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Small Caliber Reviews by Kevin R. Tipple
Joe Gunther returns in “The Second Mouse” by Archer Major. Michelle Fisher is dead and Gunther pokes his nose in the case because he was just in the neighborhood. It appears to be a suicide and yet, as this very slow moving tale unfolds, it is a link to a much larger secondary storyline of guns, drugs and classic redneck idiot behavior. Not nearly at the level of others in the series, this novel can be read as a stand alone.
Spenser returns in Robert B. Parker’s novel “Hundred Dollar Baby” and April Kyle returns as well (“Ceremony” and “Taming A Sea Horse”) and the resulting reunion is bittersweet at best. She has become the highly successful madam of an escort service located in Back Bay. She needs help as forces are bearing down on her to try to take her business away from her. Once more, Spenser along with Hawk and a couple of others try to save her from her fate. This is typical Spenser fare and as such a fast read that skims the surface of complex topics such as emotional dysfunctionality, fate, and the alleged power men hold over women.
Also newly released from Author Robert B. Parker is the latest Jesse Stone novel titled “High Profile.” This good read finds Jesse investigating the murder of a well known talk show host as well as the recently deceased latest girlfriend. Jesse also has to deal with the news of a recent attack on his ex-wife, Jenn and the nature of his relationship with Sunny Randall. It’s all very complicated and as such this is a good read with more meat on the bones than most in the series.
“No good deed goes unpunished” is the saying and Alex McKnight soon learns just how brutally true it can be. It begins with McKnight up the road a bit from Paradise in Brimley. It’s summer and unlike the way is supposed to be, way too cold with fog thick over Waishkey Bay. Fog so thick he and his friends Tyler and Leon won’t be able to see the fireworks. They can’t see the boat ripping across the water nearby either but they can hear it and they can hear it crash. The resulting rescue mission is a domino that will upend everything in his life. Another enjoyable read but it is a very dark one.
If you haven't read "the Cat Dancers" by P. T. Dueterman than you need to rectify that immediately. Not only is it one of the best books I have read in along time, "Spider Mountain" is the powerful and disturbing sequel. Former Cop Cam Richter returns to the scene of the crime and once again does so, in an attempt to help Park Ranger Mary Ellen Goode. Neither one has gotten over the events of the last book and seeing him is almost more than she can bear. But, she needs him because of her Rangers was brutalized, almost destroyed as a human being and the powers that be on every level are refusing to really do anything about it. There are reasons, complicated reasons and Can doesn't really care since he isn't counting on anyone else these days. By sticking his nose into things on the outskirts of the Great Smoky Mountains Park, Cam unwittingly unleashes a wave of retribution against him and everyone around him. P. T. Dueterman once again spins an intensely searing tale that takes readers deep into the abyss.
Kevin R. Tipple © 2007 |