Claude P. Foster

A Crime, a Plot, and a War

Revisado: 10-14-16

Winter's War is the first full novel in James Philip's Guy Winter series. If you’ve read the previous novella, Winter's Pearl, some of the seeds that were planted there start to sprout. You need not worry if you haven’t read Winter's Pearl, because the roots beneath those sprouts are clearly visible. The story continues while the Battle of Britain rages but before the onslaught of the Blitz. This provides the backdrop for the hunt for a serial killer while offering insight into the workings of British Intelligence as it tries to manage its expanding role. James Philip's characters tend to provide us with a view of the war as seen from the elevated heights of the British aristocracy. Your belonging to the right club is just as important as holding your commission in the right regiment. Philip also exposes, through this cast of characters, the underside of this venerated class. A crime, a plot, and a war; all skillfully put together by the author.

I received this as a free Audible download in return for an honest review. The narrator, Melanie Fraser, was excellent. She very much added to my enjoyment of the novel.

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Best Served Cold

Revisado: 08-24-16

Alice Catherine Carter’s "The Final Dawn" is a dark, straightforward story of revenge. Her tale of the quest for vengeance takes place over decades and the vast expanses of Russia. Carter does a god job of making you feel the cold of the steppes and the cold that can exist inside the human heart. If you’re looking for a quick read with strong themes, this will do.

The narrator, Melanie Fraser, was wonderful. I received this as a free Audible download in return for an honest review.

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Enjoyable Shoot-um-up

Revisado: 08-13-16

Russell Blake’s Jet is a pretty straight forward action adventure novel. His protagonist is an ex-Mossad assassin who just happens to be female. Blake provides all of the guns, explosions, double-dealing, international locations and evil villains that we’ve come to expect from the genre. He keeps it moving and doesn’t make it difficult to go along for the ride. If you’re in the mood for a modern day shoot-um-up, you’ll find this to be right down your alley.

The narrator, Braden Wright, was very good.

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A Short Glimpse at the Phony War

Revisado: 07-24-16

Winter's Pearl is a short prologue to James Philip’s Guy Winter Mystery series. It’s set during the opening days of WWII during the period known as the “phony war.” Several characters are introduced, points of conflict between them are established and we’re given an opening mystery to wet our appetites. Based on the prologue, Philip’s is going to give us a look inside British intelligence and police services during the war. It promises to be most interesting.

I received this as a free Audible download in return for an honest review. The narrator, Melanie Fraser, was excellent.

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Highly Entertaining

Revisado: 07-24-16

Peter Clines once again has given us a highly entertaining horror novel that takes place in the universe of 14. This is in no way a sequel, but a standalone novel in the same universe. A likeable protagonist and an excellent group of ancillary characters move the story right along. A nicely written story, that leads to a climax featuring scientists, demons, and the United States Marines. It can’t get much better than that.

The narrator, Ray Porter, was very good.

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Bernie does not disappoint

Revisado: 06-10-16

Having read all of the Bernie Gunther novels, starting The Other Side of Silence was like listening to an old friend relate a story from their past. An old friend who was a Berlin police detective, a private investigator and a member of the Nazi SD with personal relationships among senior members of the Nazi regime. A casual observer can follow along easily enough but by knowing Bernie’s history, you understand the nuances. You understand that with Bernie, the past is never past; the present is never quite what it seems and the future is never clear. Philip Kerr handles, quite adroitly, how the orbits of Gunther and “the richest and most famous living writer in the world: W. Somerset Maugham” intersect. That relationship is at the heart of the novel as Maugham too has a past. Kerr has once again delivered a highly entertaining, thoroughly absorbing, mystery with a kick.

John Lee, as the narrator for this novel, is the quintessential Bernie Gunther. He maintained his usual excellence.

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This is Non-stop Action

Revisado: 06-10-16

When you pick up The Gray Man be ready for non-stop action. Something noisy happens on almost every page. Even with a fairly straightforward plot, author Mark Greaney seems very adept at keeping his readers and his hero off guard. This is an unapologetic thriller, in the vein of film hero John Wick. Not a heavy read but an enjoyable one. I’m looking forward to On Target, the next book in the series.

The narrator, Jay Snyder, was very good.

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Well Told Story of a Battle

Revisado: 05-14-16

While reading "Waterloo", you’ll discover that Bernard Cornwell has brought his considerable writing talents as a novelist to bear on this straight history of one of the most famous battles in the history of warfare. He skillfully ties together the story of three battles, (Ligny, Quatre-Bras, and Waterloo) three armies, (Allied, Prussian, and French) and the three commanders (Wellington, Blucher, and Napoleon.) Cornwell supplies plenty of facts and figures but he doesn’t let them overwhelm the narrative of the story that he is telling. He makes the point, more than once, that trying to tell the history of a battle is like trying to tell the history of a ball. So many things are happening at once while at the same time there are very discreet elements. Cornwell excellently weaves those elements together while ensuring that you don't lose sight of the dance.

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Couldn't Close the Deal

Revisado: 04-11-16

I received this as a free Audible download in return for an honest review. This is a book that I thought started out strong. It created a real atmosphere, but it kind of lost its way as the story went on. The ending seemed disconnected from the story. The narration was good and fit the story.

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A Different Perspective

Revisado: 04-11-16

I’m not a reader of Zombie fiction but consistently good reviews and great word of mouth made it seem worth a try. Even after making that decision, I owned it for a year before I actually read it. I could pretend I was saving it but the truth is it was just hard to pick up. Once I did, it was even harder to put down. M.R. Carey took a real risk with a zombie apocalypse story from the point of view of a zombie. Regardless of the fact that it’s a little girl, it’s still a zombie. High risk can pay high rewards and it’s the reader who gets the biggest payout. A nicely woven plot, expertly paced. Characters developed to the point that the reader can understand them even when you may disagree with them. Carey never short changes and he doesn’t abuse your trust. I’m glad I took the risk.

The narrator, Finty Williams, was excellent.

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