The Last Agent by Robert Dugoni – Book Review

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The Last Agent by Robert Dugoni – Book Cover

Charles Jenkins, the aged former CIA agent, barely escaped from Russia with his life, pursued by half of the Russian intelligence services. After his arduous return home, instead of receiving gratitude for his efforts, the CIA wanted to deal with him harshly. Now, an officer from the American intelligence agency approaches him again. They think Jenkins would gladly return to Russia for another mission. Yet anyone with common sense knows that Charles Jenkins is the last agent they should send back there…

Why had he gone there?

To identify and neutralize Santa Claus? No, of course not! Jenkins was searching for the “Eighth Sister” (see review). It was a truly impossible mission, considering the Eighth Sister didn’t even exist. (Everyone knows there are only three in total.) So, unsurprisingly, he didn’t find her, no matter how hard he tried.

However, during his escape, Jenkins received help from Paulina Ponomayova, an IT specialist for the FSB. Unfortunately, Paulina, somehow managing to forget basic caution, ended up exposing herself to Russian counterintelligence. Let me tell you, that’s not exactly a recipe for a long life—even if some of those dreaded Russian counterintelligence agents turn out to be rather likable guys (as you’ll see later).

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In the Darkness by Mike Omer – Book Review

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In the Darkness by Mike Omer – Book Cover

Being a serial killer isn’t easy. Take, for example, the one who buries their victims alive—an exhausting amount of digging is involved. And in the scorching heat of San Angelo, Texas, no less. Not to mention the hassle of dealing with that sticky clay soil. But don’t think I’m trying to drum up sympathy here—anyone who does this sort of thing is a total scumbag and deserves to suffer for it. Still, what about the victim (in this case, as is often the norm, a pretty young woman) who suddenly finds herself buried in the darkness? …

… Zoe Bentley and her partner, Tatum Gray, once again delve deep into the twisted mind of a serial killer in this second installment of the series.

Something’s Missing in In the Darkness

What’s most lacking is a distinctive voice—something truly original that would set Mike Omer’s writing apart from the dozens of other thrillers featuring serial killers.

In many ways, In the Darkness is an average piece of work. The characters aren’t particularly compelling, the plot lacks genuinely exciting twists or scenes, and the writing as a whole feels rather bland.

The acknowledgments at the end of the book give a telling glimpse into just how many collaborators it took to piece together something coherent. It gives the impression that Mike Omer might not be capable of putting a finished product on the table by himself. And maybe that’s the case.

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Deadly Class, Volume 8: Never Go Back by Rick Remender – Comic Book Review

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Deadly Class, Volume 8: Never Go Back by Rick Remender - Comic Book

Deadly Class, a comic series with one of the most unbelievable storylines and some of the most downright unlikeable protagonists of all time, kicks off its eighth volume, Never Go Back, with an unusual opening: a lenghty drug trip.

Pls, Don’t Mess With Me, Mr. Remender!

If your protagonist is unreliable, unpredictable, unstable, a chronic backstabber, and endlessly whiny, a drug-induced hallucination is probably the last thing that will make them more relatable to your readers. Drug trips are like listening to someone describe their dreams in excruciating detail: nobody gives a damn except the dreamer. In fact, the more they share, the more irritating it becomes.

The entire first quarter of Never Go Back, which corresponds to issue 36, might as well be flushed down the toilet as a complete waste of ink.

Of course, if only a quarter of Never Go Back were just wasted space, you could count yourself lucky…

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The Winners by Fredrik Backman – Book Review

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The Winners by Fredrik Backman – Book Cover

Fredrik Backman’s Beartown series is a love letter to the sport of ice hockey. In the fictional small town of Beartown, nestled deep in the northern Swedish forests, everyone is hockey-obsessed—just like in Hed, the eternal rival town next door. Using the sport as a backdrop, Backman paints an intensely emotional portrait of small-town identity and the unifying power of family and community. The Winners is the final installment of this trilogy.

What’s Left to Say About Beartown?

Truth be told, everything has already been said.

The first book delves into the fallout of a sexual assault. The star player thinks everything is his by right. A large part of the town agrees, since he’s their ticket to putting Beartown back on the map after decades of obscurity. But the Anderson family stands their ground—and in doing so, they split the town in two.

The second book, Us Against You, continues the story of the now-familiar characters but focuses primarily on the mass psychology of small-town sports. Specifically, the residents of the two neighboring towns go totally nuts over their rivalry and beef with each other. The tension rises. Then rises some more. And more. And more…until it boils over.

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No Mercy by Joanna Schaffhausen – Book Review

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No Mercy by Joanna Schaffhausen – Book Cover

Ellery Hathaway, a police officer, shot a ruthless criminal under controversial circumstances, which got her put on mandatory leave. Now, the protagonist of No Mercy is being required by her psychiatrist to join a group therapy program designed for victims of violent crimes. Ellery, who survived being abducted by a serial killer in her youth, still can’t seem to escape her past.

But once a cop, always a cop. Group therapy is an ideal place to stumble upon numerous unsolved or puzzling cases. A particularly brutal rapist? Smoldering tensions in an old arson case? Ellery dives into the investigation, sparing no one – least of all herself.

A Distinctive Detective

Joanna Schaffhausen begins No Mercy in a way that’s almost misleading. Recently, there’s been a trend of books featuring slightly sociopathic anti-heroines, who takes down her own family or colleagues in a lighthearted way, or gets mistaken for a dangerous assassin. Well, the opening line of No Mercy seems to channel this same genre.

But it only takes a few pages to realize you’re mistaken. Schaffhausen quickly builds a heavy atmosphere, and before you know it, you’re drawn in by Ellery Hathaway, a character who carries both physical and emotional scars – and your sympathy along with them.

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The Thousand Eyes by A.K. Larkwood – Book Review

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The Thousand Eyes by A.K. Larkwood – Book Cover

A.K. Larkwood’s The Thousand Eyes has one big flaw: it marks the end of the story. With this second book, Larkwood wraps up the Serpent Gates series. Other authors might fall to their knees, thanking the heavens for such a unique and brilliant concept, stretching the series across at least five books, knowing this could be the magnum opus of their career. After all, who can guarantee they’ll come up with anything even close to this good again?

The Thousand Eyes Hisses Ominously

Orc girls in love, crazed death-worshipping cults, divine incarnations roaming the earth, and countless worlds you can literally sail between through the Serpent Gates. The setup is monumental. But where Larkwood really shines is in her depiction of gods. In The Unspoken Name, her debut novel, she introduced three deities, any one of which would elevate any fantasy novel.

A goddess of serpents, shattered into a thousand pieces scattered throughout the universe; a terrifying dragon, banished to the cold of space, burning with eternal murderous rage; or an all-knowing entity that kurking in the mysterious depths of a mountain, forever hungry for human sacrifice. These gods create a fantastic foundation for Larkwood’s series.

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Wool (Silo #1) by Hugh Howey – Book Review

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Wool (Silo #1) by Hugh Howey - Book Cover

If you’re the homebody type who likes keeping fit by taking the stairs but isn’t particularly keen on having kids, then the Silo is just the place for you. Everyone else, though? Well, they all got totally screwed! In Hugh Howey’s sci-fi novel Wool, humanity has moved underground. Well, the few remaining souls, anyway. The Silo, drilled 144 floors deep into the earth, is the perfect setting for a claustrophobic sci-fi thriller.

Better Stay Inside the Silo

Human nature is predictable: lock someone up, and they’ll want to get out. At all costs. And as soon as you start reading Hugh Howey’s book Wool, you figure that’s exactly what’s going to happen. Surely, the whole story can’t possibly take place in this confined setting. They’ll find a way out.

But Hugh Howey has other plans. He says, “Yep, it all happens right here!” And you can forget hoping otherwise—Howey slams you right back down into the Silo.

That’s when you realize two things:

  1. There’s a reason this series is called Silo.
  2. Wool makes for a perfect adventure novel.

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You Will Never Be Found by Tove Alsterdal – Book Review

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You Will Never Be Found by Tove Alsterdal – Book Cover

There are two main types of Scandinavian crime novels. First, there are the ones that try to bring joy to the reader through a protagonist who carries the weight of the world on their shoulders, endlessly depressed (see: Reykjavík Nights). Then, there are those that stand out with some extra twist, like the Harry Hole novels, where the added flavor comes from the brilliance (and alcoholism) of a detective specialized in serial killers (see: Killing Moon). Tove Alsterdal takes a different path. Her book You Will Never Be Found focuses primarily on authenticity.

Eira Sjödin Returns to Investigate

Alsterdal’s series debut, We Know You Remember, won the prestigious Glass Key Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel. So, it’s no surprise that the Swedish author’s protagonist, patrol officer Eira Sjödin, is once again given the chance to prove her skills with a new case.

What starts off as the disappearance of an unemployed actor soon reveals itself to be much more serious. Eira, who has been involved in the investigation from the very start, gets the opportunity to participate in the homicide investigation as well.

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The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith – Book Review

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The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith - Book Cover

Joanne K. Rowling, writing under the pen name Robert Galbraith for the Cormoran Strike novels, has recently found herself in the spotlight over several hot-button issues. She’s no stranger to the internet’s relentless storm of public backlash, so it’s not entirely surprising that the fifth installment, The Ink Black Heart, dives into this territory. Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott find themselves investigating an online harassment case that soon takes a deadly turn, immersing them in the darkest corners of the internet.

Incidentally, Rowling may have also set her sights on breaking the Guinness World Record for the thickest crime novel of all time…

The Ink Black Heart Makes Its Way to Netflix

The title, The Ink Black Heart, seems fitting for an exceptionally twisted villain. But instead, it refers to a surreal, bizarre, yet somehow endearing animated series that quickly achieves cult status. One of its creators, Edie Ledwell, becomes the target of an internet troll. But Anomie, as it turns out, is no ordinary troll; they’re the creator of an online game based on a character from this cult YouTube series, and a master manipulator with a massive fanbase. Strike and Robin are certainly in for a challenging case…

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Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie – Book Review

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Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie – Book Cover

The last time I read an Agatha Christie book was around 35-40 years ago. I’d worked my way through most of her collection, thanks to my Aunt Maggie, who spent decades amassing mystery novels, so naturally, the works of the Queen of Crime were included. Then, suddenly, I had enough. I got tired of the Belgian with the big mustache, just as I did with the nosy Mrs. Marple. But a book review blog offers a good opportunity to give this classic British author another chance. And, of course, it’s wise to start with one of her most famous works. Like Murder on the Orient Express.

The Mystery of the Sealed Express Train

The Orient Express, spanning the width of continental Europe from Istanbul to Paris, seems like the perfect setting for a murder. You board, do what you must— preferably at night, when everyone’s peacefully snoozing in their sleeping compartments – then get off at the next stop and sayonara, leaving the rest to those left on the train.

Of course, accidents can always happen. Like a snowstorm that leaves you stuck on the train in the middle of nowhere in Yugoslavia. And then, even worse, the famous Belgian private detective, Hercule Poirot, is also on board and is immediately asked to investigate. But let’s be real, even if they hadn’t asked, I’d bet my rusty pocketknife he’d look into it anyway.

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