The Night Agent by Matthew Quirk – Book Review

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The Night Agent by Matthew Quirk – Book Cover

At the White House, a secret phone line can ring at any moment. FBI agent Peter Sutherland, sidelined to the fringes, has spent the past year working the night shift, waiting for a call that may never come. His only task: to answer and pass it along to the right people. When the phone finally rings, and a young woman in mortal danger begs for help, Peter follows his conscience. And just like that, he finds himself caught in a life-threatening conspiracy.

The Night Agent is Impossible to Put Down

It’s rare to come across a book that pulls you in with such ferocity as Matthew Quirk’s spy thriller—at least for the first 80 pages. Quirk sets the stage with an immediate sense of tension, relentless action, and a merciless antagonist, making the pages fly by.

Action, life-or-death stakes, a covert power play inside the White House. Spies operating under the radar. And to top it all off, the Russian GRU makes an appearance—an agency that, compared to them, even the FSB (the successor of the old KGB) seems like a bunch of Girl Scouts. At least, according to Matthew Quirk. And once the GRU shows up, they waste no time hunting down anyone who gets too close to the fire.

That’s about the first 80-100 pages of The Night Agent. If you don’t want to be disappointed, stop reading right there! And that applies to both the book and this review.

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The Fort by Adrian Goldsworthy – Book Review

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The Fort by Adrian Goldsworthy – Book Cover

During Emperor Trajan’s reign, Rome fought multiple wars against the Dacians, who inhabited what is now Romania. The tribes united under Decebalus posed a constant threat to the empire—just as the Romans did to them. Flavius Ferox, centurion and protagonist of Adrian Goldsworthy’s City of Victory trilogy, takes command of the frontier fort of Piroboridava. If the Dacian armies, preparing for war, decide to march, this fort will be the last line of defense before the provinces.

Through the Eyes of a Historian

Following his Vindolanda novels, Adrian Goldsworthy continues the adventures of his British-born Roman officer, who now finds himself on the empire’s opposite frontier, accompanied by his warrior-queen wife, Claudia Enica. Despite being far from the City and focusing on the relatively low-ranking officers of a minor fort, Goldsworthy still manages to paint a complex picture of how the Roman Empire operated—particularly from a military perspective.

As Flavius Ferox strengthens the fort’s defenses against the looming war, all while dealing with the resentment of the tribal warriors under his command and the rightful anger of his warrior-spirited wife—historian Goldsworthy, too, demonstrates his expertise.

However, if you’ve already prepped for Roman history by devouring classics—say, Colleen McCullough’s brilliant Masters of Rome series—and consider yourself something of an expert, you might still find the sheer volume of Latin terminology overwhelming, from military ranks to soldier slang.

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Written in Blood by Chris Carter – Book Review

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Written in Blood by Chris Carter – Book Cover

When we started this blog, I was somewhere around book four or five of Chris Carter’s Robert Hunter series. And honestly, I was getting tired of it—the formulaic structure and predictable elements were wearing thin. Then An Evil Mind came along, introducing a villain so unimaginably evil that it changed everything. It reinvigorated the series, giving new life to the detective duo who dive headfirst into the most horrific murders imaginable. But by the time we get to Written in Blood, that energy seems to be fading again.

Crime Series, Written in Blood

Robert Hunter and Carlos Garcia, the seasoned two-man team from LAPD’s Ultra Violent Crimes Unit, have an uncanny knack for running into California’s most deranged criminals. About 99% of them just so happen to be serial killers.

And these aren’t your run-of-the-mill, discreet murderers. No, these guys leave crime scenes so drenched in blood it’s practically dripping from the ceiling. And Chris Carter? He revels in the grotesque details, delivering long, painstakingly detailed descriptions of crime scenes.

That’s really the essence of Chris Carter’s books: sheer, almost unimaginable horror. The kind that makes readers shake their heads in disbelief, thinking, “Dear God, this is awful! I could never do something like this!”

But Written in Blood does something different. Those drawn-out, gore-filled descriptions? They’re almost entirely missing.

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Dune: Part Two (2024) – Film Review

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Dune: Part Two (2024) – Film poster

Denis Villeneuve took on a monumental challenge in 2023: adapting a sci-fi classic that had defeated every filmmaker before him. Yet, against all odds, Villeneuve pulled it off surprisingly well. He brought Frank Herbert’s colossal saga to the big screen with minimal alterations—at least in terms of its essence—faithfully adapting the first book (or, to be precise, roughly its first half). But when it comes to Dune: Part Two, things aren’t quite as straightforward.

Dune: Part Two is a GOOD movie, if…

…you haven’t read the book.

If that’s the case, you’re in for a spectacular, at times overwhelming revenge story. After being exiled and losing his father due to the schemes of the Emperor and the villainous Baron Harkonnen, Prince Paul Atreides finds himself in the best possible place to exact his revenge: the most hellish place in the universe, the desert planet Arrakis—also known as Dune.

This barren wasteland is home to the Empire’s most valuable resource: the spice, a substance that extends life and expands human consciousness. The planet’s oppressed native tribes, the Fremen, have long been impatiently awaiting their prophesied messiah. Meanwhile, the mysterious Bene Gesserit order, which has spent millennia manipulating noble bloodlines in hopes of bringing forth the human supercomputer known as the Kwisatz Haderach, has already laid the groundwork centuries in advance.

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Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott – Book Review

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England in Peril

By the year 1199, England had gone to the dogs. The knightly king, Richard the Lionheart, had left for a crusade in the Holy Land. In his absence, his corrupt and unprincipled brother John ruled in his place. Society is torn not only by unjust laws but also by the tyranny of the Normans, who had previously subjugated the Saxons. Robber knights terrorized the land, while outlaws prowled the forests… In such dire times, only a brave and noble-hearted knight could set things right—someone like Ivanhoe.

Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott – Book Cover

A Dash of Romance…

Sir Walter Scott, the pioneer of the historical romance genre, perhaps achieved his greatest success with Ivanhoe. The chivalric romance, deeply rooted in English literature since the Arthurian legends, provided a solid foundation for the emergence of a noble-hearted hero. And the ever-popular Robin Hood legends, passed down through the centuries, only added to the book’s success.

The readers’ emotional investment is secured by identifying with the oppressed Saxons suffering under arrogant tyranny—after all, who wouldn’t sympathize with the undeserving victims of injustice?

Of course, no historical romance is complete without a heroine—one who must be adored from afar, and, inevitably, rescued. Scott doesn’t settle for just one; Ivanhoe gives us two such heroines. Naturally, both are stunningly beautiful, but more importantly, they are also strikingly independent for the era in which they live. Cheers to strong female characters!

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The Defense by Steve Cavanagh – Book Review

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The Defense by Steve Cavanagh – Book Cover

Defense attorney Eddie Flynn receives an offer he can’t refuse—from the Russian mafia. He must smuggle a bomb into the courthouse. Little Benny is about to testify against his former boss, the ruthless Volchek. The Russians’ plan is simple: send Benny—along with the witness stand—flying into the air. Then feign surprise. “Who, us? No idea what happened. Total shocker!” … To ensure Eddie’s cooperation, the mob kills his business partner and kidnaps his daughter. Eddie’s time is running out—and he has to find the defense method that will save him and his family.

Defense Attorney and Con Man

The Russian mafia overlooked one crucial detail: Eddie Flynn isn’t your typical defense attorney. Throughout most of his life, he’s been swindling people—reading them like an open book. On top of that, he’s an experienced boxer. And his best buddy? Jimmy the Hat, the head of the Italian mafia.

Suddenly, things aren’t so one-sided, are they?

But there’s still a bomb strapped to his back and weapons constantly pointed his way. Eddie must wait until night falls and the mafia settles down. Then, as quick as—ahem—a cockroach scurrying across the floor, he starts putting his counterattack into motion.

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Argylle by Elly Conway – Book Review

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Argylle by Elly Conway – Book Cover

Young Aubrey Argylle is drifting through life in Thailand, unable to break free from the paralysis caused by the double shock of his parents’ death and the truth he uncovered about them. However, fate takes an unexpected turn when the young man’s remarkably brave act catches the CIA’s attention. At the Agency, they believe Argylle would be a perfect fit.

A Spy Novel—Possibly Written by Taylor Swift. Or Maybe a Waitress…

If you haven’t been following the media frenzy surrounding the Argylle movie, you might be happily reading Elly Conway’s spy novel under the impression that it was written by an unemployed waitress. If you have, however, you might have believed for a while that the one and only Taylor Swift, queen of one-size-fits-all pop songs, dashed it off between two suspiciously identical verses. That rumor made the rounds after it was revealed that “Elly Conway” was just a pseudonym.

For me, the “written by a waitress” theory held up until about a third of the way through the book. By then, it became obvious that Argylle could only be the work of some seasoned old pro. And not just because it lacks any featherlight emotions or dramatic spats. No, the real giveaway is that the author knows way too much—about Russian domestic politics, covert operations during the Vietnam War, the internal workings of the CIA, and the current situation in the infamous opium-producing region known as the Golden Triangle.

And, well, these aren’t exactly things you’d expect a waitress to be an expert on.

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Red Queen by Juan Gómez-Jurado – Book Review

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Red Queen by Juan Gómez-Jurado – Book Cover

Antonia Scott is the smartest person in the world. She’s a member of a special covert police unit designed to crack the most complex criminal cases. Her codename? Red Queen. But for the past three years, Antonia has been in a state of near-hibernation after an attack took away the one person she cared for most in the world…

The Red Queen Is Back in Action

With Red Queen, Juan Gómez-Jurado has broken through the nearly impenetrable barrier of international recognition after publishing numerous books in Spanish. Not an easy feat if you’re not writing in English. To pull it off, you need something truly extraordinary—something that grabs readers’ attention immediately.

And Antonia Scott is precisely that.

The superintelligent yet quirky and eccentric personality commands both your admiration and your sympathy, making her even easier to relate to. (Much like Lisbeth Salander, a.k.a. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.)

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The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman – Book Review

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The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman – Book Cover

In the charming retirement community of Cooper Chase in southern England, there are numerous clubs designed to keep the residents entertained. There’s a crossword club, French conversation classes, Zumba sessions, and for those seeking a bit more excitement than puzzle-solving, there’s also the Thursday Murder Club. The Last Devil to Die is the fourth collaboration between the retired amateur detectives and the well-known English TV host, Richard Osman. This time, the club members are investigating a missing shipment of heroin, all while seeking revenge for the murder of a friend.

Investigation in a Laid-Back Atmosphere

One might think that the club members, all nearly eighty years old, would have a bit of a handicap when it comes to chasing down criminals, simply due to their age. But that’s not the case. (Of course, they always have hip replacements, walking sticks, and Cavinton on hand if needed!)

You might also expect that various deranged villains would quickly neutralize of the club members with a well-placed elbow to the jaw, and while the amateur detectives recover from concussions in the hospital or lie comatose, the criminals would easily wipe away all evidence.

But the criminals in The Last Devil to Die are as mild as lambs! And remarkably patient and respectful toward the seniors!

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You Like It Darker by Stephen King – Book Review

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You Like It Darker by Stephen King – Book Cover

When it comes to short story collections, it’s always best to kick things off with the strongest story. Naturally, Stephen King does exactly that. You Like It Darker opens with Two Talented Bastids, a tale that hooks you almost instantly with its air of mystery and that trademark King melancholy, the kind that lingers with you long after you’ve finished the story.

And the rest? Well, it’s the usual grab bag of everything we’ve come to expect from the prolific American master: monsters, monstrous humans, the unfathomable secrets of the universe, and, of course, those everyday American heroes who often don’t even realize they’re heroes.

Oh, and don’t forget the usual dose of darkness. Whether you like it or not.

Two Talented Bastids

What is talent? Stephen King poses the question—and then, predictably, doesn’t give a straight answer. Or at least, he leaves you wondering. There’s definitely something not quite right with the two rural buddies who suddenly start cranking out masterpieces in their forties. Could they have made a deal with the devil at a crossroads at midnight?

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