FMAM MOSTLY MYSTERY REVIEWS
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April 2010
The Fallen
Mark Terry
Oceanview Publishing, April 5, 2010, 288 pages
ISBN: 978-1-933515-75-5
A G8 Summit is meeting with twenty of the most powerful world leaders. Security is paramount. Planning ahead, an agent identified as long dead has been undercover as a maintenance man for months. Derek Stillwater was and is the best and at one time was associated with Richard Coffee leader of a highly violent and terrorist group known as The Fallen Angels.
Derek is working here and there and on the day of the arrival of the leaders is working in the kitchen where he is recognized by a KGB agent. They agree to work together should there be trouble and of course shortly thereafter The Fallen Angels take over the Summit. However, another group of agents believe Derek to be alive and a danger. They find him, handcuff him and are about to lead him away when Coffee comes face to face with Derek knocking him out, killing agent. Coffee locks them all in the refrigerator. When Derek awakens he is the only survivor amongst the group. Fighting the pain of broken ribs and more he rummages the dead bodies looking for a handcuff key. Eventually he finds one. Shedding the key, he works through the vent and crawls out of the refrigerator where he sees a member of The Fallen Angels holding the kitchen staff. He breaks through, gun fire ensues and he and one of the staff, Marie survives and makes a run for it.
Derek and Coffee have a history and this is not only a terroristic activity for Coffee but revenge, one which he has careful and meticulously planned out. For example, as other countries send in their best to rescue they are picked off by Coffee’s superior snipers. Coffee plans for fake National Guards men. He has well planned this attack. But he did not plan for Derek.
I was struck by how much this book would be suited for a Steven Segal movie – cook or maintenance man – still a force to be reckoned with. THE FALLEN is well written although a bit predictable. As I read the book I could see, hear the blasts, and even the debris as Derek made his way through the compound. A good book to view – by that I mean, would be a good movie.
On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 4.5!
Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D., MHt
Swan for the Money
Donna Andrews
Minotaur Books, July 21, 2009, $24.99, 320 pages
ISBN: 978-0-312377175
Meg Langslow agreed to Chair her mother’s rose show. Her parents have been growing roses. Her dad treats them like children and makes beautiful blossoms and her mother arranges them in such a way that the word beautiful isn’t strong enough. So, they should be sure winners but someone or something seems to be sabotaging them – roses bushes are uprooted, deer pee is found on them, etc. Sabotage.
The event is being held at Mrs. Winkleson’s estate where there are attack swans, cows, and more. Mrs. Winkleson has a thing for black and white and is an odd, obnoxious, old bat. No one likes her. Then someone attempts to kill her. Given Mrs. Winkleson’s personality there are any number of people who could have done this so Meg has her work cut out for her.
Meg’s grandfather suspects that the animals on Mrs. Winkleson’s are mistreated and sets out to prove it. And Mrs. Winkleson’s little dog is missing. Yet she doesn’t seem very broken up about it.
What is really going on? There are many of odd pieces of the puzzle here which Meg must fit together before someone else dies.
This is another of the Meg Langslow series, a delightful, charming series. The characters are fun, quirky, yet real. The stories combine a little whimsy with serious situations (animal abuse, etc.) in a way that makes us take notice without feeling preached to. The dialogue is witty. For a good escape and a fun, fast read – read this Meg Lagslow book – SWAN FOR THE MONEY or any other by Donna Andrews, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 5.
Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D., MHt
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