A Book A Week

When I was in high school, I read a trade paperback copy of Transfer of Power by Vince Flynn. I bought the copy from a garage sale for a quarter, and for the amount of entertainment it provided the book was quite a steal. Years later, I still buy way too many copies of used books, but I haven't kept up with Flynn's series about CIA agent Mitch Rapp. When I stumbled upon a copy of American Assassin, the chronological beginning to the character, I jumped at the chance to read another installment in the series that entertained me years ago.

The novel opens at a time before Mitch Rapp is the infamous agent that Flynn originally wrote about. Rapp has just been summoned by Irene Kennedy, an up and coming protege of the director of the CIA, to join a select group of potential recruits to a top secret clandestine force. The group functions to do the dirty work of the agency without any official directive or recognition from the government. Out of a deep pool of applicants, these are supposed to be the best of the best.

Rapp seems to be an unusual choice, especially to the man tasked with training and selecting the final members of the force. Stan Hurley dislikes Rapp from the start. He was a talented athlete and may have the physical capacity to do the job, but Mitch Rapp is an emotional mess. Rapp lost his father at a young age and his girlfriend lost her life in a terrorist attack. This has left Rapp with one thing on his mind: revenge. With the threat of future terrorist activity growing stronger each day, Rapp must face Hurley's opposition, the mounting pressure from Irene Kennedy, and most difficulty his inner demons to become one of the best agents in the history of the CIA.

American Assassin contains much of what I remembered liking about the first novel. Mitch Rapp is the kind of macho, all-American hero that is really easy to root for. Flynn writes with a breakneck pace that keeps the pages turning and the thrills coming. The supporting cast is equally well-rounded with Stan Hurley stealing nearly every scene he's in. As a prequel to the expansive series that Rapp is featured in, this book gives an adequate introduction to the character. Still, I found the development of Rapp from grieving youth to hardened special agent to be very rushed and under developed. One moment he is facing the doubts about taking on this job, the next he is ruthlessly executing terrorists. There isn't much in between. This book has certainly reinvigorated my enthusiasm for Flynn's books, but it doesn't delve much past the surface level emotions of its main character.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.

(2017, 28)

"Why does everyone else get rich? The wiseguys, the dope dealers, the politicians? Why not us for a change? When is it our turn?"

My familiarity with author Don Winslow began with his novel, The Savages. That novel and its prequel, The Kings of Cool, featured a fast-paced, bare-knuckle prose that made for a quick and thrilling read. The way Winslow had me rooting for a group of drug dealers was remarkable, and I consider those books to be some of the best thrillers that I've ever read.

His 2015 novel, The Cartel, garnered critical and commercial acclaim as a sprawling epic about the drug war. It was quickly optioned for a film adaptation by Ridley Scott, and cemented Winslow's place as one of the top thriller authors writing today. When an advanced copy of Winslow's latest novel, The Force, made its way to my desk, I eagerly dived into the novel with high expectations.

Denny Malone is a king of sorts. As the leader of the exclusive NYPD task force, "Da Force", Denny has earned the reputation as being one of the best officers in the city. His men put their lives on the line each night, protecting their home from drugs, gangs, and violence. Denny's personal life has taken a backseat to his work, leaving him separated from his wife, away from his children, and frequenting the home of his drug-addicted mistress. Denny sees this as a necessary evil, all part of the Job.

Ironically, Denny's quest for justice has seen him precariously balance on the edge of cop and criminal. Simply put, Denny is a dirty cop. If putting a bad guy away involves stretching the truth at a trial, planting evidence, or even killing him instead of arresting him, that's fine by Denny. Within the expansive corruption of the justice system, Denny dutifully plays his part in keeping the wheels turning.

Denny takes things a step further when his team busts a notorious drug leader. They murder the criminal on the spot and keep a bit of his drugs for themselves. Why shouldn't the team financially benefit from this massive bust. They reason that if they don't profit from this situation, someone else will. But years of deceit and corruption finally catch up to Denny when the Feds begin to pressure him for info. Denny is caught between saving his own skin and protecting his team. "A man takes care of his family, end of story."

The Force is the best thriller that I've read this year. Winslow writes a startling portrait of a criminal justice system that mirrors the kind of crime operations it is supposed to destroy. At nearly 500 pages, The Force is not the quick read that Winslow gave in his earlier works. Instead, it is a detailed study of a man's transformation from good to bad that evolves slowly while constantly engaging. I was reminded of the epic scope of some of the great gangster films like The Godfather and Goodfellas. I marveled and the way Winslow explores the idea of justice and what it truly is. Cop thrillers aren't hard to come by, but The Force by Don Winslow is sure to be the best one that you'll read this year.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.

(2017, 27)

In the last few years, Amy Schumer has ascended into the upper echelons of celebrity. After a whirlwind break on the reality show Last Comic Standing, she went on to star in the acclaimed show Inside Amy Schumer and wrote and stared in the film Trainwreck. Amy is controversial, quick-witted, and was even named one of Barbara Walter's most fascinating people of the year. Naturally, I wanted to learn more about her.

As other comedians have done, Schumer populates her book with a collection of essays. While they all contain bits of her biting humor, I was surprised at how many of these essays tackle serious issues. She juxtaposes hilarious descriptions of one night stands and dates with other celebrities with the darker story of being in an abusive relationship. We learn that beneath the hardened persona that the public sees on stage lies a vulnerable introvert who has known her fair share of heartache.

I went into The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo looking for laughs, but I came out of it with a deeper appreciation of Amy Schumer as a person. She writes of the moment she learned of two women who were shot to death at a screening of her film Trainwreck. When she says that she thinks about these women often and is determined that their memory never dies, I believe her. I admire that the tragedy inspired her to take action as an advocate against gun violence and as a voice for women's rights. The essay format naturally can be a bit disjointed, and this book is no different. Still, The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo showcases Shumer's talent as an entertainer and reveals a side of her that makes the book worth reading.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.

(2017, 26)

"I always knew one day she'd come home."

You'll Never Know, Dear sees three generations of women dealing with a haunting past. Forty years ago, young Lissie was playing in the yard with her sister Janey. The two girls occupied themselves with handmade dolls that their mother modeled after their likeness. Lis became distracted by a dog and left her sister to play alone. That was the last time anyone ever saw little Janey.

Fast forward to present day. Miss Sorrel, the girls' mother, never recovered from Janey's disappearance. Clouded in grief, she gave up on creating porcelain dolls with her friend Evelyn, but she never gave up hope that she would see her daughter again. Each year, Miss Sorrel posts an add in the paper searching for the doll that disappeared with Janey. Each year, the ad goes unanswered. But this year is different. This year, the doll has come home.

Vanessa is in the midst of deep sleep when she's suddenly awakened. For years, she has studied the way people dream. She seeks a way to control actions in dreams and help people who suffer from nightmares and PTSD. She is awakened with the news of a terrible accident involving her mother and grandmother, Lis and Miss Sorrel. An explosion in Sorrel's kiln, a tool that sat mostly unused, sent the two women to the hospital and caused considerable damage to Miss Sorrel's treasured doll collection. When Vanessa arrives at her grandmother's home, she learns that Janey's long lost doll recently resurfaced. The very next day, the explosion happened. Could the doll really belong to Janey? After all these years, why did it surface now?

One glance at the haunting cover of this novel was all it took to capture my attention. From the very start, You'll Never Know, Dear, captured my attention and held on to the very end. There is a timelessness to Ephron's writing that makes for an almost enchanting read. While seasoned mystery readers will probably see the ending coming, it is the nuanced characters and vivid setting that make this a worthy read. With an unsolved mystery, strong female characters, and a few creepy dolls thrown in for good measure, You'll Never Know, Dear is everything I needed in a summer read. The book is marketed as "women's fiction", but make no mistake, this suspenseful novel will have men and women reading with fervor into all hours of the night.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.

(2017, 25)