27. The Perfect Woman by James Andrus

The Perfect Woman is the latest book I picked up from the bookstore. I normally don't read books as soon as they come into my house, but I was out of library books and this one was in reach. It was a good one and a fairly quick read. I give it a B.

From Amazon:

One Man's Obsession. . .
Pharmacy clerk William Dremmel is hooked--on drugging pretty young women and lulling them into slow, blissfully quiet deaths. Then he packs his victims in luggage--a nod to the cops that he works alone. Dremmel's no fool, he's also a college professor. He just likes using his intellect for darker purposes. . ..
Is Another Man's Anguish. . .
Haunted by his own daughter's unsolved disappearance, Detective John Stallings is committed to finding runaways and busting their abductors. When a series of girls is found dead and stuffed into duffle bags, he's consumed with capturing "The Bagman"--at the risk of his marriage, his career, and possibly his tough-as-nails partner, Patty Levine. . .
And Neither Intends To Give Up
As The Bagman grows more brazen in his crimes, the clues line up. But when he draws terrifyingly close to Patty, Stallings is determined to play by his own rules--and they won't be pretty--or quiet. . .

Stallings is at times, a difficult character to like. He is selfish at times and that grated on my nerves a bit. Throughout the story, we know who the killer is but that doesn't take away any from the suspense of the story. There were some side stories going on, but that really didn't impact the story much. It seems like the ending was left a bit hanging and that it may be the start of a new series. The author is a real life, active duty police officer who has experience working on serial killer cases and it shows. I will be looking for more by Mr. Andrus!

Up next is one of my library books. I just had several come in with more on their way so I need to get reading. It's a good thing I have the next two days off completely and that the weather is supposed to be cold and rainy which is the perfect reading weather. Now if I could only shake this sinus headache/migraine. Happy Reading everyone!

Head to Head by Linda Ladd

My reading has been so slow lately and it's somewhat disappointing. I am not sure why, I guess I've just been really busy lately. Hopefully the upcoming holidays will not slow me down further and maybe my upcoming Christmas break will help things speed up. Head to Head was a great book and fantastic new-to-me author that I discovered. I give it an A-.

Back cover:
After moving from Los Angeles to Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, homicide detective Claire Morgan has at last adjusted to the peaceful rhythms of rural life. Until a grisly celebrity murder at an ultra-exclusive "wellness" resort shatters a quiet summer morning...
One of Dr. Nicholas Black's high-profile clients has been dound dead, taped to a chair at a fully set table... submerged in the lake. Back in L.A. Claire investigated the rich, famous, and the deadly- but she never expected the problems of the priviledged to follow her... just as she never imagined crossing the line with her prime suspect...
Claire finds herself drawn to the charismatic doctor, spending time in his company- and in his bed. To catch a killer, Claire will have to enter the darkest recesses of the human mind. But is Black leading there to help her... or luring her ever deeper into a madman's grip?

The suspense was really well done and while at times grisly, a great read. Ms. Ladd does a fantastic job of writing as Claire and manages to place some humor in Claire's voice in an otherwise somewhat dark voice. The reader gets an inside look at how and why the killer becomes a crazy psychopath which I enjoyed and manages to throw in a couple of red herrings into the mix as well. There is somewhat of a love aspect to the story, but it was minor and didn't really bother me that much as the real focus was on Claire and the murders she's investigating. I definitely plan on reading more by Ms. Ladd and it appears that Head to Head is the first in the series. I am a bit disappointed that my library doesn't have the next two available, so I may just have to order them off of Amazon if I don't run across them at a UBS. The newest one the series was just released in August and my library does have that one so I am in luck!

I have a busy week this week, with both work and pleasure activities but I must fit in some reading! I'm pretty sure I won't meet the goal I set for myself last year, 135 books, which is a bit disappointing especially since I had such a good late summer/early fall, but the most important thing is that I've read some really great books and I don't make it a chore! I'm off to start a new book in the next half hour before bed calls me, so Happy Reading everyone!

The Dead Place by Rebecca Drake

Rebecca Drake is a relatively new-to-me author as I think I've only read two or three books by her. As a matter of fact, I think she only has published three books, but I hope she continues. I really liked The Dead Place and give it a B+.

Back cover:
The first victim is found floating in a creek- aked, beautiful, brutally garroted. Lily Locum was a college student with everything live for ad nothing to fear... until a madma made her his obsession...
At first glance, a quiet campus town like Wickfield seems like the ideal place for Kate Corbin to start over after a traumatic attack. But when another young girl disappears on her way to class, Kate's fear resurfaces in earnest. She's right to be afraid. Behind Wickfield's picture-perfect facade, a nightmare is unfolding... and it's about to strike chillingly close to home...
A serial killer is on the loose... ruthless, twisted, and lethally smart. Now locked in a desperate race against time, Kate's only chance of stopping a madman's grisly game is to venture deeper into a diabolical web where no one is who they seem to be... and the smallest mistake could be her last...

I love these suspense books where the main character is a typical, suburban mom placed into danger. I am not sure why, but perhaps it's because of the normalacy that is thrown out of whack. Kate has had a rough year and a half, but her and her family hope that the move to Wickfield will help change some of that, but of course it doesn't. I think there is a lot that the reader can relate to as well; a rebellious teenage daughter, marriage trying to stay together after quite a few years together, waking up every day facing the same mundane things. I had the killer figured out pretty early, but I suspect it was because I always suspect the least suspicious character. There were quite a few twisted things that this murderer does to his victims, but nothing that made it too difficult to read. I will definitely be checking out more of Ms. Drake's books in the future. As a matter of fact, I am going to check for her website right now and see if there are any other books coming out any time soon!

Up next is a library book. I seem to be in a good groove, alternating between library books and my own. I am not sure which library book I will read, though it will probably be whichever one I grab. I have them in a magazine holder next to my reading chair and I think I will just reach over and let fate decide my next read. Happy Reading everyone!

The Next Killing by Rebecca Drake

I enjoyed the one previous book I'd read by Rebecca Drake, so I decided to try this one. The receipt from when I bought it was still in the book, and it has been sitting on my shelves since August of 2007! It was a quick read, and while not that suspenseful, still a lot of fun to read. I give it a B.

Back cover:
For one hundred years, the best girls have come to St. Ursula's Preparatory Academy to learn. To achieve. To make both memories and friends. But now it's where they also come to die...
When the first body is found, the police call it an accident- an initation ritual gone terribly wrong. But the students know something isn't right at St. Ursula's. There are sounds in the darkened corridors, a figure glimpsed between the trees, locked doors somehow opened. Someone is watching them, judging them, hating them... killings them...
A twisted psychopath is turning the quiet campus into a school of fear. No sins will go unpunished. No girl will escape justice. And everyone will have a chance to join a serial killer's exclusive club...

I am not sure if this was the right book to read the night before I start teaching summer school. Lauren is a new teacher, hired to for her first teaching job, and immediately the girls begin making fun of her and hazing her. Hopefully my first day will go a bit better. I mentioned before that the suspense was a little lacking, mostly because it isn't difficult to find out who the bad guy is and that is confirmed about halfway through the book. There are a couple other story lines running through the story, which I found unnecessary, but it was still a fun story to read. It was interesting and I though portrayed a good look at how cruel some students can be, especially to each other. I do believe I have one more book by Rebecca Drake and I will read it.

Up next is the library book I have, title The Cheater by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg. I read about it on someone else's blog, though I am not sure where. I really do need to come up with a better system of recording where I heard about the books I request. I hope it is a good one, especially since I am on such a reading tear right now. I met my mom for lunch at the golf course/country club she belongs to and in the locker room members bring in old books they have read and leave them there for others to read and bring in their own books they no longer want, so I also picked up two books there. I may already have one, but I need to check my spreedsheet, but I do want to get those read pretty quickly so I can return them, but really there is no rush. I do need to finish some laundry and just quickly look over my notes for tomorrow and make sure I have everything put together, but then plan on catching up with the tivo and start my next book. I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend and Happy Reading!

Shake Down by Joel Goodman

I picked up Shake Down by Mr. Goldman last time I was at the library. I will admit, the reason why I picked it up was because the book was published by Pinnacle Books. I really enjoy Pinnacle Books, as I have mentioned in the past. The back cover grabbed my attention and it was the first book I pulled out of my "book holder" late Monday night when I decided to start something new. While the back cover blurb was somewhat misleading, I really enjoyed the book and give it a B+.

Back cover:
The lives of three people collide over mass murder at a Kansas City residence that Special Agent Jack Davis has carefully staked out for weeks. Kate Scranton, whose job is spotting lies for high-priced courtroom lawyers, is convinced that mild-mannered Latrell Kelly knows something about the crime. But Latrell is hiding far more than Kate can guess. And with Jack half-blinded by an imploding personal life, and someone on his own side leaking crucial information, they're headed straight for the ultimate danger zone...

First off, Kate Scranton plays a very minor role in this book, though the role she plays is fascinating. Kate is able to spot mini facial movements that helps her decide if someone is lying. This is something that I have never heard of, and I assume is something that has some truth to it. I would have loved if Mr. Goldman had fleshed this idea out a bit more. Also, Jack is going through a terrible health crisis throughout the book that has him fearing the worst... Parkinsons or Lou Gherig's diasese. My father suffers from Parkinsons and has since I was about 16. I remember when his shaking first started and it was a very terrifying time in all of our lives. I get tremors sometimes and everyone is very cautious of this. I thought Mr. Goldman did a fantastic job dealing with this and adding it in to the suspense. There were quite a few twists and turns in the story and I finally had it figured out just as Jack was. I will definitely be checking out more books by Joel Goldman in the future.

This is my favorite time in the year... spring is finally arriving, baseball season has started, and hockey playoffs start! My beloved Wings start tomorrow and I will be screaming my head off at the tv at 7:00 and attending the game on Saturday! In between there, I will be enjoying my precious few days left off and hopefully getting a few more good books in. I am not sure what I am going to read next, but I want to finish off my library books. I hope everyone else is enjoying some good books and Happy Reading!

Don't Be Afraid by Rebecca Drake

I seem to have been in a mini reading slump this week and I am not sure why. I did work Monday and Tuesday and had plans for Tuesday night, so that may be part of it. Anyways, I picked Don't Be Afraid off of my bookshelves and it definitely got me out of the slump. This was a great thriller and I give it an A-.

From Amazon:
It''s a beautiful house--a perfect place to live. To dream. To start a life together. It''s the perfect place for so many things, he thinks as he puts on the gloves and reaches for her, enjoying her screams. But today, it''s perfect place to die. Steerforth, Connecticut, was once an idyllic, sleepy New England town. But now the leafy streets and picture-perfect houses have turned shadowy and menacing, every small detail suddenly becoming suspect: lost toys placed carefully on back porches, lights blazing in a house that should be empty, closet doors standing slightly ajar, mysterious flowers wrapped in black tissue paper. And the bodies. A serial killer has come to Connecticut. He is watching, honing his skills, waiting for the perfect time to make them pay for what they''ve done. And when he''s through, home will never be sweet again.

This was the first book by Ms. Drake and she sure does show promise. So much so that today I braved the pouring down rain and got her other two books, with her last one just being released this month. I really liked the main character, Amy, and felt for her. She is a single mother who recently found out that her husband is a serial cheater. While trying to provide for her and her daughter, she is thrown into a mystery where dead bodies are turning up everywhere. The suspense was done really well and there were some clues as to who the killer was. There were red herrings thrown in here and there which threw me off balance. Her writing style really reminds me of one of my favorite authors, Wendy Corsi Staub. Ms. Drake is published through Pinnacle, one of my favorite publishers, so I was sure I would like it. I think I will be reading her other books fairly shortly.

I have been painting again which I really enjoy. I painted some things for my bedroom as we just redid it and also did some Halloween decorations. I will also start painting some Christmas ornaments that I like to give out as tags on packages or as stocking stuffers. I know Christmas is more than three months away, but sometimes I go through spurts. Tomorrow Michaels has all of their painting stuff on sale, and I also want to make a Welcome sign and a couple of other things. We are getting a ton of rain right now, today we have gotten over 7 inches in some places and it is supposed to rain all morning before a short break and then we are expecting the reminants of Ike. My basement does have a bit of water, so hopefully the weather forecasters will be wrong once again. Up next is John Saul's newest book. I don't have the title handy, but it is my first John Saul book. I believe I have some of his but haven't gotten around to reading any of them. This is a library book and I only have a week with it so I want to get to it right away. I hope everyone has had a good week and weekend and if anyone was in the path of Ike that they are all safe and sound. Happy Reading!

A Perfect Grave by Rick Mofina

After finishing the last book, I picked up a book titled Twisted. I read about 150 pages of it but just could not get into it. Yesterday, I finally decided to put it down and get another book. I chose A Perfect Grave which I received from J. Kaye's Book Blog in a raffle. It was a great read and sucked me right in. I give it a B+.

From Amazon:
A PERFECT GRAVE is the third installment in Rick Mofina's internationally acclaimed new series featuring rookie crime reporter Jason Wade of The Seattle Mirror. The gritty Wade series debuted with THE DYING HOUR, which the International Thriller Writers named a finalist for a 2006 Thriller Award. It was followed by EVERY FEAR. In A PERFECT GRAVE, Wade, a troubled loner from the wrong side of the tracks, pursues the story of a murdered Seatle nun. The case leads him to a hermit nun who founded a mysterious religious order; and ultimately to the dark secret that has tormented his ex-cop father for decades. It culminates in a life and death struggle against the clock. With time running out, Jason and his father battle the odds to confront a terrible truth.

This was a great book. The suspense was well done and I really enjoyed all of the characters. It was an interesting premise with the death of a nun. It really gives the reader an inside view of nuns and their lives. It is nothing like I thought it was. I really enjoyed Jason and thought he was a great character. I liked the relationship with his father and the possible one with a police officer. As the description mentions, this is the third book in a series, and while I haven't read any of the others, I didn't feel like I was missing much. Thanks J. Kaye for sending me this book, it was wonderful!!!

I am not sure what is up next. I am now on vacation for two weeks and am looking forward to it. I went on a job interview on Friday and was offered a position but I declined it. I applied for a middle school position and the job offered was kindergarten. I think I would not be the best kindergarten teacher, and the pay and location was not the best. I also think subbing may be my best way of getting in a public school district. I am going to pick a book from my library right now, and may head out to my local library tomorrow. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and Happy Reading!

In the spirit of J. Kaye, if anyone is interested in this book, let me know and I will send it off to someone.

Watch Them Die by Kevin O'Brien

I have enjoyed Kevin O'Brien's books and decided to grab it off of my shelves. It took me a couple of days to get into it, but that was me and not the book. It was very good, and I give it an A-.

Back blurb:
The blonde film student. The brunette paralegal. The red-headed artist. The first victim is strangled. The second is stabbed repeatedly. And the third is pushed out an open window.
In the city of Seattle, no single woman is safe. From afar he watches the ones he so desperately wants. Willing to do whatever it takes to prove his love. But should his latest obsession betray him, he will have no choice but to punish her. By finding new and brutal ways to teach her a lesson. And by finally, loving her- to death...

Mr. O'Brien uses old movies to tie in with the many deaths that occur in this book. I loved that and even got the names of a couple of books I must have missed and will definitely want to check out including a Hitchcock movie. The suspense was high and the book was great. Last night I decided to sit down and read for a bit and ended up reading 200+ pages. I quickly finished it up this morning and was still trying to figure out the mystery with about 30 pages left when the killer is revealed. I was a bit disappointed with one part of the ending, though I do think the author did it in a realastic ending. I saw on Amazon that this book will soon be rereleased with a special price of $4.99 and recommend that all of you thriller lovers run to get this book.

Yesterday I went to the thrift store and got 5 books for $1.00 and then today I went to library and picked up 8 more books. It is a sickness, I tell you. This particular library is wonderfully stocked and it is like having a shopping spree at a bookstore. I will have to get through these before I grab any off of my shelves. Today is a rainy, humid day and I plan on reading while intermediately working on my summer school stuff. I start Thursday with a three hour planning session, so I know I will have time to get it done. Tomorrow is a Tigers game, so that day will be pretty much full. Have a great weekend and Happy Reading!