelson, who has just finished creating a computer program that will track people through chips placed in either the forehead or finger. Sound familiar? Michael is riding with his best friends to celebrate the launch of the software when they mysteriously disappear. After the car crashes because the driver is gone, Michael gets out of it to a completely new world. Millions of people from all over the globe have disappeared too. The government is not addressing the why of where they went, but rumor has it that they were all Christians.

As Michael works with Damien, the Secretary-General, on the new world order, he and his wife, Tracey, begin to follow the thread of information that their friends left behind for them. They see that the prophecies are being fulfilled and that the world has plunged into seven years of tribulation. As the world goes crazy with war and Damien begins to take over, they know that they are going to have to take a stand and not take the very mark that Michael worked so hard to create.

This well-written book is action-packed and is definitely written for a broad audience. Someone who is not familiar with the end times prophecies would be able to pick up "Damien the Man" by Ralph D. Nybakken and have a good understanding of what has been prophesied by the end of the book. A person who has been studying the end times in great detail might not enjoy this story as much because the story is too short to delve very deeply into the subject thoroughly.

Damien the Man: The Son of Perdition
Ralph D. Nybakken
Outskirts Press (2007)
ISBN 9781432702595
Reviewed by Cherie Fisher for Reader Views (8/08)

Honor in the Son

George C. Lukas’ "Honor in the Son" hits hard from the very beginning. And the punches keep coming at an inexorable pace. Some are to your gut, some to your heart and some just fall pretty much wherever. While that makes for a very fast-moving story, it also makes it harder for me to digest.

Set in the time just after the infamous Mariel boat-lift from Cuba, this thriller follows two loosely linked tales. One, which acts as the frame for the entire story, is the tale of a Catholic priest, Father Tomasso, who was born as Stefano DiTomasso in Italy and came to the United States as a child. Due to violent family history he is honor bound to an organized-crime group and he is still repaying his family’s debt to them, acting as a helper for assassinations of undesirables. While he has never been asked to pull the trigger himself yet, he knows such a moment is coming.

The second tale, an even more violent one, involves his brother Nico, who is in quest of justice for a crime, committed against his new wife Jessica during their honeymoon in Florida. Whether this is really a quest for justice or simply a vengeance call is something the reader will have to decide for him- or herself.

Assisted by two more "heroes," the federal agents Lonnie and Stormy, the brothers set out on rampage that leaves a good number of corpses behind. While they are mostly responsible for those deaths just in an indirect way, the body count is staggering. The descriptions of violence are extremely graphic and the author’s inside knowledge of the narcotics trade, due to the years he spent working in the US Customs in Florida, makes this a believable reading.

What left me cold, however, is the fact that the "heroes" are just that – heroes in quotation marks. I could not warm up to any of them. Nico’s adoration of his wife seems to be based solely on the fact that she’s quick to drop her panties anywhere, if she even wore them that day at all; and the fact that she possesses shapely legs and thin ankles. Any scene involving sex or alluding to it is crude, particularly the very disturbing scene involving Max Cagle’s girlfriend, Tammy Butler. His brother, the Catholic priest, seems to have no qualms about jumping in bed with somebody, therefore breaking his wow of celibacy. Well, if I think about him further, he really does not seem to have any qualms about breaking any of the rules, including taking lives. Lonnie is so nondescript that his presence does not add much to the story. And Stormy, probably the best of the bunch, also harbors a dark secret, one that will not endear him to too many readers.

If you enjoy hard-hitting books about violence and the drug wars, "Honor in the Son" will not disappoint. Just be prepared for some very graphic moments and lots of gore.

Honor in the Son
George C. Lukas
AuthorHouse (2008)
ISBN 9781434340429
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (8/08)

Return of the Blood Drippers: A Feng Shui Story

“Return of the Blood Drippers” follows CIA agent Peter Cushing as he gets pulled into another murder mystery that once again appears to involve the secret society of the Blood Drippers. This is a follow-up book to “Way of the Blood Drippers.”  Peter Cushing and some other characters are reintroduced into this story.  You do not need to read the first book to be able to follow the second one; however, this one intrigued me so much that I want to go back and read the first one.

In this story, Peter is called in to investigate the murder of an important Feng Shui master, his assistant and several highly important world religious leaders.  The techniques used to murder these people appear to be those used by the Blood Drippers clan from China.  The murder victims were all working on a secretive project together that was sanctioned by the United Nations.  It was called the 5E Project, as in the five elements of fire, earth, metal, water and wood.  The final result of the project was to result in major positive changes in the world. 

Somebody obviously does not want this to happen.  Peter’s investigation involves bringing in Tiffany, who assisted him in his first Blood Drippers’ investigation.  Their research takes them to China where they discover some very interesting facts about the Blood Drippers and their history.  I found this part of the story to be incredibly fascinating.  Peter and Tiffany also have to look for clues at the United Nations compound that will provide them with the information that they need to understand what was going on.  Either people who are working on the project are unwilling to talk, or they have already been murdered and thus are unable to talk.  They need to resolve this case before their own lives become endangered. 

“Return of the Blood Drippers” is an absolutely fascinating story.   I really enjoyed that the author included photographs of actual objects that are in the story, diagrams, information on herbs, and a glossary.  I probably learned more about Feng Shui from reading these fictional pages, than if I had gotten a reference book about it.  Tying the elements of Feng Shui into the story makes it easier to understand.  I also enjoyed the martial arts elements that were incorporated into the plot.  It is always exciting to read about people who have special capabilities, even if they are suspected of using them for murder. 

Overall, this is really a great story to read.  I definitely recommend “Return of the Blood Drippers: A Feng Shui Story” by K T. Fung, and look forward to adventures with Peter and Tiffany.

Return of the Blood Drippers
K.T. Fung
iUniverse (2007)
ISBN 9780595476268
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (8/08)

Greasing the Piñata

"But this is Mexico. Anything can happen." Truer words have never been spoken, as wisecracking former reporter turned private investigator, Cape Weathers, learns on his most recent case when he is hired to find a missing former U.S. Senator and his less than law-abiding son in "Greasing the Piñata," by Tim Maleeny.

Rebecca Lowry was exiled early in her father’s, "the Senator’s," political career. She is hurt and bitter by the estrangement, but becomes concerned when her father disappears shortly after her brother; whom she loves despite his many faults, comes up missing.

Cape’s search takes him across the border to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. In a place that caters to turista, it is a little unsettling when body parts belonging to three different men turn up in an alligator-infested pond on the golf course of a swanky hotel. The parts are quickly identified as belonging to the missing Senator Jim Dobbins, his son Danny and a thug who worked for a local drug lord. Cause of death--a midnight snack by the aforementioned gators.

This should be the end of the case, but Cape has a thing for damsels in distress, and his gut tells him Rebecca won’t be safe until he finds out what really happened. Unfortunately, Cape attracts trouble like flies to a bad smell and is soon in the middle of much more than he can handle on his own, and calls in backup after someone leaves a special gift in his toilet.

Sally was orphaned at a young age when the Chinese yakuza murdered her parents. Of mixed Japanese and American heritage, she is taken to a special school run by the triads to be trained as an assassin. She learns her job a little too well and breaks free when they try to kill her. She is offered the job of coming to Mexico to watch Cape’s back and help find his client who has now been kidnapped after receiving a note signed by Cape. Trouble is, Cape didn’t write it and is determined to find Rebecca before she, too, ends up like the rest of her family.

Follow this dynamic duo as the case leads from the corporate boardrooms of San Francisco to the down-and-dirty drug cartels in Mexico, as they meet (and piss off) characters more colorful than a whole Mexican fiesta.

Tim Maleeny’s third installment in the Cape Weathers Investigation series, "Greasing the Piñata," is just as potent as the tequila that knocks his main character on his ass. You’ll definitely thirst for more and enjoy the taste whether you are male or female!

Greasing the Piñata
Tim Maleeny
Poisoned Pen Press (2008)
ISBN 9781590585665
Reviewed by Sandra M. Webster for Reader Views (8/08)

Blacklight Blue

Scotsman Enzo MacLeod gained fame and recognition throughout Europe when he successfully solved two of France’s most notorious cold cases. French journalist Roger Raffin, who is also the boyfriend of Enzo’s daughter Kirsty, had written a book about seven of these well-known crimes, and Raffin’s book was the catalyst for Enzo’s interest in turning up new leads and trying to solve these decades old crimes. While he had planned to investigate the remaining five murders, Enzo’s thoughts are driven elsewhere when he is pitted in an even bigger struggle, one for his own life, after being diagnosed with a life threatening illness and given only months to live. Enzo’s focus is on everything but detective work until he is pressed into action when the lives of his friends and family are put in danger, and he is set up to take the fall for a brutal murder.

Enzo quickly concludes that the person behind the mayhem that has befallen his family must be someone intent on keeping him from solving any of the remaining cold cases, someone with everything to lose if Enzo starts digging around, someone who has killed once and will do whatever it takes to keep their secret buried. After some research, Enzo feels that whoever is behind the attempts to destroy his reputation and his life is most likely also to blame for the murder of a rent boy in Paris sixteen years ago. With his nearest and dearest safely tucked away in the French mountains, the hunt for the killer takes Enzo from country to country in a deadly game of cat and mouse. What is not immediately clear is, who is the cat and who is the mouse?

Peter May has weaved an intricate plot that does not fail to deliver. The novel skips back and forth in time between the 1970s, 80s, 90s, and the present day. These flashbacks are well timed and delve deeper into what is happening now by giving insight into what happened back then. May does a great job with character development, both in the background details he gives and the dialogue he has written for his characters. Enzo MacLeod is rough around the edges, but has a heart that shines through in the darkest times. He is the kind of man you would trust with your life, and you can’t help but root for him to come out on top. The twists in the plot are many and “Blacklight Blue” keeps you guessing until its nail-biting ending.

Blacklight Blue
Peter May
Poisoned Pen Press (2008)
ISBN 9781590585528
Reviewed by Nikki Pringle for Reader Views (7/08)